Basketball

Introduction
Basketball is a high-impact sport that involves intense physical activity, with frequent jumps, sprints, and sudden direction changes. These movements make players susceptible to both acute and overuse injuries.

Common Injuries

1. Ankle Sprains: Often occur during landing or changes in direction, leading to stretched or torn ligaments.
2. Knee Injuries: ACL, PCL tears, and meniscus injuries due to sudden stops, pivots, and jumping.
3. Hamstring Strains: Overstretching or rapid sprints can strain the hamstring muscles.
4. Shin Splints: Pain along the shinbone caused by repetitive high-impact movements.
5. Finger Injuries: Sprains, dislocations, or fractures caused by ball contact or blocking.
6. Shoulder Injuries: Rotator cuff strains from repetitive overhead shots, passes, or defensive actions.
7. Back Injuries: Muscle strains from improper lifting, bending, or twisting during gameplay.

Causes

1. Sudden jumps, direction changes, poor landing techniques, overuse, contact with other players, and improper footwear.

Prevention

1. Proper warm-up and cool-down, strength training, flexibility exercises, wearing appropriate footwear, and improving technique (especially for jumping and landing).

Treatment

1. Rest & Ice: Applying ice to reduce swelling and resting the affected area for recovery.
2. Compression & Elevation: Reducing swelling, especially for sprains and strains.
3. Physiotherapy: Rehabilitation exercises to regain strength, flexibility, and mobility after injury.
4. Medication: NSAIDs to manage pain and inflammation.
5. Surgery: Required in severe cases of ligament tears, fractures, or dislocations.
6. Rehabilitation: Focused recovery programs to prevent re-injury and restore full athletic function.