Chronic, or overuse, injuries can be caused by inadequate warmup, poor conditioning, improper and ill-fitting shoes, worn out shoes, or a biomechanical deformity that causes undue stress on the foot and ankle. Common chronic injuries sustained in basketball include stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, achilles heel, tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, sesamoiditis, and blisters. Similar injuries, especially ankle inversions and stress fractures, are also seen in another indoor court sport, volleyball. Different playing surfaces can also have an effect on injuries. Indoor wood courts offer the most shock absorption and are considered the safest courts, while outdoor courts of asphalt are more dangerous.
Concrete courts are the hardest and most dangerous courts in relation to lower extremity injuries.
Some acute injuries occur following mid-air collisions, erratic lunges for a rebound, or scrambles after a loose ball, and can't be helped. But chronic injuries can be averted with proper conditioning, equipment, and good sense on the court. Podiatric physicians recommend stretching exercises and gradual warm-up before beginning vigorous play. A separate weight-lifting regimen of both upper and lower body muscles helps minimize the impact of chronic injuries before they happen. Another means of preventing injuries while playing basketball is a proper shoe.