If you’re playing basketball, you’ll know that this ball game causes injuries that can either be minor or major. The worst ones will leave to be crippled for the rest of your life. This article will provide you with an opinionated list of the all-time NBA’s worst injuries and how you deal with them when you personally encounter them.
Jamal Crawford’s Neck Injury
Do you still remember when Jamal Crawford somehow backflipped and landed directly on his neck in 2003? It was undeniably scary. Everyone watching the game goes silent for some time until they see him actually moving again. Surprisingly, he wasn’t fatally injured, ‘just’ a sprain in his neck. Perhaps, that’s the result of training your body hard. Other people might meet the worst results after that situation. With that awful landing, he was easily quickly from the hospital the next day.
Marquis Daniels’ Bruised Spine
Marquis Daniel’s injury left a hell of anxieties for everyone in attendance during the game of Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic last February 6, 2011. Almost every one witnessed Daniel’s terrifying injury live on national television after he fell down face-first from colliding against Orlando Magic’s Gilbert Arenas. He didn’t roll, wince, or cry in pain —nothing at all. His doctor concluded that he had bruised his spinal cord, so he was momentarily paralyzed. There are many speculations about these incidents, stating that a situation can go beyond what supposedly is a sport.
Allan Ray’s Eye Injury
I bet Villanova’s Allan Ray’s eye injury was one of the classic gruesome eye injuries in the NBA. This incident happened when Pittsburgh’s Carl Krauser ‘inadvertently’ poked Ray in the eye during the semifinal game against Pittsburgh in the 2006 Big East Tournament. In many recorded videos by NBA fans, you’ll definitely see Ray’s eye almost totally bulging out from its eyes socket as it turns dislocated. The severity of Allan’s eye injury was still unknown, but news reported that he was rushed to the hospital.
Andrew Bogut’s Sprained Wrist, Broken Hand, and Dislocated Elbow
The April 3’s NBA game in 2010 showcased one of the most painful-looking injuries. Andrew Bogut got three severe injuries at once. Everything happened so fast. At around the 0:40 mark, when he went up for a dunk after getting a fast-break pass, Amare Stoudemire came up behind him suddenly. Without warning, Bogut went down awkwardly and attempted to brace his fall. As a result, he got a sprained wrist, broken hand, and elbow dislocation.
Heads-up: Here’s How to Treat Common Basketball Injuries
The most typical basketball injuries include facial cuts, eye injuries, jammed fingers, ankle sprains, knee injuries, and deep thigh bruises.
Facial Cuts
Facial cuts are relatively minor, but there are instances when severe and permanent injuries may happen. Its treatment depends on the depth of the injury. Most of the time, it can be easily treated with “butterfly” sterile tape, ice packs to control swelling and relieve pain, and not so severe stitches.
Eye Injuries
Statistics show that basketball is the leading cause of eye injuries. In fact, in the NBA, there are a few players who suffered from eye injuries, including Cleveland Cavalier’s Kevin Love who suffered from a corneal abrasion and Dallas Mavericks’ Rajon Rondo who sustained an orbital fracture.
Corneal abrasions happen when there’s a scrape or scratch in the areas of the cornea. This usually occurs in basketball, when the opposing player accidentally (or intentionally) pokes the other team’s player’s eyes. Rubbing your eyes in one thing that you should when diagnosed with corneal abrasions.
It can be uncomfortable for you, but in most cases, it’s so severe. Moreover, it’s best to have a consultation with ophthalmologists. They’ll more likely recommend you to wear an eye patch over your injured eye to keep corneal abrasion from getting worse.
Orbital fracture, on the one hand, is worse than corneal abrasion. Its symptoms include double vision, eyelid swelling, and pain, especially when moving your eyes. The injury will last depending on the severity and location of the fracture; the same goes for its treatment. Its first aids would include cold compress and intaking decongestants and antibiotics. If the injury worsens, you’ll be recommended to a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
Jammed fingers, Ankle sprains, Knee injuries
These three are grouped together because basically, they all involve either torn and broken ligaments, joints or bones. Jammed fingers happened when a joint in the middle of a finger is bent in half, causing an unusual swelling and pain in the injured finger.
Ankle sprains are pretty common when you awkwardly twist, roll, or turn your ankles, stretching or tearing your ligaments that can result in having swollen ankle and difficulty to walk.
Sprains may also happen to your knees after cutting maneuvers and extensive stop-and-go during basketball games, which can result in knee injuries. The Rothman Orthopaedic Institute listed down the six most common knee injuries in basketball as follows:
- Jumper’s knee or Patellar Tendonitis
- Knee ligament sprains
- Knee tendon strains
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears
- Meniscal Tears
As you notice, jammed fingers, ankle sprains, and knee injuries often result in swelling. Hence, the RICE formula, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, maybe enough for the meantime. However, other dreadful injuries should medically be assessed by medical professionals as soon as possible.
Deep Thigh Bruise
Deep thigh bruises are contusions resulted from a direct blow or impact to the front of the thing, which are pretty typical in contact sports so as in basketball. A mild bruise may heal after a few weeks of regular hot and cold compressions and a proper diet, while a severe bruise may cause bleeding that can lead to a swelling hematoma or fluctuating lump, and therefore must be immediately taken with proper a medical care.