Five Tips for Basketball Injury Prevention
 

According to the National Institutes of Health, sports safety should include the following:

1. Getting a physical: make sure your health is up to par before the start of the season. Being aware of any underlying conditions or any potential weakness offers the opportunity for treatment prior to an injury. Your family doctor will offer this service. He or she will perform a complete head to toe assessment of your physical condition.

2. Wear appropriate attire: good shoes and properly fitted clothing. Properly fitted, breathable clothing and good shoes can make a big difference in injury prevention.

3. Drinking lots of water: to prevent dehydration. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that even mild levels of dehydration can hurt athletic performance. They encourage non-caffeinated fluid consumption prior to exercise as well as during exercise. Ensure that you and your team have adequate access to water during the game.

4. Warming up and stretching: to prevent joint injury. Spend time warming up appropriately and stretch muscles. Warming up allows the body the time it needs to be able to respond to nerve signals for quick and efficient actions. This is imperative for basketball, as it involves quick, high-intensity actions.

5. Maintain a good level of fitness: stay in shape during the off season. Basketball injury prevention begins in the off-season! Your team will be safest and most prepared by maintaining fitness during the entire year. If needed, you can work with your Sports Medicine team to learn injury prevention exercises for athletes which will be beneficial long-term. Getting ready in advance is a key prevention factor.