Sports Safety: How Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel Can Reduce Pain from the Most Common Orthopedic Basketball Injuries
1. Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knee)
Knee injuries are common in basketball, and patellar tendonitis, known as jumper's knee, is the most common. This a sprain or tear of the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. It's most common in sports that involve a lot of jumping. Symptoms may vary in intensity but can include:
- Pain and tenderness around your patellar tendon.
- Swelling.
- Pain when jumping, running, or walking.
- Pain when bending or straightening your leg.
- Tenderness behind the lower part of your kneecap.
Basketball puts considerable pressure on the knee, and jumping frequently can cause repeated stress to your patellar tendon in the form of small tears which multiply over time and weaken the tendon. Causes include:
- Jumping on hard surfaces: Leg muscle contraction and the force of hitting the ground when jumping on hard surfaces can strain your tendon. With repeated stress, your tendon may become inflamed.
- Tight muscles: tight thigh muscles (quadriceps) and hamstrings, which run up the back of your thighs, can create strain on your patellar tendon.
- Muscular imbalance: an uneven pull on your patellar tendon can result if some leg muscles are stronger than others.
2. ACL Injury
Sprain or tear of the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), a ligament that connects the femur to the tibia through the center of the knee. An ACL injury will likely require an MRI to properly diagnose. Symptoms may vary in intensity but can include:
- A loud popping sound or sensation in the knee.
- Pain: ranging from sore to severe.
- Swelling.
- Reduced range of motion.
- Trouble walking or putting pressure on injured leg.
- Feeling of instability, or "giving way" when pressure is put on leg.
Basketball puts considerable pressure on the knee, especially sudden motions like pivoting and cutting, or quick deceleration from running. The ACL keeps the knee stable in response to the force of a player planting their foot and rotating their body. If the twisting force is too much for the ACL, it can rupture. Causes include:
- Sudden directional changes.
- Pivoting with a planted foot.
- Sudden stops.
- Awkward landings from jumps.
- Direct blows to the knee.
3. MCL Injury
Sprain or tear of the MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament), a ligament that connects the femur to the tibia along the inside of the knee. An MCL injury will likely require an MRI to properly diagnose. Symptoms may vary in intensity but can include:
- A loud popping sound or sensation in the knee.
- Pain: ranging from sore to severe.
- Swelling.
- Reduced range of motion.
- Trouble walking or putting pressure on injured leg.
- Feeling of instability, or "giving way" when pressure is put on leg.
Basketball puts considerable pressure on the knee, especially sudden motions like pivoting and cutting. The MCL keeps the knee stable in response to the force of a player planting their foot and rotating their body. If the twisting force is too much for the MCL, it can rupture. Causes include:
- Sudden directional changes.
- Pivoting with a planted foot.
- Sudden stops.
- Awkward landings from jumps.
- Direct blows to the knee.
4. Meniscus Tear
A common injury even among non-athletes, a meniscus tear also commonly accompanies injuries to other parts of the knee. The meniscus comprises a pair of crescent-shaped pieces of cartilage that stabilize the knee joint; one is found on the inside parts of the joint (medial), and the other on the outside (lateral). Symptoms include:
- Pain.
- Swelling.
- A popping sensation during the injury.
- Reduced range of motion: particularly with difficulty in bending or straightening the leg.
- A repeated sensation of the knee getting "stuck" or locked up.
As the meniscus degrades with age, tears are especially common among older athletes. Other causes include:
- Sudden directional changes.
- Pivoting with a planted foot.
- Sudden stops.
- Awkward landings from jumps.
- Direct blows to the knee.
5. Achilles Tendonitis
Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. Symptoms include:
- Pain and swelling in the backside of your heel while walking or running, sometimes also accompanied by calf muscle tightness.
- Heel skin is warm to the touch: a sign of inflammation
- Limited range of motion when flexing your foot.
This is often an overuse injury, although specific motions associated with basketball may contribute as well:
- Excessive exercise
- Lack of warmup
- Poor footwear.
- Sudden directional changes when playing or practicing.
- Sudden stops when playing or practicing.
6. Ankle Sprain
A sprained ankle occurs when you twist, turn, or otherwise move your ankle in an awkward way, stretching or tearing the ligaments, the connective tissue that helps connect your ankle bones. Symptoms include:
- Pain and swelling in the ankle.
- Ankle bruising and discoloration.
- Limited range of motion.
Ankle sprains are a common sports injury. Although overuse can increase their risk, they're typically the result of a sudden accident. Causes include:
- A stretched or torn ligament due to the ankle being moved out of normal position.
7. Deep Thigh Bruising
Thigh contusion is a deep bruising of the quadriceps, the muscle on the front of the thighs. Symptoms can include:
- Pain and tenderness.
- Inflammation and swelling.
- Weakness.
- Difficulty moving the knee.
Thigh bruising in basketball largely stems from player-to-player impact, such as when a player's elbow or knee hits another player's thigh.
8. Jammed Finger
Various injuries that occur to the fingers when they become compressed towards the hand, causing the ligaments to become stretched or sprained. Symptoms can include:
- Pain and tenderness.
- Inflammation and swelling.
- Difficulty moving, bending, or using the finger.
A jammed finger in basketball can result from contact with the ball, the rim, or another player that jams the finger into the joint. In some cases it can result in a tearing of the ligament.
How Can Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel Help Reduce Pain from Basketball Injuries?
Injuries are extremely common for athletes and tend to develop gradually due to repetitive stress on the legs combined with poor or limited downtime after exercise. Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel is a unique formulation of high-quality, all-natural ingredients designed to reduce muscle, joint, tendon, and ligament soreness and strain after exercise! Our ingredients have been specially chosen to reduce inflammation and strain after physical activity:
- Menthol: Its cooling sensation numbs pain, providing immediate relief, while it widens blood vessels to improve circulation and deliver more oxygen and nutrients to damaged areas.
- MSM: Prevents breakdown of connective tissue like ligaments and reduces inflammation.
- Spearmint: Soothes pain and muscle contractions, reducing stress on vulnerable areas like feet.
- Aloe Vera: Anti-inflammatory plant that promotes faster muscle recovery.
- Camphor: Cooling pain reliever that reduces swelling from injury and increases circulation.
- Vitamin E: Reduces muscle soreness and encourages muscle rebuilding, strengthening the foot's support.
- Green Tea Extract: Powerful antioxidant that reduces the oxidative stress that can cause inflammation.
- Arnica Flower: Relieves inflammation and muscle soreness while improving circulation.
- Turmeric: Inhibits inflammatory response while promoting deep absorption of ingredients, fighting pain at its source.
Are you looking for pain relief from basketball or other sports injuries? Click here to try Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel today to get back on your feet!
