Category Archives: Basketball

Ankle/Foot, Basketball

Spurs Derrick White Plantar Fasciitis

On February 4th, it was reported that San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White has plantar fasciitis in his foot. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News made the announcement.

It is unclear when White started having symptoms. It was reported that he had an MRI, which revealed a left plantar fascia tear.

Plantar fasciitis is point tenderness over the posteromedial area of the sole of the foot. It is a change in the attachment point of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. This change is not inflammation or injury. It tends to arise in healthy people in all walks of life between ages 35 and 65. It hurts for about a year on average and then disappears without a trace. Plantar fasciitis is also known as jogger’s heel or tennis heel. These titles serve to falsely label plantar fasciitis as activity related. There is no evidence that plantar fasciitis is related to activity or exposure. There is no need to limit activities when you have plantar fasciitis, but the pain may limit a player’s effectiveness.

A plantar fascia tear is both inflammation and a partial tear of the fascia. The pain experienced from a tear is often similar to the pain experienced by individuals with plantar fasciitis.

Derrick White has been out since the start of the Spurs’ rodeo road trip and it is unlikely that he will return before the All-Star break.

 

Achilles Rupture, Achilles/Patellar/Quadricep, All Blogs, Ankle/Foot, Basketball, Tendon Rupture

John Wall Achilles Rupture

The Washington Wizard’s point guard John Wall recently underwent surgery for heel pain from Achilles tendinopathy. Media reports described the planned surgery as addressing Haglund deformity. This is a discretionary surgery to attempt to improve symptoms. Details on the medical aspects of Achilles tendinopathy were addressed in a prior post here.

The surgery to remove the Haglund deformity removes bone at the insertion of the Achilles tendon. This weakens the attachment point and creates a risk of detachment.

A month after the surgery, it was reported that Wall detached his Achilles at the surgery site. Reports indicate that the detachment was discovered during an operation to deal with an infection that accompanied the initial heel surgery. The skin in the heel area can have trouble healing and infection is a noted risk. The Achilles detachment was reported to have happened when Wall slipped and fell at his home, but detachment is one of the risks of this surgery. It is more likely with wound problems or infection.

This setback will keep Wall out of play for approximately 12 months per reports. For more information on achilles ruptures click here.

 

All Blogs, Basketball, dislocations, strain

Anthony Davis Finger Injury

 

 

Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward and center positions for the New Orleans Pelicans Of the National Basketball Association. During a January 18th game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he jammed  his left index finger defending Portland’s Zach Collins in the final minutes of the game.

Sprains and dislocations of the finger  are common, particularly in ball sports. The most common area of sprain is the middle knuckle of your finger.  Not the joint near the tip, but the next one up closer to your hand. Sprains cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.  In most cases the ligaments are only partially torn. The ligaments heal quickly and it is often possible to continue playing.  Even a complete dislocation will heal quite quickly. The ligaments are solid by about a month. The swelling and stiffness improve for a year.  The only risk is stiffness, so it’s important to move and stretch. Radiographs are taken to be sure there is no fracture.

Depending on the type of sprain,   Davis can return to play as soon as he is effective.   He has missed multiple games this season due to illness. Reports indicate will be out for a couple of weeks with the strain.  This is happening in the midst of his request for a trade, which led to fine for making the request publicly, which violated the collective bargaining agreement