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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2025; 29(04): 559-568
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809163
Review Article

Basketball: Biomechanics and Imaging Findings of Common Injuries

Joao Rafael T. Vicentini 
1   Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Ronald W. Mercer
1   Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
,
F. Joseph Simeone
1   Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Abstract

Basketball is a high-intensity sport associated with a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries, most commonly involving the lower extremities. These injuries frequently result from high-impact loading, rapid directional changes, and biomechanical inefficiencies such as poor neuromuscular control and abnormal movement patterns. Although acute injuries often occur through noncontact mechanisms during play, direct contact injuries have become more common over the years. Overuse injuries are also frequent in basketball and may develop silently and progress over time. Imaging plays a vital role in diagnosis, injury staging, treatment planning, and monitoring return-to-play readiness. This review explores the epidemiology, biomechanics, and imaging findings of common basketball-related injuries: ankle sprains, anterior cruciate ligament tears, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendon ruptures, and stress fractures.

Keywords

basketball - magnetic resonance imaging - ankle sprain - anterior cruciate ligament tear - patellar tendinopathy

Artificial Intelligence Tool Disclosure Statement

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools (OpenAI ChatGPT with DALL·E image generation and Adobe Firefly) were used to generate illustrative figures depicting certain injury mechanisms for this article. We reviewed and verified all AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and relevance.




Publication History

Article published online:
16 July 2025

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