Injuries in basketball can always present a fork in the road for athletes. The hardest part of an injury is the road to recovery. Once an athlete fully recovers from injury, they are excited to get back on the court and play. Although that urge to play again can cause some athletes to jump back up quickly. There are some tips I can offer to help prevent injury again.

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

Another way to prevent injury is to wear proper braces on the part of the body that was injured. The benefit of wearing a brace is that they are easy to put on, can be worn frequently, and can be easily adjusted to provide comfort to the affected area. In general, a brace is worn to prevent unusual movements that occurred earlier and led to the injury. After an injury occurs, it is somewhat difficult to move the affected area. A brace allows the athlete to move the specific area more comfortably and provides support by moving the muscle or affected area. Another form of brace would be to wear an athletic tape or bandage. The benefits of covering the previously injured area is to improve the stability of the joint or muscle. For example, provide stability to the ankle joint. The tape can also provide a closer and more comfortable feel to the affected area. The tape also helps prevent unwanted movements and allows for normal movements whenever possible, whereas a brace would not do as much.

One of the most important concepts to remember when it comes to preventing future sports injuries is staying fit. The reason most NBA basketball players remain injury free is that they follow strict training plans on a daily basis. 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 critical to preventing injury.