Category Archives: Basketball

All Blogs, Ankle/Foot, Basketball

Lance Stephenson Toe Sprain

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In the early fourth quarter of the Lakers game against the Pelicans on February 27th, Lakers’ small forward Lance Stephenson sprained the second toe of his left foot. He walked off the court into the locker room and did not return.

X-rays of Stephenson’s foot taken after the game did not show a fracture. It’s not clear exactly what the injury is.  Stephenson was ruled out of the Lakers game against the Clippers on March 4th.  His condition is described as day-to-day, and that he will likely play again this week or next.

Generally, sprained toes heal with time and it is safe to keep playing.  Pain can limit a player’s effectiveness.  Earlier in the season, Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green missed two games after spraining a toe. Stephenson’s teammate Tyson Chandler also missed a game in February due to a big toe sprain.

A sprain is a partial or complete tear of the ligaments that hold two bones together at a joint.  A sprained toe is not the same as a broken toe, which is injury to a bone rather than just a ligament.

The pain from a sprained toe can be treated with ice packs and foot elevation. Occasionally a form of immobilization is used for comfort.

All Blogs, Basketball, Knee, strain

Boban Marjanovic’s Knee Contusion

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Boban Marjanovic, recently traded from the LA Clippers to the Philadelphia 76ers, was carried off the court with knee pain late in the game against the Pelicans Monday, February 25, 2019. The injury happened during a defensive play where Marjanovic’s leg was twisted and tangled up with New Orleans’ Cheick Diallo as the two were going for the ball. Boban was not able to get back up and he seemed to be in extreme pain.

He later had an MRI that showed only a bone bruise (contusion) and a minor ligament strain. There was no injury to the anterior cruciate ligament or other major injury.  

This injury is similar to the Boston Celtics rookie Robert Williams knee to knee collision that happened during the first game of the Summer League on July 6th, 2018.  Treatment for a bone contusion is supportive and nonspecific.

Boban is expected to return to action before the end of the regular season.  

Basketball, Knee

Zion Williamson Sprained Knee

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On Wednesday, February 20th, 2019, Duke’s superstar freshman suffered a right knee sprain thirty seconds into their game against rivals UNC. Dribbling the ball early in the game, Williamson planted his foot to change directions. His shoe panel ripped and his left foot popped free of his shoe. He immediately clutched his knee. Williamson did not return for the remainder of the game.

After the game, Blue Devils coach Mike Kryzewski stated Williamson sustained a “mild knee sprain,” but the knee was stable. What this means is this is likely an injury to the medial collateral ligament, a ligament that heals quickly on its own, rather than the anterior cruciate ligament, which doesn’t heal and usually leads to surgical reconstruction in an athlete that pivots (twists) a lot. A knee sprain is a partial or completed tear of a ligament. A ligament is a structure that connects and stabilizes two bones where they meet at a joint.

Treatments might include ice and modification of activity, limiting stress on the ligament but maintaining motion. Sometimes a brace is used for comfort.