Common back pain injuries experienced by basketball players

They say basketball is a non-contact sport, but don’t you believe it. When a football player gets tackled on the field, he is wearing protective pads to protect their hips, pelvis, and tailbone.

However, when either a female or a male basketball player hits the deck, there is nothing but a thin layer of polyester on the part of their jersey to protect delicate back parts.

Back pain injuries that plague basketball players generally fall into one of 4 categories:

• • Back and Neck Strains.
    
    When the muscles supporting the spine are stretched too far both back and neck muscles may be strained while performing either jumping or twisting motion, both of which are very common in basketball.
    
    Back sprain injuries are among the common back pain injuries experienced by basketball players. Physiotherapists in Singapore are experts in treating most mild back problems.
    
    Fortunately, in the scheme of back pain injuries, back and neck strains are frequently the mildest of injuries and rarely required surgery. Generally, the solution from a or anywhere else is to apply either ice.
    
    Ice and rest are the best solutions, although a team physician may also administer anti-inflammatory medication if there is swelling. Heat may also be used to loosen tight muscles, and sometimes ice and heat are alternatively used.
    
    Generally, with sufficient rest, a player will recover in around 3 to 5 days.
    
    
  • Back and neck spasms
    
    Back and next spasms happen much the same way that back and neck strains occur, essentially straining the back and neck while twisting and jumping.
    
    However, in back and neck spasms, the muscles suddenly swell up and spasm, and it can be quite painful.
    
    By far, back and neck spasms are more common back pain injuries experienced by basketball players, and having back or neck spasms is almost a guaranteed 3-day to 5-day trip on the bench. are ex
    
    Rest, ice, compression Anti-inflammatory medications and more are necessary to treat back and neck spasms. And a common experience with physiotherapists and trainers is that players try to go back into the action too fast, greatly exasperating the nature of the injury.
    
    Fortunately, given treatment and rest, surgery is rarely ever required for back and neck spasm.
    
    Although they will not entirely eliminate back and neck spasms, basketball players can minimize spasms by thoroughly warming up sufficiently before playing or practicing.
    
    There exercise to pre-stretch the back and neck muscles before playing, and a good physiotherapist or trainer, maybe even a staff physical therapist can help avoid these common back pain injuries experienced by basketball players.
    
    
  • Stress Fractures in the Spine
    
    Stress fractures in the spine, a condition is technically known as spondylolysis, or degeneration of the spine often occurs in the lower back. Small cracks may develop due to the stress of playing the game.
    
    If the vertebrae actually shift out of place, known as a spondylolisthesis, the muscles can become fatigued and the resultant stress can shift to the bones, creating small cracks.
    
    If the situation is not too bad, no surgery is required, but a lot of rest is important for the bones to heal. Oftentimes a back brace may be prescribed. In addition, generally, the patient is sent to a physical therapist to learn exercises to build up the back muscles surrounding the vertebrae.
    
    If none of these are successful, a back surgeon may be required to perform stabilization of the spine. Naturally, any type of back surgery will significantly impact players playing days.
    
    
  • Herniated disc
    
    Herniated discs are when the rubbery cushion surrounding actually protrudes and hits a nerve, causing intense pain.
    
    Treatment is generally the same. Ice and heat, and anti-inflammatory medications. Often cortisone injections are used.
    
    Although most players recover from a herniated disc within a few days, others may have hampering symptoms for 4 to 6 weeks.
    
    Generally, surgery is not required, but when it does, sometimes merely the protruding portion of the disc is removed, but at other times, the entire disc needs to be removed and the spine is fused together.
    
    Players needing back surgery can count on a minimum of 3 months rest before they are able to play and practice and for some, surgery means 6 months rest from playing the sport.

 

A back injury does not necessarily mean a player’s career is over, but it certainly doesn’t help.

Fortunately, professional and collegiate athletes often have one thing going in their favor in that most are in excellent physical shape.

But there are other things a player can do to extend his career sans back injuries.

One way is always to sufficiently warm up properly with good back exercises before starting to play or practice at full course.

Another thing is to sleep properly. which for athletes, generally means sleeping on their side. Back sleeping is not recommended. Also, a player should sleep on a good mattress. Memory foam or lat preferred.

Finally, players should exhibit proper posture at all times. It is amazing how many otherwise fit athletes slouch and therefore invite back pain. Training to exhibit good posture is what many therapists do to help their patients.

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