March Madness is about to get underway, so basketball is on the minds of a lot of people. This, combined with the fact that spring is nearly here, means that there are going to be a lot of people who decide to take to an outdoor basketball court to play a game that they may have been away from for a few months.
If you have been away from basketball for a little while and plan to get back into it soon, then you’ll want to make sure that you’re not doing anything that could put your body at risk of injury. This will require you to take certain precautions, especially when it comes to the wellbeing of your knees. A new report offers some vital advice in that regard.
First, you have to understand why this is so important. Your knees take the brunt of the stress when you take part in a basketball game. They’re absorbing the shock when you’re sprinting down the court and when you come down from going up for the ball. Knees are especially at risk when you engage in the many twisting motions that can occur in the midst of competition.
The last thing you want is to face a dislocation or endure the harsh reality of an ACL tear. It doesn’t take much to set off such an injury, and it doesn’t take much to encourage prevention either.
Taking the time to warm up can go a long way. Shooting the ball around is fine, but basketball is a physical activity just like any other, and it will require you to stretch and engage in some light jogging in order to prep your body for what’s coming. Take part in mobility-building stretches and activities that should bring a fuller range of motion during the game.
If you know that a given knee could be susceptible to danger, then you can also help yourself out by putting on a brace. What this will basically do is keep the knee where it’s supposed to be, dramatically reducing the risk that it’s going to be pulled out of place by an errant jump or step. In fact, a doctor may recommend such a brace if you’ve injured your knee in the past.
You also want to make sure that minor damage never turns into something more serious. The old RICE expression still carries import, so if you start to experience dull or even sharp pain, immediately get off the court and get some rest, ice, compression, and elevation to the affected area. If it hurts to even walk on, then a prompt visit to the doctor should be in order. This becomes particularly important if you've been through a knee arthroscopy in the past.
About the author
