Return to performance following severe ankle, knee, and hip injuries in National Basketball Association players

Bullock, Garrett S; Ferguson, Tyler; Arundale, Amelia H; Martin, Chelsea Leonard; Collins, Gary S; Kluzek, Stefan

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare basketball performance markers one year prior to initial severe lower extremity injury, including ankle, knee, and hip injuries, to one- and two-years following injury during the regular NBA season. Publicly available data were extracted through a reproducible extraction computed programmed process. Eligible participants were NBA players with at least three seasons played between 2008 and 2019, with a time-loss injury reported during the study period. Basketball performance was evaluated for season minutes, points, and rebounds. Prevalence of return to performance and linear regressions were calculated. 285 athletes sustained a severe lower extremity injury. 196 (69%) played one year and 130 (45%) played two years following the injury. Time to return to sport was similar between groin/hip/thigh [227 (88)], knee [260 (160)], or ankle [260 (77)] (P = 0.289). 58 (30%) players participated in a similar number of games and 57 (29%) scored similar points one year following injury. 48 (37%) participated in a similar number of games and 55 (42%) scored a similar number of points two years following injury. Less than half of basketball players that suffered a severe lower extremity injury were participating at the NBA level two years following injury, with similar findings for groin/hip/thigh, knee, and ankle injuries. Less than half of players were performing at previous pre-injury levels two years following injury. Suffering a severe lower extremity injury may be a prognostic factor that can assist sports medicine professionals to educate and set performance expectations for NBA players.

Citation

Bullock, G. S., Ferguson, T., Arundale, A. H., Martin, C. L., Collins, G. S., & Kluzek, S. (2022). Return to performance following severe ankle, knee, and hip injuries in National Basketball Association players. PNAS Nexus, 1(4), Article pgac176. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac176

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 26, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 4, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Deposit Date: Sep 15, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 20, 2022
• Journal: PNAS Nexus
• Electronic ISSN: 2752-6542
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: pgac176
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac176
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/11198333
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/1/4/pgac176/6691726