Much has been said, written, tweeted, and flashed across hundreds of millions of computer screens and television sets regarding the pandemic effect of the coronavirus over the last several weeks. However, not much has been said about leveraging our coronavirus fear to become more mindful regarding other diseases.

The obvious questions of contagiousness, mortality rate, and virus mutations tend to surface time and time again. With all of the anxiety, sickness, and even death that has resulted from its worldwide spread, the basketball community needs to heed the warning of staying healthy while on the court and in the gym.

The corona-virus represents an opportunity to learn more about the spread of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. For most of us, this wake-up call should serve as a strong reminder of the importance of great hygiene and the regular practice of healthy lifestyle behaviors. We can do just that by diligently exercising certain precautionary measures and strengthening the immune system. The best way to avoid a pathogen is to play great defense as it relates to your overall health.

“Social distancing” is the reduction or avoidance of contact with other people in order to keep transmission down. It has become the new norm in the corona-virus era in which we find ourselves. Some people are distancing themselves 3-4 feet from others whereas, greater than 6-feet may be a better option given most droplets from a sneeze or cough may travel up to six-feet from the infected. Although probably not necessary, this may not be a bad idea to practice during the height of the cold and seasonal flu season where you live.

Many “basketball-related” health conditions can be averted with proper self-care. The following practices will help you avoid the transmission of viruses (flu, cold), bacteria (staph infections – i.e. MRSA, strep), and fungi (athlete’s foot) that are common on basketball courts and in gyms and locker rooms. Basketball season also coincides with the seasonal flu, cold, and allergy seasons giving rise to all sorts of potential illnesses.

In order to be successful implementing the following ninety-six health practices, you must be intentional and mindful about how you live out your life. The corona-virus, for now, has created a new way of living out life day-to-day. So, step back, take a deep breath and begin practicing these recommendations. They will go a long way to making you healthy, feel great, and perform your best on the court.

How Can I Reduce Infections From Basketball & Off Court Activity? 

Take Basketball Hygiene Seriously

2. Wash your hands, thoroughly and frequently! Sing Happy Birthday twice (45-seconds) for the duration of your washing. Make sure you wash the front and back of both hands and each finger and fingertip individually.

3. In addition to hand washing, use a hand sanitizer throughout the day whenever you cannot wash your hands! Note: Hand sanitizers will not kill all of the germs on your skin.

4. Get the flu shot!

5. Avoid direct contact with heavily used public items such as, doorknobs, toilet handles, pencils, pens, water fountains, other people’s cell phones, etc. Use a towel or paper towel to operate the device to prevent the potentially contaminated surface.

6.  Do not share water bottles with other players/people!

7.  Avoid cuts and scratches on your skin! If you get one, make sure you treat it with the proper ointment, bandaging, and stitching, if necessary. Cuts and scratches can lead to easy transmission of microorganisms.

8.  Avoid breathing on other players or gym-mates or allowing them to breathe on you while working out or on the court!

9.  If you’re feeling sick or that your body may be fighting off a pathogen, stay at home, don’t go to the gym!

10.  Do not touch your face! Playing basketball may create facial sweat, the occasional common itch, the removal of a mouthpiece, and other possible reasons to drive your hands to your face. Wear a mask if you have to in order to avoid touching your face!

11.  Do not shake anyone’s hand! An elbow bump, head nod, foot “shake,” or handshake mime with an explanation as to why you are not shaking hands will be understood.

12.  Stay hydrated! The amount you should be drinking depends on several factors: how much basketball you are playing and working out, the climate you live in (the higher the temperature and/or humidity, the more water you need), your age, gender, and body size.

Strengthen your immune system for basketball performance gains

14.  Make sure that you are never barefoot in a locker room! Wear flip-flops or shower shoes because this is where the athlete’s foot fungus flourishes. The symptoms of athlete’s foot include a rash and itching, flaking skin. If an open sore results, additional infections may occur.

15.  Make sure your basketball shoes are dry when you put them on to play!

17.  Do not share towels or shoes with other players!

18.  Wear socks that wick sweat away from your skin!

19.  Note: Specifically, to avoid staph infections (MRSA), practice all of the steps for preventing athlete’s foot above. Additionally, insist that all the exercise equipment that you use for your weight room workouts is clean and avoid saunas or hot tubs if you have a cut or abrasion. Certain microbes love warm temperatures.

