Chiropractic Care for Common Basketball Injuries

Basketball is one of the most high-impact contact sports in America. As such, basketball injuries are common. In fact, According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), basketball is the leading cause of sports injury in people aged 15 to 24.

Although chiropractic care is most often associated with back pain after an auto accident, it’s actually effective for treating a wide range of injuries. This post describes chiropractic care for common basketball injuries. We also look at how you can prevent those injuries.

Common Basketball Injuries

Basketball players spend 48 minutes running up and down the court, jumping, pivoting, and generally knocking into one another. In other words, it’s a high energy sport that gives the players’ joints a real workout. It should come as no surprise that injuries are fairly common, even in high school and youth leagues. The most common basketball injuries include:

Foot and ankle injuries: That same CDC report states that sprains and strains are the most common injury in all sports, particularly to the foot and ankle, accounting for 41.4 percent of all injuries.
Knee injuries: Common basketball knee injuries include sprains, ligament tears, and tendon rupture.
Herniated disc: A fall on the court could cause a herniated disc. Common symptoms include pain, numbness, and muscle weakness that may extend to the arms and legs.
Back muscle strain: All that pivoting on the court raises your risk of straining a muscle in your back.

Chiropractic care can help. Yes, even for injuries to the lower extremities.

Chiropractic Care to Treat Knee, Foot, and Ankle Injuries

Your chiropractor’s bag of tricks goes way beyond spinal manipulation (although we do that, too). Chiropractic care for sports injuries varies according to the injury but it may include:

Massage therapy
Physical therapy
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS)
Muscle stimulation

At Southwest Spine & Rehab, we also offer a new treatment: radial pressure wave therapy, commonly referred to as RPW or shockwave therapy.

RPW for Sprains and Strains

RPW uses ultrasound technology to blast the injured area with acoustic waves that stimulate your body’s natural healing abilities.

Studies show that shockwave therapy provides an enormous array of benefits, including:

Improving blood flow to promote faster healing
Increasing collagen production for improved bone and joint health
Reducing inflammation to improve mobility
Reducing pain by interrupting your body’s pain messages and relieving inflammation
Relaxing muscle tension, which improves blood flow and reduces pain

We use shockwave therapy to treat pain in the knee, hip, and shoulder. It’s also effective against tendinitis, bone spurs, and heel pain.

For full information on the benefits of RPW, please see our article, What Is Radial Pressure Wave Therapy.

How to Prevent Basketball Injuries

No treatment is more effective than not getting injured in the first place. In addition, every sprain or strain weakens the affected ligaments, tendons, and joint, increasing your risk of future injury. Luckily, you can prevent basketball injuries by following these tips:

Choose the right footwear: There is a difference in shoe structure for different types of activities. Basketball shoes have greater shock absorption, reducing stress on the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Also, look for shoes with a high or 3/4 top to protect the ankles.
Don’t forget to warm up: Some light stretches help warm up muscles, lowering risk of injury.
Get in shape first: If you’re new to basketball and your current fitness level hovers in the “couch potato” range, your risk of injury is higher. You’re less likely to get hurt if you start cardio and strength training before you join a team.
Hydrate before the game: You already know you need to stay hydrated while you play. Now, start drinking plenty of water before the game, too.
Play one sport at a time: Today’s parents tend to involve their kids in multiple activities. That’s dangerous with sports. Make sure your favorite athlete plays one sport at a time and takes a break between seasons.
Rest between games: Even if you don’t get hurt, muscles and joints need time to recuperate before the next game.
Wear protective gear: Includes mouthguards, knee and ankle braces, and safety glasses (for kids who wear glasses).

Finally, if you’ve already been injured, follow your doctor’s orders exactly to ensure a full recovery. Hitting the court too soon raises your risk of another injury and could sideline you for the rest of the season.

Call Southwest Spine & Rehab

Southwest Spine & Rehab provides a variety of chiropractic treatments for basketball injuries. Our number one goal is keeping you active and healthy. That’s why we treat the source of your pain instead of just covering it up with addictive pills.

Ready to learn more? Contact our office today.