5 Benefits of Physical Therapy for Basketball Injuries

Research shows that athletes are more prone to injury with increased training, gameplay, and competition. Basketball players experience a lot of strain on the body due to the nature of the sport and its demanding requirements. Basketball is an explosive game with continuous running and jumping. Approximately 49.9% of basketball players will sustain some form of injury every season.

These injuries range from a minor sprain to a torn ligament or tendon. Whatever your level of injury, it’s crucial you treat your basketball injuries correctly to decrease the risk of them recurring. Ask any professional athlete, and they’ll tell you that one of the most important things for coming back stronger after an injury is physical therapy (also called rehab). At Twin Boro, our experts are highly trained to deal with injuries and provide customized treatment. This article will discuss the most common basketball injuries and how physical therapy can help overcome these injuries.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a health care profession that focuses on helping people restore or maintain the ability to move, perform daily activities, and participate in sports. Physical therapy utilizes an active process that involves working with a physical therapist to improve movement, flexibility, strength, and balance. Physical therapy aims to help patients regain mobility and function by addressing their pain and restoring normal movement patterns. Physical therapists at Twin Boro work closely with patients to determine the cause of their pain and develop a treatment plan that improves their quality of life. Physical therapists working with athletes develop sports specific plans of care to help individuals recover from injuries with the goal of returning to sports participation. Plans of care are developed in collaboration with the athlete and the athlete’s physician to maximize the effectiveness while minimizing the risk of the planned interventions.

How can Physical Therapy be Used to Treat Basketball Injuries?

Physical therapy plans of care designed to treat basketball and other sports related injuries. A treatment objective can be to correct any dysfunction or physical issues that may have contributed to the injury. Sports physical therapy is provided by a physical therapist who develops a specific treatment plan for the specific injury. In most cases these plans of care will involve the athlete attending three sessions per week with a physical therapist of approximately 60 minutes each. The frequency and duration of the session will vary depending on the severity of injury. A combination of exercises and hands on manual therapy techniques are typically used in these sessions to help regain strength and normal movement of the injured area.

What are the Most Common Basketball Injuries?

Basketball is a game that requires a lot of athleticism and agility. To succeed, you must ensure you’re in optimal shape, which means staying healthy and injury-free.

According to a study conducted by the National Basketball Players Association, there are four main types of basketball injuries:

• Ankle sprains: Ankle sprains occur when ligaments are injured. These can happen with a twist of the ankle when changing direction or landing from a jump. Stepping on the foot of another player is also a common cause.
• Fractures: Fractures are broken bones after impact from an external force, such as falling or being hit with another player’s body during play. When the mechanism of an ankle sprain is more intense, a fracture may occur.
• Contusions: contusions result from impact trauma to muscles. Contusions can also be caused by collisions with other athletes or other falls during sports participation.
• Knee Injury: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries commonly occur in sports that involve multidirectional movement patterns. Basketball and soccer are such sports with abrupt directional changes. As the body pivots to transition into a new direction and comes down on a planted foot, it is vulnerable to injury if the knee is not properly positioned during this momentum change.

Physical therapists at Twin Boro help patients pinpoint what is causing their pain and develop a treatment plan to relieve this discomfort.

5 Benefits of Physical Therapy for Basketball Injuries

Physical therapy can help basketball players recover from injuries and get back on the court as soon as possible. Benefits include:

• Improved Range of Motion: Physical therapists use a variety of interventions to help restore the normal range of motion in joints and muscles. This allows them to restore full function.
• Reduced Risk of Future Injury: If a muscle or joint has been injured, it will take time for it to heal completely, and if untreated, this could lead to further damage down the road. Physical therapy can help decrease the risk of future injuries by strengthening damaged structures and increasing their resilience.
• Relieves Or Eliminate Pain: Physical therapists use a combination of hands-on manual therapy, exercise, and modalities such as electrical stimulation to decrease the pain from an injury. or the athletes.
• Improve Neuromuscular Control: Physical therapists assess the athlete to rapidly change direction. Enhancing ability for multidirectional movement patterns improves performance and decreases risk of re-injury.
• Maximizes Mobility: Stretching can improve athletic performance by minimizing muscular stress and expanding the range of motion, which makes it a valuable tool for athletes.

Twin Boro sports physical therapy focuses on the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries, for anyone with an active lifestyle.

Can you See a Physical Therapist Before an Injury from Basketball?

Most physical therapists are knowledgeable about sports injuries, especially those sustained by basketball players, and can create a fitness plan tailored to each player’s requirements. It will involve a combination of aerobic exercise, functional training, and resistance training, as well as regular physical examinations to monitor progress.

Why Choose Twin Boro for Physical Therapy from a Basketball Injury?

A person troubled with a basketball injury may be hesitant about coming in for sports physical therapy. Our team of physical therapists are experts in the treatment of sports physical therapy. We offer various treatment options to help alleviate your symptoms and allow you to live your best life! Contact us today at 1-866-525-1117 for a free screening or consultation with one of our physical therapists.