Ankle Injury Prevention

Ankle Injury Prevention

Many people wonder what the most common basketball injury is, and how often it occurs.

Basketball is one of America’s favorite sports because it is fun but also because it requires so little equipment and it is inexpensive. The true cost of the sport may be the injuries in basketball, which happen because of the running, jumping, quick changing of direction, and physical contact. Ankle injuries are frequent.









A sprained ankle is an injury that occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. This can stretch or tear ligaments that help hold your ankle bones together. Ligaments help stabilize joints, preventing excessive movement. It occurs when the ligaments are forced beyond their normal range of motion. Most sprained ankles involve injuries to the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle.

FACTS

According to a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, one out of every five athletic injuries is an ankle sprain, and 73 percent of all athletes suffer multiple ankle sprains during their careers. Due to the frequency of the injury, its severity is often ignored, which can result in lingering instability and pain that impairs performance.

                      Prevention

Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade doing his Strengthening routine.

To counter this trend, basketball players can employ preventative measures. Using a brace or tape for additional external support will reduce the number of ankle sprains. More important, integrating prehab exercises into your workouts will strengthen the stabilizing muscles, increase coordination and help your muscles develop the quick activation needed to protect your ankles while they support your bodyweight.

Personal Experience 

Being a basketball player, I know and have experienced many sprained ankles. It’s one of the most annoying injuries. I've missed many games due to ankle injuries. In my last day of practice before the regional championship game my senior year, I jumped for a rebound and landed on one of my teammates foot. I suffered a really bad sprain, and was forced to watch as my team won a nail biter.

To this day every time I suit up to play, I make sure I have my ankles are tape. It's not very comfortable, but it can help keep you on the court

A lot of coaches feel that the best shoe for a basketball player, is a high top sneaker.

  
In  In the early 1960s, trainers were imported to the United States from Japan, but mad up only a small portion of the market until Nike founders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman began importing Tiger shoes under the name Blue Ribbon Sports.

In the 1970s, trainers led their own way as jogging quickly became popular and so did the necessity to have a pair of shoes for the occasion. Until this time, factories had been concerned with high production, but now the companies started to market their products as a lifestyle purpose. Soon there were shoes for football, basketball, running every sport had its own shoe. This was made possible by podiatrist development of athletic shoe technology.

During the 1990s, shoe companies perfected their fashion and marketing skills. Sports endorsements grew larger and marketing budgets went through the roof. Sneakers became a fashion statement, and definition of identity and personality rather than humble athletic aids. Athletic shoes are also often worn by children to school.

When people thought of a basketball sneaker, what comes to most minds are a hightop sneaker made by very popular companies. Many college coaches often tell their players that they aren't allowed to play in low top sneakers. This is mainly due to the perceived notation that low cut sneakers lead to ankle injuries. What most people fail to realize is every athlete is different. 

Some of the best athletes have decided on low top kicks. This has open many people eyes around the world because of the reputation that low top sneakers have. Most critics don't know that wearing low top shoes actually help strengthen your legs and ankles. When its all said and done, it depends on the athlete. If the athlete knows her or she has had ankle problems, they should not wear low cut shoes. It's a reason why all training and running shoes are low top shoes. Athletes have evolved so much in the past couple of years.