Basketball

Similar to football, basketball involves jumping, twisting and abrupt stopping. This makes knee joints and ankles equally vulnerable to injury. Upper limb injuries are also prevalent, especially the shoulders and fingers.

Shoulder dislocation
Basketball often involves direct shoulder impacts, which can lead to injuries. While fractures may occur from falls or collisions, shoulder dislocation is the most common, typically caused by simultaneous blows from the front and back, or a strike from behind during ball grabs.

Dislocations require careful treatment. Even after the shoulder is repositioned, surgery is often needed to stabilise the joint. Improper initial care can lead to repeated dislocations due to damage to surrounding soft tissues, which have limited healing ability.

Besides dislocation, shoulder muscles may also tear under strong impact.

Shoulder pain from overhead movements
Repeated overhead actions such as shooting a basketball can lead to subacromial impingement – a condition where the acromion (a bony part of the shoulder blade) presses against the muscles and tendons beneath it. This rubbing can cause inflammation, pain and eventually damage to the ligaments or even small fractures.

Early signs include pain, swelling and limited movement in the shoulder. If left untreated, the tendons may tear, weakening the shoulder and causing the arm to droop. This can seriously affect performance and daily activities.

Mallet Finger
Catching a basketball thrown with great force at high speed can easily jam your fingers, leading to muscle sprain, joint dislocation or bone fracture. The most common injury is a ligament tear known as “mallet finger”. The tip of the injured finger will be swollen and painful and difficult to straighten.