Treat Your Immune System with Tender Loving Care

20.  Inflammation occurs when your white blood cells kick into protection mode against infection from microorganisms, injuries, and toxins. It also triggers the immune system to heal and repair damaged tissue which is an essential part of the body’s immune response. Processed foods and added sugar cause inflammation so cleaning up your diet will help prevent chronic inflammation.  If you are ready to cut your addiction to inflammatory foods that hurt your basketball performance this course and challenge will help:

21. Chronic Inflammation occurs when the natural inflammatory process fails to turn off when it should. This prolonged “on” mode of the immune system can begin damaging cells, tissues, and even organs. Some diseases associated with chronic inflammation are cancer, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases – Alzheimer’s disease. Sources known for reducing chronic inflammation include omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), curcumin, and alpha lipoic acid.

22.  The human microbiome is a complex system of the gastrointestinal tract that consists of 10+ trillion bacteria and the genes encoded therein. Within each person are good and bad bacteria. When an imbalance (dysbiosis) of these bacteria occurs, diseases such as, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease results. The microbiome and the immune system strongly influence one another and often dictate the direction of your health. As your microbiome goes, so goes your health.

Avoid These Losing Behaviors

24.  Chronic stress – Acute stress is considered a normal part of life and can be healthy at times, i.e. meet a deadline at work, escape a life-threatening situation, etc. Stress suppresses white blood cell functioning which is an integral part of the immune system. When stress becomes a chronic, low-grade condition, inflammation begins and sets the table for chronic health conditions such as, asthma, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more.  If you wish to dial in more on this challenge we recommend this course to reduce stress for basketball coaches and players too. 

25. Smoking  or VAPING– Smoking weakens the immune system and therefore, increases the risk of respiratory infections. Many of the chemicals in cigarettes damage the immune system of smokers leading to an increased risk of the flu and pneumonia. Smoking also leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is a severe form of lung inflammation. Some research has actually found that smoking activates the immune system causing it to attack lung tissue leading to other diseases comparable to COPD.  Keep in mind… this includes marijuana!  

26. Insufficient Basketball Court Time or Irregular Exercise – Frequent moderate-to-vigorous exercise boosts the immune system. However, too much exercise will actually reduce immune function by increasing inflammation and oxidative stress making you more susceptible to illness. Epidemiologic studies repeatedly indicate that regular exercise decreases inflammatory markers and mortality and incidence rates for the flu and pneumonia. Also, habitual exercise is associated with a lowered inflammatory response to bacteria, longer white blood cell telemeter lengths, and increased T-cell proliferative capacity indicating a boost in immune function.  Consider working on strengthening your basketball muscles with body-weight strength building if you cannot get to the gym or courts.  

27.  Poor Diet – A diet high in processed and fast foods, sugar, industrial seed oils, and grains weaken the immune system by creating gut disruption, inflammation, and dysbiosis in the microbiome. This diet is better known as the Standard American Diet (SAD). Its impact on the immune system can be devastating and may lead to challenging diseases.

Eliminating sugar, industrial seed oils, and grains from your diet will go a long way in improving your overall health and basketball game by strengthening your immune system. When coupled with the other items on this list, it becomes a formidable opponent to any pathogen in its way.

29.  Obesity – According to PubMed, “Obesity, like other states of malnutrition, is known to impair the immune function, altering leucocyte counts as well as cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, evidence has arisen that an altered immune function contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity.”

30.  Alcohol Consumption – Alcohol is an immune system suppressor. One serving of alcohol is known to alter your gut microbiome. Excessive consumption will undoubtedly put you at high risk of immune-related health problems such as, pneumonia, cancer, alcoholic fatty liver disease, slower healing capabilities, life-threatening infections, and more.

31.  Lack of Sleep – Sufficient amounts of sleep is one of the best things you can do to keep your immune system running strong. Most doctors recommend 7-9 hours each night for good health. Nights limited to only 4-5 hours of sleep increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. A physical and mental fatigue due to sleeplessness will also greatly reduce your performance on the basketball court and in the classroom or boardroom.

