Lower Extremity Injuries in Basketball Players: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
sports injuries, lower extremity, basketball, sports epidemiology, injury preventionAbstract
Objective: This study aims to analyze recent scientific evidence on lower extremity injuries in basketball practice, identifying the most affected anatomical regions, the most frequent types of injury, and their distribution according to age, gender, and level of sports participation.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, through a search of scientific articles published between 2017 and 2025 in databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO, Redalyc, and Google Scholar. Quantitative studies addressing lower extremity injuries in basketball players of different participation levels (recreational, amateur, and professional), genders, and age groups were included. After the processes of identification, screening, and eligibility, a total of 27 studies were included in the final analysis.
Results: The findings indicate that the lower extremities constitute the most vulnerable anatomical region in basketball practice, with the ankle being the most frequently injured area, followed by the knee. Most of the analyzed studies reported ankle sprains as the most common diagnosis, while knee ligament injuries were associated with greater severity. Injury incidence was higher among amateur and adult athletes, and injury mechanisms were mainly related to basketball-specific movements such as jumping, landing, and changes of direction. Additionally, a scarcity of studies conducted in recreational contexts and in pediatric populations was identified.
Conclusions: Lower extremity injuries represent a significant problem in basketball practice, particularly involving the ankle and knee. The findings highlight the need to implement injury prevention programs based on neuromuscular training, proprioception, and improvements in landing technique, with special emphasis on youth and non-professional basketball.
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References
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