Common Ankle Injuries in Basketball Training and Prevention Strategies

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmpe.202618126

Author(s)

Bin Xiao, Haiyong Lu

Affiliation(s)

College of Physical Education and Health, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China

Abstract

Ankle injuries occur frequently in basketball, and after the first injury, a considerable proportion of athletes develop chronic ankle instability, which seriously affects training participation, competitive performance, and long-term health. This paper systematically analyzes the main causes of ankle injuries in basketball training, including inherent anatomical asymmetry, periankle muscle strength imbalance and neuromuscular control deficits, improper landing and cutting techniques, inappropriate training load arrangement and external environmental factors such as playing surfaces and equipment, as well as psychological and behavioral factors including fear of reinjury, sleep deprivation, and neglect of early pain. Based on this analysis, a multi-level prevention strategy covering the entire training cycle is proposed from a multidisciplinary perspective: activating joints and nerves through a four-stage neuromuscular dynamic warm-up; reshaping safe movement patterns by correcting landing and cutting postures using real-time feedback technology; constructing a strength balance training program centered on the periankle muscles; optimizing footwear selection and court management to achieve shoe-court synergistic protection; managing training intensity through periodized load regulation and fatigue monitoring; and integrating psychological interventions into the prevention system to alleviate fear of reinjury. This paper also discusses practical challenges in strategy implementation, including time fragmentation, differences in coach cognition, facility constraints, and collaboration costs, and points out that intervention parameters need to be further refined for adolescent and female athletes. Research indicates that a comprehensive prevention strategy centered on neuromuscular control and integrating sports medicine, training science, biomechanics, and psychology can effectively reduce the incidence and recurrence rates of ankle injuries. It is recommended that basketball teams at all levels incorporate the above measures into their daily training protocols, establishing a whole-cycle, closed-loop ankle health management ecosystem to achieve safer training, improved performance, and extended athletic careers.

Keywords

Basketball; Ankle Injury; Technical Movement Optimization; Prevention Strategy

References

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