Score Big with These Foods

32. Grass-Fed Butter

33.  Oysters

34.  Liver from Grass-Fed Animals

35.  Eggs from Grass-Fed Hens

37.  Fish Eggs

38.  Whole Raw Milk from Grass-Fed Cows

39.  Bone Broth

40.  Wild Salmon

41.  Whole Yogurt or Kefir

42.  Beef from Grass-Fed Steers

43.  Sauerkraut

44.  Organic Beets

Note: This list was taken from ChrisKresser.com. Although this may not sound like the most appetizing list of foods, it certainly provides the nutrition needed for a strong and healthy immune system. Some additional foods would include:

45. Avocados

46. Organic Cinnamon

47.  Organic Sweet Potatoes

48.  Organic Blueberries

49.  Organic Almonds

50.  Green Tea

51.  Organic Ginger

52.  Dark Chocolate

53.  Organic Garlic

54.  Organic Kale

55.  Organic Spinach

56.  Organic Cauliflower

57.  Organic Swiss Chard

58.  Organic Coconut Oil

59.  Organic Walnuts

60.  Wild-Caught Sardines

Ask Your Doctor About These Supplements To Boost Your Immunity System (May Not Be Suitable For Children or Adults)  

61.  Elderberry Syrup for Adults (children must act doctor)

Basketball Nutrition Overview

Nutrition is one of the most important, yet overlooked issues related to success on the basketball court. Many people regularly choose momentary cost and convenience over health and basketball performance. These decisions make an immediate difference and have a long term effect, whether positively or negatively. Making the right decisions today will have a positively profound effect tomorrow.

In order to reach your peak performance on the court, you must meet your nutritional needs with nutrient-dense, real food. Foods that do not fall into this category can be harmful and work against you and your efforts to become your best, especially heavily processed foods.

The purpose of all five parts of this article is to provide you with a higher level of nutritional thinking. It may challenge your taste buds, but in the end, the rewards are substantial; improved performance on the basketball court, clearer thinking, and less inflammation throughout your body.

Basketball Food Criteria To Win Nutritional Gains

In order to qualify for this list, each food had to fall under all five of the following categories. It is important to note that many of the most nutritious foods on the planet (organ meats, oysters, etc.) were excluded from this list because most people do not find them tasty. They must:

• Provide good nutrition
• Be industrial seed oil-free and grain-free
• Contain no added sugar
• Be kid-friendly (note: preparing food with sea salt, organic coconut oil, and/or grass-fed butter can make all the difference in the taste of foods, i.e. vegetables)
• Provide the energy (individually or collectively) necessary to sustain the rigorous demands of high-level basketball.

The goal is simple: eliminate or greatly reduce processed food from your diet. Even though some foods (simple sugars such as, candy, sodas, etc.) may offer you immediate energy needs, they can destroy your health over time due to their effects on your gut bacteria, blood sugar / insulin levels, and inflammation levels. Over time, eating naturally sweet and savory foods will train your taste buds so that you will no longer desire lab-created, chemically-laden, sugary junk food.

The term “organic” is used for most of the foods on this list. Organic means that crops must be grown without synthetic pesticides, GMO’s, and sewage sludge-based and petroleum-based fertilizers. Livestock is raised outdoors and fed organic feed. They are also not given hormones, antibiotics, or fed any animal by–products.

The foods listed will help provide you with the health-promoting benefits, energy, and muscle repair, and recovery that is essential for optimal performance on the basketball court. Although not listed as one of “The 25 Best Foods for Basketball Players,” filtered water is as important as any of the foods discussed. Filtering water removes harmful arsenic and DBPs (carcinogens), fluoride (associated with weakening the immune system), and aluminum (linked to hyperactivity and learning disabilities).

Keep in mind, limiting your selection to just a few of the foods on this list will not have the same healthy effect as diversifying your choices. Also, by eliminating the unhealthy food in your diet while regularly eating a large percentage of the foods on this list, as well as other known healthy foods, you will be more likely to sleep better, be in a better mood, and improve your memory. In other words, your body will be functioning at a much higher level.

Without further ado, add these twenty-five foods to your dietary routine and start eating like a champion today!

Pasture-Raised Eggs – Fried, pouched, scrambled, or hard-boiled, pasture-raised eggs provide you with twice the omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, 3-6 times more vitamin D, and 7 times more beta carotene than eggs produced by caged hens. Pasture-raised eggs, from hens raised on bugs, grass and sunshine, also contain more vitamin A, vitamin B12, folic acid and is a great source of quality protein. This nutrient powerhouse with help meet your nutritional needs and provide the energy and muscle repair necessary for success on the basketball court.

