Basketball: Epidemiology and Injury Mechanism

Abstract

A first and important step in sports injury prevention is an accurate identification and description of the epidemiology of this kind of injuries; it is fundamental also to determine their etiology and traumatic mechanisms. Basketball is popular not only in the United States but worldwide; it is one of the most practiced sports in Italy, and its diffusion has led to a greater focus on associated injuries and how to prevent/treat them. Basketball was created in 1891 as a noncontact sport. Evolution of the game has progressed significantly and modified its characteristics, from low post play to high-flying dunks. The physical nature of the game has become extremely aggressive, and the seasons even longer. Nowadays basketball-correlated injuries are frequent on all levels, high school competition, collegiate level, adult professional players, and amateur players; injuries mainly occur during contact between players. There are small differences between the American NBA (National Basketball Association) rule book and the FIBA Europe (Fédération Internationale de Basketball Association) one; probably these differences could change the characteristics of the game, but it is not proved that this influences the injury risk or pattern. During the game the players are jumping, landing, pivoting, cutting, running forwards and backwards, changing directions many times, and having contacts with each other; all of them could lead to an injury.