Shoulder Assessment in Basketball

Abstract

Shoulder injuries are relatively uncommon in the NBA (National Basketball Association). This means that medical staff, working within the NBA, may not be accustomed to evaluating shoulder injuries and this may result in missing early signs and/or misdiagnosing shoulder pathology in players under their care. Normal shoulder function is, however, critical for optimal performance in basketball. Therefore, inappropriate management may result in players’ performance dropping and ultimately a significant time-loss shoulder injury. Recent research will be used to recommend specific tests, or battery of tests, to help diagnose shoulder injuries that appear to be more common in the NBA. This chapter aims to address clinical evaluation of those shoulder injuries that have been reported in the League, using cost-effective evidence-based tests, in basketball players.