Organic Apples, Bananas, Oranges, Cherries–Nature’s “candy” helps replenish depleted energy stores (glycogen) on a moment’s notice without the gut disruption of heavily processed sugary foods. These nutritional juggernauts contain the carbohydrates needed to meet the demands for high energy of basketball. Their phytochemical (plant chemicals) content helps regulate hormones, stimulates immune function, and protects against cell damage that can lead to cancer.

Organic Spinach / Organic Broccoli – If you can manage to eat both of these on a regular basis it will pay huge dividends. Spinach is a big-time player in producing good health. Its health benefits are too numerous to list here, but it’s chalk-full of iron, calcium, and magnesium (helps prevent muscle cramps) along with vitamin’s A,

Organic Sweet Potatoes–This root vegetable is loaded with fiber, iron, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and beta-carotene (vitamin A) which assists in fighting oxidation and the damage caused by free radicals. Sweet potatoes also build a healthy digestive system. Its complex carbohydrate-rich content provides the energy needed for high level basketball performance without the gut damaging effects of easily digestible carbohydrates.

Chicken and Beef Bone Broth–This “superfood” contains collagen, minerals (calcium, magnesium, and potassium), and amino acids. It supports a healthy immune system, helps reduce joint pain, and boosts energy levels, among other things. Bone broth’s anti-inflammatory affect allows your body to feel its best, especially when aches and pains are accumulating from your play on the court.

Basketball injuries are something you have experienced if you have played basketball long enough. The contact nature and ballistic movements of the game lend themselves to an array of potential setbacks. Proper rest, a healthy diet, efficient pre-practice and pre-game warm-up, and strength training, stretching and prehab exercises will go a long way in helping you stay on the court and out of the doctor’s office and trainer’s room.

Unfortunately, injuries may occur no matter what precautions you take to prevent them. Colliding with another player, landing on another players foot as you return to the floor from a jump, and striking the floor awkwardly while diving for a loose ball are just a few ways that can lead to time in the doctor’s office. This can be extremely frustrating when you have taken all other action necessary to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.

Being proactive with the knowledge of your injury, treatment protocol, and recovery process will equip you with the tools necessary to limit the amount of time you are sidelined. Consider some of the following statistics found in a study by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association on high school basketball players and their prevalence:

The most common type of injuries were sprains at 43% of all injuries

General trauma checked-in as the second most common type of injury sustained at 22% of all injuries

9% of the injuries were of the knee

Ankle and foot injuries made up 42% of all injuries

59% of injuries that occurred in-game, happened in the 2nd half when players were tired

Practice produced 60% of the injuries where players probably were not properly warmed-up

A basic understanding of the injuries that most commonly affect basketball players can help you avoid them altogether and provide you with a “second opinion” of treatment modalities. It is never prudent to self-assess or limit your learning to only one source. Always schedule an appointment with your physician to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Most non-surgical treatment plans will include applying the RICE method and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). So, if you have sustained an injury on the court, there is a good chance it is one of the following most common basketball-related injuries:

Torn ACL

– The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in your knee is responsible for limiting joint mobility. A tear in this ligament can be quite debilitating and can cost you the remainder of your season (up to nine months recovery time). Surgery and an intensive post-op rehab program will be required in order for you to return to your previous level of competition. It was once believed that ACL tears typically occurred during a maximum load. Recent research however, suggests that the ACL is gradually weakened by micro-trauma created during sub-maximal loading. Over time, this accumulation of damage may result in an ACL tear from a sub-maximal load.

Sprained/Torn MCL

– The medial collateral ligament helps stabilize the knee. An injury to the MCL occurs when valgus force (knees angled inward) is too great. Depending upon the severity of the injury, most MCL injuries with a rehab program – consisting of reducing inflammation, strengthening, range of motion, and balance exercises – have a healing time of 6 weeks to 4 months. Only the most severe MCL injuries will require surgery.

Concussions

– A concussion is an injury to the brain. This occurs when the brain is shaken inside of the skull due to a forceful blow to the head area. In basketball, a concussion can occur when your head collides with another player or by hitting the floor. Medical personnel should be notified immediately if a concussion is suspected.

Symptoms include headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, and difficulty concentrating. Headaches can also be exacerbated when concentrating. Treatment usually involves resting both your body and brain. Return to action is on an individual basis and should begin slowly and with a physician’s approval.

