Sports Injuries – Basketball – Sprained Ankles

Dear Reader,

For the next four weeks we are going to do something a bit different for the Foot Blogger Chick.  With basketball season starting, we decided that we would concentrate on foot and ankle injuries associated with the sport.

The Foot Blogger Chick (me, myself, and I) may not know everything about basketball but I do know about injuries.  Yes, from the softball broken finger to the broken ankle from skating, I have experience with injuries.

Basketball is an active sport which offers the opportunity for injury in several ways.  The sport places tremendous pressure on the foot and ankle.  Ankle sprains are the most frequent basketball injury.  Just thinking of going up for a ball and coming down wrong on your foot makes me squirm but that is how most ankle injuries happen.  It would really make me think twice before jumping up for the ball especially with the action under the net.  That must be why I didn’t get a basketball scholarship.

It is really important to pay attention to an injury as soon as it happens.  By taking care of it immediately, you stand the chance of having it repair and not become a chronic or more severe problem.

There are several degrees of sprains.  It was surprising to me to learn that you don’t necessarily have to have a swollen ankle to have a mild sprain.  I thought that the swelling was a sign of the sprain.  That is not necessarily the case though if it is severely swollen then that could be a sign of a severe sprain.

If you think that you have sprained your ankle, it is best to get to your local podiatrist to have it checked out.  The doctor will look at the ankle and take an x-ray to better evaluate it.  Depending upon the severity, you may need to have it wrapped and use crutches.  While you are waiting to get to the doctor, don’t forget  RICE –

                                Rest

                                Ice

                                Compression

                                Elevation

So, keep off the foot, put ice on your ankle for 20 minutes every hour, wrap it in an ace bandage, and raise it up so it is above your heart.  (lie down with your foot elevated on a pillow or two).

There are a few things you can do to avoid problems on the court.  The first (as usual) is to make sure that your shoes fit right, are appropriate for basketball and in good shape.  All of these things will make the game safer for you.  Another thing is to make sure that you take part in conditioning for the sport and adequately warm up before the game.  Stretching will help your muscles to move during the game.

You may also want to wear an ankle brace.  It would be best to discuss that with the doctor.  A brace may be very helpful if you have been injured before.  The risk of injury is much higher if you have been injured previously.

It can also be that the formation of your foot bones is such that wearing an orthotic will distribute your weight better and save you from injury or re-injury.  This type of problem will be apparent to the doctor when he sees your x-ray.  The doctor can then discuss what you can do to improve your injury free playing time.

Oh and when you make it to the NBA or WNBA, can I have tickets

Just as a note –

With the end of the year coming up, it is a great time to schedule appointments to fix bunions, hammers toes, and infected toe nails.  You can use the time off at the end of the year to recover and you will then be all set for next summer.  So, now that you have hit your deductible, it is time to get your tootsies all set.  Everyone can rave about your beautiful feet.