Epidemiology of injuries in British basketball: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Epidemiology of injuries in British basketball: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Objectives To describe injury epidemiology in British basketball, assess sex-based differences and injury risk factors.

Methods 122 athletes from British basketball leagues and national teams completed an online questionnaire collecting demographic, sporting and injury data from the 2021/2022 season. A medical-attention and 24-hour time-loss injury definition was used. Injury incidence rate (IIR) (injuries/1000 athlete-exposure (AE) hours) was calculated as (number of injuries/season AE-hours)×1000. Mann-Whitney tests assessed sex differences in IIRs. Χ2 tests assessed sex differences in injury proportions. Linear regression assessed relationships between IIR and reported risk factors.

Results 46 men and 76 women (median age (IQR): 23.0 years (19.0–26.0)) reported 140 injuries. Median IIR was 2.1 injuries/1000 AE-hours (IQR: 0.0–3.5). Lower limb injuries were most common (70.7%), specifically ankle (32.9%) and knee (25.7%). No significant sex differences were noted in injury site, type, mechanism, timing or severity. Higher IIR was associated with advancing age (B=0.182, 95% CI: 0.038 to 0.325, p=0.014), increased weight (B=0.140, 95% CI: 0.071 to 0.210, p≤0.001), female sex (B=2.214, 95% CI: 0.424 to 4.003, p=0.016), comorbidities (B=2.782, 95% CI: 0.967 to 4.598, p=0.003) and 1–3 years of elite experience (B=2.950, 95% CI: 1.561 to 4.340, p≤0.001 vs 3–8 years). Guards (B=4.996, 95% CI: 3.603 to 6.389, p≤0.001) and forwards (B=3.180, 95% CI: 1.627 to 4.732, p≤0.001) were associated with higher IIR than centres.

Conclusion Lower limb injuries were most common. IIR was positively associated with age, weight, female sex, comorbidities and 1–3 years of elite experience. Guards and forwards had the strongest associations compared with centres. Findings may inform targeted injury prevention strategies. Future research should prospectively assess injury risk.