In the United States, basketball comes only second in popularity after football. Over 26 million Americans are known to participate in the sport, with a majority of being are college and high-school teams. However, as of 2017, basketball witnessed about 500,000 injuries, which is the highest, leaving behind football and cycling at 341,000 and 457,000, respectively, according to data released by the National Safety Council (NSC).

No wonder the global cartilage degeneration market is expected to reach $14,580.10 million by 2027, according to figures released by Report Linker. This number is mainly attributed to the growing incidents of sports-related injuries. Basketball knee braces can minimize the risk of meniscus tears and offer support through metal sidebars and silicone patella rings, according to experts at Aidfull. Besides investing in supports for basketball injuries, here are some tips recommended by professional players to avoid basketball injuries.

Injuries hampered Robbie Hummel as he played in only 98 games over two NBA seasons.

Approximately 25 percent of all sports injuries involve the hand or wrist, and basketball players are particularly susceptible.

Former Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Robbie Hummel and Cavaliers forward Kevin Love are two of the many professional basketball players who have experienced hand injuries in their careers.

Whether you’re an aspiring professional or strictly a recreational player, it’s important to know how to protect your hands and wrists.

Read on to learn some important tips and tricks that can help players of all ages and skill levels prevent hand and wrist injuries.

Common Hand and Wrist Injuries in Basketball Players

The following are some of the most common hand and wrist injuries that basketball players deal with:

• Jammed fingers — this is most common hand injury to occur in basketball. The finger gets “jammed” when the ball hits the tip of the finger instead of the palm of the hand. Finger jams can lead to more serious injuries, like sprains of the finger ligaments, dislocations, or fractures.

• Wrist sprains — these occur when a ligament gets stretched or torn, usually as a result of the wrist being forcefully bent, or if the player falls down onto an outstretched hand. When the ligament is just stretched, it is considered a mild sprain. More severe sprains occur when the ligament is partially or totally torn.

• Wrist fractures — wrist fractures occur when one or more of the bones in the wrist is broken. Forceful bending can cause fractures, as can falling onto an outstretched hand.

• Finger/hand fractures — the bones in the fingers and hands are also susceptible to fractures. Even small breaks can totally put the hand out of commission and make simple tasks incredibly painful and difficult. Finger and hand fractures often occur when the ball is caught, when a player runs into another player, or during falls. Read the rest of this entry →