Basketball combines graceful athletic qualities like jumping, sprinting and lateral movement with physical contact, and as a result, ankle fractures are a common injury. The ankle joint is made up of three bones: the fibula, the tibia and the talus bone; excess pressure can cause any one of these bones to break and sideline a player for months.
Types of Fractures
There are two types of ankle fractures: acute fractures and stress fractures. In basketball, acute fractures are the result of rolling or landing awkwardly on the ankle; they are caused by a sudden and forceful blow and are usually very painful. Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the ankle bones that happen over time; they result from prolonged pressure on the weight-bearing ankle bones.
Causes
In basketball, acute fractures often result from lunging for a loose ball, colliding with a player in mid-air, or landing on another player's foot when coming down from a rebound or jump shot. Stress fractures can be caused by wearing improper equipment, which can put excess stress on the ankle bones and cause tiny fractures over time. Stress fractures can also occur when you're playing with another minor injury, even one as small as a blister.
Symptoms
Severe pain following an awkward fall on your ankle is a good indicator that there might be a fracture, as are swelling and bruising. You may even be able to hear the bone break. If your ankle is broken, it will likely be tender to touch, and you may not be able to put any weight on it.
Treatment
If you think you have fractured your ankle, you should see a physician. Because the symptoms are very similar to a sprained ankle, you will likely need an Xray to determine the extent of the injury. Broken bones need to be immobilized to heal, so a cast or walking boot are usually necessary. Pain medication is often prescribed, and depending on the severity of the break, surgery may be necessary.
Prevention
The best way to prevent broken ankles while playing basketball is to wear proper basketball shoes, which are designed to offer some protection against ankle injuries; it's also important to replace the shoes once they begin to wear out. Strengthening your leg muscles and ankle joints with a weightlifting regimen, warming up and stretching before playing and eating calcium-rich foods like yogurt and milk can also help prevent breaks.
