Basketball injuries can always present a fork in the road for athletes. The hardest part of an injury is the road to recovery. Once an athlete is fully recovered from an injury, he is excited to get back on the court and play. Although that urge to get back to playing can bring some athletes back quickly. There are some tips I can offer to help prevent injury again.

The best way for a basketball player, or athlete in general, to prevent another sports injury is through personal care and preparation. Stretching before any activity, practice or game is a MUST always. I recommend that players warm up with a brisk jog or light run from one side of the court to the other before starting. After completing this run, it is crucial that you stretch the muscles after they are slightly loose so that you can avoid a strain or tear. It is not good for the muscles to stretch when they are cold. During my high school basketball days, my coach would always make our team do 5 laps around the court to warm up. After that race we would meet in the middle of the field for team stretches.

Another way to prevent injury is to wear proper braces on the injured body part. The benefit of wearing a brace is that they are easy to fit, can be worn frequently, and can be easily adjusted to provide comfort to the affected area. A brace is usually used to prevent unusual movements that occurred earlier, causing the injury. After an injury occurs, it is somewhat difficult to move the affected area. A brace allows an athlete to move the specific area more comfortably and provide support when moving the affected muscle or area. Another form of brace would be to use athletic tape or wrap. The benefits of bandaging the previously injured area is to improve the stability of the joint or muscle. For example, providing stability to the ankle joint. The tape can also provide a closer, more comfortable feel to the affected area. Tape also helps prevent unwanted movement and allows for normal movement where possible where a brace would not as much.

One of the most important concepts to remember when preventing future sports injuries is to stay in shape. The reason most NBA basketball players remain injury free is that they follow strict training plans every day. One of the golden rules of sports is that the healthier you are, the more likely you are to avoid major injuries in the future. Not only is it important to stay physically fit, but having a healthy diet is crucial to preventing injuries.