02/06/2026
Basketball is a popular school sport in Maine, and the thrill of tournament time is nearly upon us! But did you know that high school basketball has among the highest ankle sprain rates of all sports, with injury rates increasing over the past decade.
Joshua Mayich, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot & ankle and trauma care at Northern Light Orthopedics in Presque Isle, shares these tips for preventing injuries for ball players, as well as some guidance for returning to play after an injury.
Know your risk
• Have you had a sprain or injury before? Your risk is increased by 98%!
• Contact increases your risk. Those who live “in the paint” need to be extra aware.
• A family history of ankle injuries increases your risk.
Injury Prevention
• Warmup: A 10-minute warm-up including strength, balance, agility, and aerobic components reduces your risk of injury.
• Ankle bracing: Both lace-up and semi-rigid braces greatly reduce ankle sprain risk.
• Training: Balance and coordination exercises improve control and reduce injury risk.
Rehabilitation and Return to Play
• Complete your therapy! If you’ve gotten an injury and were prescribed treatment – following through with it to the end leads to a much lower risk of re-injury.
• Address modifiable risk factors, such as body mass index, muscle strength, and ankle flexibility.
We wish all of our local high school basketball teams good luck and safe playing for the rest of their season and during the regional and state tournaments.
