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Sports & Knee Injuries Part Two – Basketball

Sports & Knee Injuries Part Two – Basketball

One of the most popular sports worldwide is basketball.  This is a very physically demanding sport as it involves strength, spatial awareness, agility and explosiveness.  Because of the physical demands of basketball, there are often injuries associated with this sport.

In a study done by NATA (National Athletic Trainers’ Association), it was shown that 9% of basketball injuries pertain to the knee.

Some of these knee injuries include:

  • ACL Sprain
  • Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendonitis)
  • MCL Sprain
  • Meniscal Tear

An ACL Sprain is a stretch or tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.  More serious sprains involve complete tears of one or more of the knee ligaments. Changing direction rapidly or stopping abruptly while running can cause the twisting motion that tears the ACL.

If you sprain your knee, at the time of injury you may hear:

  • Popping or Snapping which will be followed by;
  • Pain coming from within the knee, especially with movement;
  • Inability to weight bear on that leg;
  • Swelling;
  • Fluid behind the kneecap;
  • Instability in the knee, or looseness.

Jumper’s Knee is a type of strain the knee endures. Strains are defined as a partially or completely torn muscle or tendon. With knee strains, you may feel symptoms similar to a sprain and may see bruising around the injured area.

 

Patellar Tendonitis, or Jumper’s Knee, is a common strain that usually results from overuse.  Jumper’s Knee is an inflammatory condition that causes pain in the front of the knee.  Patellar Tendonitis begins as inflammation of the patellar tendon where it attaches to the patella (knee cap).  It can worsen by continual tearing or from degeneration of the tendon.

Risk Factors Include:

  • Weak quadriceps
  • Weak glutes
  • Weak hips
  • Overpronation

As a guideline to rehabilitate from this injury, the individual must first rest as this most likely has occurred because of overuse.  During this time, icing the knees, or using other types of cryotherapy/cold therapy will help with the inflammation and pain.  Following the resting period the individual should slowly start exercising and strengthening the quadriceps, hips and glutes.  The athlete should also see a health practitioner to confirm the proper rehabilitation process so they can get back to being active.

MCL Sprains and other MCL injuries occur when a sudden force or twisting motion is applied to the outside of the knee forcing the knee inward, most often when the foot is planted on the ground.  The MCL extends from the end of the thigh bone to the top of the shin bone on the inside of the knee.  Although common in sports, most MCL injuries respond well to non-surgical treatments.

MCL Sprains Involve:

  • Stretching
  • Partially Tearing or,
  • Rupturing the Ligament

*This can happen when a basketball player lands awkwardly after jumping for a rebound or even something as simple as a jump shot.

 

Symptoms depend on the severity of the injury and are classified according to the extent of the injury. MCL injuries are classified as grade 1, grade 2 or grade 3.

  • Pain on the inside of the knee
  • Tenderness to touch
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Internal bleeding (grade 2)
  • Somewhat unstable joint (grade 2)
  • Unstable joint (grade 3)
  • Unable to put weight on the leg (grade 3)

 

For treatment of these types of injuries an individual can look to:

 

When it comes to prevention of such injuries, we must first realize that athletes take risks when they play sports, and knee ligament injuries are among those risks.  Some MCL injuries are not avoidable, but you can reduce your risk for an injury by:

  • Avoid sudden increases in
    • Frequency
    • Duration, or
    • Intensity of exercise
  • Wear athletic shoes that provide strong lateral support

 

Meniscal tears occur mostly as a result of trauma. The meniscus is vulnerable to injuries in which there is:

  • Compression
  • Twisting across the knee

 

Meniscus tears are most common in:

  • Contact sports
  • Skiing & snowboarding
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball

It is not uncommon for one or more of the ligaments in the knee to be injured in addition to the injured meniscus.

 

Some symptoms that may be experienced by the injured athlete include:

  • Swelling
  • Pain in the knee
  • Popping sensation at the time of injury
  • Difficulty during flexion and extension
  • Knee locking

 

After sustaining injury, the athlete has a few options to maintain the state of the knee and to reduce chance of further injuring:

  • Rest the knee
  • Avoid weight bearing
  • Cold therapy
    • Reduce pain and swelling
  • Compression
    • Reduce swelling

 

If the pain and swelling has not subsided after 2-3 days, repair of the meniscus may be necessary.  The decision to repair is based on many factors, including the location of the tear and age of the patient. At this time a physician, and most likely a specialist, is needed to help the injured athlete decide the best course of action to resolve the situation. Unfortunately studies have shown that individuals who tear their meniscus are at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee later in life.

 

These are a few injuries that any basketball player, elite or not, may have to deal with over the course of their playing career. Always ensure proper rest is incorporated into your workout/practice plan – as we know, more isn’t always better.  If pain and swelling consist past 2-3 days, it is recommended that the individual seek medical attention as the injury may be more severe than first thought.

 

If you play basketball and need some extra knee support, then please contact the Arthritis & Injury Care Centre and we can provide the best solution for your knee ailment. We offer top-of-the-line basketball knee braces in Halifax, Dartmouth, Clayton Park, and also at our New Brunswick locations.


Author:

Brandon Downing
Orthopedic Bracing Specialist

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