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Basketball


Introduction

  • Physical education teacher James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 as a noncontact sport wherein teams competed to throw a ball into opposing peach baskets.

  • Since then, basketball has become increasingly physical, with regular contact between players yielding one of the highest overall injury rates among noncollision sports.

Epidemiology

  • Most basketball injuries are sustained in the lower extremity, with contact mechanisms accounting for the majority of acute injuries ( Table 72.1 )

    Table 72.1
    Epidemiology of Basketball Injuries In Us Secondary School And Ncaa Athletes
    Data from Allen AN, et al. Epidemiology of secondary school boys’ and girls’ basketball injuries: National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network. J Athl Train . 2019;54(11):1179–1186; Zuckerman SL, et al. Injuries sustained in National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s and women’s basketball, 2009/2010-2014/2015. Br J Sports Med . 2018;52(4):261–268.
    Level of Competition Event Type Time-Loss Injury Rate (Per 1000 AEs) Total Injury Rate (Per 1000 AEs)
    Female
    Secondary school Practice
    Competition
    Overall     		1.22
    3.13
    1.73     		7.02
    11.84
    8.30
    NCAA Practice
    Competition
    Overall     		2.39
    4.46
    2.87     		5.34
    10.46
    6.54
    Male
    Secondary school Practice
    Competition
    Overall     		1.25
    2.38
    1.53     		6.57
    9.40
    7.28
    NCAA Practice
    Competition
    Overall     		2.80
    4.56
    3.18     		6.41
    13.61
    7.97
    AE, Athlete exposure.

  • Ankle sprain is the most common injury ( Table 72.2 )

    Table 72.2
    Common Injuries In Ncaa Men’s And Women’s Basketball 2009/2010–2014/2015
    Data originate from the Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention Injury Surveillance Program, 2009/2010–2014/2015; adapted from Zuckerman SL, et al. Injuries sustained in National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s and women’s basketball, 2009/2010-2014/2015. Br J Sports Med . 2018;52(4):261–268.
    Injury N (%) Rate Per 1000 AEs Most Common Injury Mechanisms (% Within Injury)
    Men
    Ankle sprain 414 (17.9) 1.43 Player contact (54.6)
    Noncontact (27.8)
    Hand/wrist sprain 119 (5.2) 0.41 Player contact (40.3)
    Surface contact (34.5)
    Concussion 106 (4.6) 0.37 Player contact (79.3)
    Surface contact (18.9)
    Hip/groin strain 83 (3.6) 0.29 Noncontact (61.5)
    Overuse (18.1)
    Knee internal derangement 79 (3.4) 0.27 Player contact (44.3)
    Noncontact (34.2)
    Women
    Ankle sprain 270 (16.6) 1.08 Player contact (49.6)
    Noncontact (27.0)
    Concussion 136 (8.3) 0.55 Player contact (69.1)
    Surface contact (22.1)
    Knee internal derangement 92 (5.6) 0.37 Noncontact (51.1)
    Player contact (32.6)
    Thigh strain 75 (4.6) 0.30 Noncontact (61.3)
    Overuse (16.0)
    Hip/groin strain 61 (3.7) 0.24 Noncontact (55.7)
    Overuse (21.3)
    AE, Athlete exposure.

General PrincIples

Terminology and Rules

  • Although the fundamental goal of putting the ball in the basket and scoring more points than the other team has remained unchanged since its inception, the rules of basketball have evolved over the past century. These changes have placed higher demands on individual participants ( Table 72.3 ).

    • For example, initial rules written by James Naismith did not allow for dribbling.

    • Three-point line added by National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1979 and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1987.

    • Dunking banned in NCAA 1967–1976 (the “Lew Alcindor rule”).

    Table 72.3
    Comparison of Basketball Rules And Regulations In Collegiate And Professional Leagues (2020 Rules)
    Rule NBA WNBA FIBA NCAAM NCAAW US High School
    Court length 94′ × 50′ 94′ × 50′ 91′0″ × 49′2″(28 × 15 m) 94′ × 50′ 94′ × 50′ 84′ × 50′
    Width of lane 19′ 19′ 16′1″ (4.9 m) 16′ 16′ 16′
    Rim height (floor to rim) 10′ 10′ 10′ (3.05 m) 10′ 10′ 10′
    Free throw line distance (from backboard) 15′ 15′ 15′1″ (4.6 m) 15′ 15′ 15′
    Three-point FG distance (top) a 23′9″ 22′1.75″ 22′1.75″ 22′1.75″ 20′9″ 19′9″
    Game duration 48 min (4 × 12-min quarters) 40 min (4 × 10-min quarters) 40 min (4 × 10-min quarters) 40 min (2 × 20-min halves) 40 min (4 × 10-min quarters) 32 min (4 × 8-min quarters)
    Shot clock 24 sec 24 sec 24 sec 35 sec 30 sec none b
    Back court violation 8 sec 8 sec 8 sec 10 sec 10 sec 10 sec
    Player foul limit 6 5 5 5 5 5
    Ball size (circumference) 29.5″ 28.5″ 29.5″ 29.5″ 28.5″ 29.5″ boys
    28.5″ girls
    Size of basket (circumference) 30″ 30″ 30″ 30″ 30″ 30″

    a Measured from center of basket.

    b Varies by state. Shot clock not currently mandated by US National Federation of High School Sports.

  • In standard play, five players per team are allowed on the court at one time with unlimited substitutions.

    • However, “3-on-3” competitions played on a half-court are a common variation sanctioned by many leagues and named an official Olympic sport in 2017.

Biomechanical Principles

  • Basketball requires a high frequency of vertical movements, including single- and two-footed jumps and landings.

  • Noncontact lower extremity injuries are more common in ball handlers compared with defenders.

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