Basketball
This sport is played in a small space at high intensity which requires explosive power and acceleration. It is this high intensity and increased impact from jumping and landing that adds 7-10 times bodyweight on the ankle, knee and shin which often leads to injury. Muscles easily fatigue from the repetitive running and jumping and ligaments and tendons strain. Regular body collisions and sudden movements can also lead to season ending sprains to the ankle, knee and cartilage.
Anticipation when defending and attacking involves quick cutting movements on a hard playing surface. The friction generated can lead to painful skin lesions such as blisters and callus . Bigfoot manage the NZ Breakers and NZ Basketball players and have developed a basketball specific orthotic . Here are some of the injuries seen in these athletes:
- Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (shin pain)
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Non improving ankle sprains
- Patella Tendon (knee tendon often referred to as jumpers knee)
- Blisters and callus
- Orthotics wear out too fast
Read how Bigfoot helped NZ’s
premier player return to playing.