Common Basketball Injuries and Their Treatments

Finance professional Mark Izydore serves as co-manager of CJ Consultants, a Jupiter, Florida, financial and healthcare advisory company. Away from work, Mark Izydore enjoys playing basketball. A physically demanding sport, basketball can result in injuries such as ankle sprains, jammed fingers, and muscle injuries.

Ankle sprains often occur when players’ feet collide, resulting in pain around the bony prominence on the outside of the ankle, bruises, or unstable ankles. To treat ankle sprains, players should use the RICE approach — rest, ice, compression wrap, and elevation.

Jammed fingers occur from the ball making considerable contact with the end of the finger. The player may be able to resume play by applying ice and bandaging the injured finger to the finger next to it. However, players should seek expert examination if discomfort persists.

Muscle injuries usually occur as a result of over-extending muscles. A lack of flexibility also can trigger muscle injuries. An obvious indent in the muscle or bruising and inflammation are symptoms of muscle injuries. Try gentle stretching in the case of a minor injury, or the RICE approach in more serious cases.