ShareThisThe American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers the following tips to prevent basketball injuries:
Always warm up and stretch. Warm up with jumping jacks, stationary cycling, running or walking in place for three to five minutes. Then slowly and gently stretch, holding each stretch for 30 seconds.
Play only your position and know where other players are on the court to reduce the chance of collisions. Don't hold, block, push, charge or trip opponents.
Select basketball shoes that fit snugly, offer support and are nonskid. Cotton socks can absorb perspiration and give added support to the foot. Ankle supports can reduce the incidence of ankle sprain.
Protective knee and elbow pads will help protect you from bruises and abrasions.
Use a mouth guard to protect your teeth and mouth.
If you wear glasses, use safety glasses.
Do not wear jewelry or chew gum in games.
Outdoor courts should be free of rocks, holes and other hazards. Indoor courts should be clean and free of debris, and have good traction.
When playing outside, environmental conditions must be considered. Avoid playing in extreme weather or on courts that are not properly lit in the evening.
Baskets and boundary lines should not be too close to walls, bleachers, water fountains or other structures. Goals, as well as the walls behind them, should be padded.
Be prepared for emergency situations, and have a plan to reach medical personnel to treat injuries such as fractures, dislocations, sprains, head injuries, contusions and lacerations or abrasions.
(E-mail Sam McManis at smcmanis(at)sacbee.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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