Foul On The Court: Three Foot, Ankle, And Knee Injuries Basketball Players Need To Be Aware Of

If you like playing basketball recreationally, then it's important that you understand ankle injuries. It's not just Lebron and other pros who can suffer from ankle and foot problems. Even if you only hit the court after work for some cardio and fun, you might end up with a pain the next day. It's important to know what exactly the different issues are and what they might present as. This way you won't panic and think that you've broken your foot when it's probably just some tight fascia or a sprain. Plus, it's important to know when to visit a foot and ankle specialist. Here are three issues to be aware of.

Plantar Fasciitis

This is a common problem that you will encounter if you are running around a lot and are not prone to doing comprehensive stretching. Basically, the fascia in the bottom of your foot that connects to the tendon behind your heel and attaches to your calf gets tight. This can cause a sharp pain in your foot when you walk. If you take pressure off of the foot and massage the area, you won't feel tenderness, but if you stretch out your foot, you should feel the tightness and pain. In some cases you can rest and ice the foot, but it's better to visit a foot and ankle specialist and make sure the fascia isn't actually torn. In addition to making sure the problem is not too excessive, they can give you some stretching exercises to practice.

Ankle Sprain

Turning too fast while on the court or landing poorly after jumping up to block a shot can result in an ankle sprain. This happens when the ligaments in the ankle get stretched too much. In some sever cases the ligaments can actually become torn. The main treatment involves rest and ice. However, if it gets too severe you will need something more severe. This is where a doctor can help. They can prescribe a compression device to help expedite the healing.

ACL Tear

That loud pop and pain in your knee means serious business. It's not something to trifle with. It is the symptomatic sign of an ACL tear. This happens when you turn very fast, or stop on a dime and the ligaments in the knee tear. If you don't immediately stop playing ball, you risk long term damage. However, if you do go to a specialist, they will be able to give you a compression wrap and also some rehabilitation techniques that can help you with your recovery.


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