Each year, more than two million basketball and volleyball injuries are treated in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and hospital emergency rooms.

How can I prevent injury?

• Both sports are played indoors and outdoors on a variety of surfaces.
• Sand volleyball and summer league basketball players are subject to extreme heat at times and should take adequate precautions to prevent heat illness.
• In addition to the ball skills involved with both sports, the fitness-related components that need to be considered are muscular strength, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, power and speed. Particular attention needs to be paid to jumping and landing. Players should be involved in a year-round conditioning program that includes these components as well as playing either sports and developing the skill necessary to play.
• Ankle injuries are the most common in basketball and volleyball players. ACL injuries are also prevalent. They incur at an alarming rate, especially in female players. The number of non-contact ACL injuries that women sustain is two to eight times greater than in male players. Conditioning programs must include exercises and drills that address this issue.
• Proper nutrition and hydration should be part of the year-round conditioning program.
• Skill development is key to injury prevention in these sports. Players in elementary school and youth programs should concentrate in the skill area to learn basic fundamentals. The emphasis at this level should be fun as opposed to competition.
• Players should always take time to warm up and stretch. Warm-up should consist of five to10 minutes of aerobic activity such as running or walking briskly. Mild stretching should take five minutes.
• Play only your position and know where other players are on the court to reduce the chance of collision. Neither sport is a contact sport. Do not hold, push, charge or trip opponents. Use proper techniques for passing and scoring.
• Select basketball shoes that fit snugly, offer support and are non-skid. Cotton socks can absorb perspiration and also give added support to the foot. Ankle supports can reduce the incidence of ankle sprains.
• Protective knee and elbow pads will protect you from bruises and abrasions.
• Use a mouth guard to protect your teeth and mouth.
• If you wear glasses, make sure they are made specifically for sports.
• Do not wear jewelry or chew gum during practice or games.
• Outdoor courts should be free of rocks, holes, and other hazards. Inside courts should be clean, free of debris and have good traction.
• Baskets and boundary lines should not be to close to walls, bleachers, water fountains or other structures. Goals, as well as the wall behind them, should be padded.

With their focus on prevention, performance and Treatment, the specialists at Saint Vincent Sports Medicine can help you get back in the game after a basketball or volleyball injury. Call them today at 814-835-2035.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a health care professional.