Broken Nose

– Fractures of the nose are the most commonly injured area of the face. They can occur by colliding with another player, an elbow to the face, or a basketball that hits you square in the face. Without proper care, a nose fracture can lead to permanent disfigurement of the nose and possible breathing problems.

Depending upon the severity of the blow to the head, make sure that no other injury to the head region has occurred, such as a concussion or neck injury. If it is clear that your nose is broken, go to an emergency room to be evaluated. A specialist may be necessary to reset the nose so that the bones don’t set permanently in a “broken” position. Usually, this needs to be done in a few days to a week and a half so that you do not risk any permanent defects.

Facial Cuts

– Facial wounds will most likely cause you to leave a practice or game to seek treatment. The severity of the injury will dictate whether or not you need to seek professional treatment. If the facial cut is deep, more than likely you will need medicaltreatment. Also, if the cut is so wide that the edges cannot be squeezed together, stitches will be needed in order for it to heal properly.

Keeping the wound clean throughout the healing process will reduce the chance of infection. If your wound does not require stitches, apply basic wound care as your treatment. Although your attention may be placed on your bleeding facial injury, do not sleep on a potential head (concussion) and/or neck injury as well. The following types of injuries to your face are the most common:

A bloody nose

– Similar to a broken nose but not as severe. A collision with another player, a basketball hitting you square in the face, or a flailing elbow by another player are common causes of a bloody nose.

A cut to the eye area

– An injury to the eye area is usually caused by a collision with another player or elbow to the face.

A bloody lip

– An injury to the lip area can be pretty messy if teeth and/or braces are involved. Tissue damage can become extensive if both inside and outside of the mouth are damaged.

An abrasion to the face

– Sliding across the floor on your face can remove a layer or two of skin, but seldom requires medical attention.

Jammed Fingers

– Fingers get jammed when ligaments in the joints of your fingers are strained or stretch too far. This can occur when a finger absorbs excessive force from an incoming basketball or accidentally “hitting” another player.

Because a jammed finger is not broken, the injury is seldom serious. Taping your finger to a non-affected neighbor finger or wearing a splint on your injured finger will help stabilize and immobilize it until the ligaments heal. A cloth-covered bag of ice may be used to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Ice you finger for 15 minutes at a time.

Knee Sprain

– A knee sprain occurs when there is an injury to one of the four ligaments of the knee. A knee sprain can lead to knee instability. Depending upon the severity of the injury, recovery time can be a couple of weeks to a full year. Symptoms of a knee sprain may include swelling, pain/ache, instability, stiffness, reduction of range of motion, and inflammation (knee warmth).

Strained Leg Muscles (Groin, Hamstring, Calf)

– A strained muscle in the leg is a result of a tear or stretch in muscle fibers. This typically occurs when a muscle is overstretched. Muscle soreness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, painful walking, and visibly changed muscle shape are all symptoms of a strained leg muscle.

The degree of injury to the muscle fibers determines the severity of the situation. A Grade of I, II, and III are used to differentiate the extent of fiber damage, with a grade of I the least severe and III being the most. Your physician will assess the level of severity and put you on a treatment protocol.

The recovery of Grade I and Grade II injuries typically lasts a couple of months and a Grade III requires surgery and post-op rehab. Applying the RICE method to a Grade I or II injury is typically prescribed: Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate.

Ankle Strain/Sprain

– Strains are injuries to muscles or tendons and sprains are injuries to ligaments. These injuries are a result of an overstretching or tearing of the tissue. Stopping and starting, lateral movements, and jumping make ankle strains and sprains quite common in the game of basketball.

The severity of your injury will dictate the mode of treatment. Using the RICE method for the first 48 hours will help alleviate some of your symptoms especially for mild strains and sprains. Surgery may be required if any of your tendons or ligaments are torn. Mild to moderate injuries will take a couple of days to a couple of weeks to heal. You may want to have your doctor evaluate your injury if your symptoms persist for longer than a couple of weeks. To help prevent ankle injuries, make sure you warm-up and stretch prior to every practice and game.

Patellar Tendonitis (Acute) or Patellar Tendinosis (Chronic)

– The patella tendon helps hold the kneecap in place. An overuse injury to this tendon (above and below the tendon) is so common to basketball players that it is also known as jumper’s knee. Pain occurs below the knee and can last several months to a year.

Patellar tendonitis and tendinosis is best treated with the RICE method and physical therapy. Light stretching and eccentric quadricep contractions may also be recommended by your doctor and/or physical therapist. Rest is the most important form of treatment but also the most unpopular due to most people’s desire to get back on the court. To fully recover it may take several months of treatment and rest.

