The New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals, ending a 27-year drought since their last appearance in 1999.
This nearly three-decade wait has basketball fans across New York in a frenzy. As basketball becomes the talk of the town, it’s the perfect time to review some common basketball injuries so we can bring our A-game to the court, injury free.
Lets review the 3 most common Podiatry related basketball complaints and ways to prevent them.
Ankle sprains typically occur due to sudden cutting movements, awkward landings, or twisting of the ankle joint. They commonly present with swelling around the ankle and pain with weight-bearing.
For prevention, we recommend supportive footwear such as high-top sneakers that extend above the ankle, along with compression socks to help provide added stability and reduce swelling risk.
Heel pain is often related to the Achilles tendon and surrounding posterior chain tightness. A tight Achilles tendon can increase strain on the plantar fascia at its insertion on the heel bone, leading to pain and discomfort. This is commonly exacerbated by repetitive jumping, running, and push-off activities.
At AFC, we recommend optimizing biomechanics with custom sneaker inserts featuring materials and modifications designed for high-intensity activity and sport-specific support.
Nail conditions often result from repetitive running and sudden direction changes, which cause repeated toe jamming in shoes. This leads to microtrauma, nail thickening, and can allow fungal infection to develop. Dark discoloration and even nail shedding may occur.
Treatment includes shoe gear modification to reduce trauma, topical antifungal solutions to prevent progression, and in confirmed fungal cases, consideration of PinPointe laser therapy.
There are a wide variety of common sporting injuries. It is good practice to never ignore pain, as it is your body’s way of signaling that something is not right. If you are experiencing any foot or ankle pain, or would like a professional evaluation, please consider scheduling a visit at AFC.
Let’s go Knicks—New York deserves this one
