FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS ARE THE THIRD MOST INJURED STUDENT ATHELTES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 2, 2010 -- A study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine examined severe injuries among student athletes from 2005-2007 and found that female basketball players were the third most injured student athletes, with football and wrestling the only two sports with more injuries in this time frame.

The fact that female athletes were third on the list does not suprise local strength and conditioning Coach Jeff Fellure. Female athletes do not always get the proper attention they need in their strength and conditioning programs, to help prevent some of the injuries we are seeing in basketball and other sports, adds Fellure.

The problem with many strength and conditioning programs for females is they look to improve athletic performance without consideration for injury prevention. We often do a poor job addressing the needs of female athletes in the middle and high school level, with many females not even being offered strength and conditioning programs at their schools, states Fellure.

Fellure adds, that wee need to focus on safeguarding females athletes against some of the injuries we are seeing in basketball and other sports by addressing the needs specific to female athletes. For example, in basketball females should be focusing on improving:

Dynamic Mobility: A focus on improving ankle, hip and thoracic spine mobility can help prevent ankle, knee and lower back injuries.

Reactive Stability: Addressing reactive stability of the trunk, hips and lumbar spine can also help prevent many injuries we see in female athletes, since the these areas are responsible for helping control the limbs.

Deceleration Control: The majority of injuries in athletics have to do with poor deceleration control. Teaching female athletes how to jump, land, cut, and change directions properly can tremendously cut down their risk of being injured.

Total Body Functional Strength: Sports themselves cause muscle imbalances so a proper total body functional strength training program can go a long way in helping offset some of the imbalances a female basketball player might develop.

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