Achilles Tendonitis, Tendinosis, or Rupture

– The Achilles tendon attaches your calf muscles to your heel bones. An injury to this tendon is common, especially when playing basketball. They often occur when exploding off the floor to sprint down the court, jumping for a rebound, or moving laterally when playing defense.

The three types of injury to a tendon are:

Tendonitis

– An inflammation of the tendon; usually caused by repetitive motion.

Tendinosis

– A chronic tendonitis condition characterized by small tears in the tendon.

Rupture

– A complete or partial separation of the tendon from the heel bone or that same degree of separation somewhere in the middle of the tendon.

Pain is an obvious symptom that can range from mild to severe based on the degree of damage. When a tear of the tendon occurs, you may hear a pop followed by bruising, swelling, and stiffness.

Surgery, followed by physical therapy, will be necessary in order to return to your previous level of basketball activity. Minor injuries may take several weeks to months to heal based on their severity. In addition to applying the RICE method and taking an anti-inflammatory medication (if recommended by your doctor), light stretching and strengthening exercises can be of some benefit to getting you back on the court sooner rather than later.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

– Osgood-Schlatter disease is inflammation right below the kneecap on the patellar ligament. It typically effects boys and girls during puberty ages 10 to 15 while bones are still growing. Running and jumping activities pose the greatest risk to developing Osgood-Schlatter disease because of the forceful contractions placed on the quadriceps (front of the upper thigh).

Resting, icing, and stretching the quadricep muscles until the ligament is no longer inflamed is the prescribed treatment. Anti-inflammatory medications may be necessary if the previous treatments listed above are ineffective. Osgood-Schlatter disease will typically continue until your bones finish growing – this could last months to years.

Most basketball-related injuries are unavoidable. However, by taking preventable measures – strength training program, prehab, balance and agility exercises, anti-inflammatory diet, etc. – you can reduce the severity and time spent recovering from them.  Start today by building a balanced muscular body with our Basketball Strength Training Program: 

Questions To Ask Your Doctor After Basketball Injuries

Most people do not ask enough “right” questions when they meet with their doctor. Inevitably, you will find yourself not knowing what to do when certain situations with your injury arise. Knowing what questions to ask your doctor is essential to handling your treatment effectively. It also puts you and your doctor on the same page and demonstrates that you will be diligent and compliant with your prescribed treatment. Make sure you ask the following questions.

What is my injury?

What are my different treatment options?

What outcome should I expect?

When will I be able to play basketball at 100% again?

How long can I expect the pain and/or swelling to persist?

Ice or heat? How long for each?

Is there anything I can do on my own to improve my condition?

Do I need an MRI? X-Ray?

How soon will I get the results of the MRI?

Will someone call me with the results or do I need to call your office?

What is my treatment plan? Surgery? Physical Therapy?

If I am prescribed physical therapy, what level of pain should I allow myself to experience when performing the physical therapy exercises?

Will I be taking any medications?

If prescribed medication(s), are there any foods or other medications I shouldn’t take while taking this new medication?

Can I drive a car while on this medication?

What are the side-effects of my prescribed treatment (medications, physical therapy, etc.)?

If my injury does not require surgery, how long will it take to heal?

Will my injury continue to give me problems or will it totally heal?

What are the possible setbacks?

What questions have I not asked you (doctor) that I should have?

Learning about your basketall injury is not limited to these questions. Knowledge is power so, the more information you have, the better off you will be. Follow instructions, be compliant, and gather as much information as possible for a fast and effective recovery.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to assist basketball players in asking their doctors the correct questions regarding their injuries so that they can return to action as safely and soon as possible. It is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat an injury. Consult with your licensed physician or healthcare professional for his or her professional advice before beginning any treatment protocol.

Rusty Gregory, MS, CSCS is the coauthor of Living Wheat-Free for Dummies (Wiley Publishing). He received his B.S. (Commercial and Industrial Fitness, Minor in Health Education) in 1989 from Texas Tech University and his M.S. (Kinesiology) in 1991 from the University of Michigan. In 1991, he began his personal training business in Austin, Texas, and became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). In 1995, he opened Forte Personal Fitness, a private personal fitness studio where he trains athletes from a multitude of sports and people of all ages, health backgrounds, and physical limitations.