Background: Basketball is the second most popular sport in Nigeria after football and is commonly played by\r\nadolescents. Prospective studies on adolescent basketball players in Nigeria are lacking. Such studies will help to\r\ndevelop injury counter-measures. Hence, this study aimed at determining the incidence and pattern of injuries\r\namong adolescent basketball players in Nigeria.\r\nMethods: A prospective observational study involving 141 adolescent basketball players (75 boys and 66 girls; with\r\nage range 15 ââ?¬â?? 18 years) who participated in the 2010 National Finals of the Nigeria NestlÃ?© Milo Basketball\r\nCompetition. Basketball-related injury data were collected by an assessor during the competition using a\r\nstandardized basketball injury report form. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.\r\nResults: A total of 32 injuries were recorded with an incidence of 22.7 injuries per 100 participants same for boys\r\nand girls. This is equivalent to 1.1 injury per match for boys and 0.9 injuries per match for girls. Jumping/landing\r\nwas the most common cause of injury (28.1%, N = 9). Most of the injuries were at the lower extremities (75%,\r\nN = 24); with majority at the knee joint (40.6%, N = 13). Ligament sprain was the most common types of injury. The\r\npattern of injuries among boys did not significantly differ from that of girls (P > 0.05). Most injuries (N = 13, 41%)\r\noccurred in the offensive half of the court and cryotherapy was the most frequently used treatment modality.\r\nConclusion: The overall incidence of match injury among adolescent amateur basketball players during a national\r\ncompetition in Nigeria was 22.7 injuries per 100 participants; equivalence of 1.0 injury per match. The pattern of\r\ninjuries was similar in both genders and consistent with what has been previously reported in literature for\r\nadolescent basketball players. Exercise-based injury prevention programmes aimed at improving core strength and\r\nneuromuscular control at the lower limbs may help reduce the incidence of injuries.
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