The fast pace of high school basketball games can be thrilling to watch, but the speed of the sport can also result in a wide range of injuries. We have tips to help your high school basketball athlete enjoy an injury-free season.
Packed bleachers, enthusiastic cheers, and the squeak of rubber soles against polished wood floors usher in the excitement of the high school basketball season. Because we want your child’s basketball season to be injury-free, we’ve got some tips to minimize risks for your young basketball player.
- Maintain fitness through summer months with exercise that incorporates aerobic activity, strength training, and flexibility. If children stay active during the summer, they’ll be better conditioned to participate in fall sports.
- Take time to warm up before playing. Research shows that cold muscles are more prone to injury. Five minutes of aerobic activity like jumping jacks, running, or walking, followed by a few gentle stretches, will reduce risk of injury.
- Stay hydrated. Generally, players should drink 24 ounces of non-caffeinated fluid two hours before exercise, and another 8 ounces of water right before exercise to avoid performance-damaging dehydration. A cup of water every 20 minutes during exercise is also recommended.
- Practice proper technique. When your child understands and plays his or her position, uses proper passing and scoring techniques, and respects the rules of sportsmanship, the risk of collision-related injury is reduced.
- Proper equipment is a must. Basketball players should wear snug, non-skid basketball shoes, ankle supports, protective knee and elbow pads, and a mouth guard. Players wearing glasses should have lenses constructed with non-shattering safety glass.
- Ensure a safe environment. Indoor courts should be clean, free of debris, and offer good traction. Baskets and boundary lines should be a safe distance from walls, bleachers, water fountains, and other structures. Basket goal posts and the walls behind them should be padded.
In the event that injury does occur, confirm that your child’s coach is prepared to respond. All coaches should be knowledgeable about first aid for minor injuries and have a plan to access medical assistance for more serious injuries.
Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive sports medicine expertise
From Olympians to pro athletes to kids in youth sports and those that just want to be more active—Summit Orthopedics delivers expert care by fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians. If you are recently injured or concerned about ongoing pain, Summit Orthopedics sports medicine specialists have the expertise to evaluate your discomfort and develop a plan to quickly and safely help you get back to being active.
Start your journey to stronger, healthier athletic condition. Find your sports medicine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a sports medicine consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, Plymouth, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as several additional community clinics.