Basketball is a game played on a rectangular court, usually indoors, between two teams of five players each. Each team attempts to score by tossing the ball through the goal of the opponent. A raised horizontal hoop and net called a basket, as any basketball fan knows. However, like any other sports, injuries are common in basketball too. Each team has suffered wounds or injuries. Almost every National Basketball Association (NBA) player has suffered one or more injuries on the hard court too. According to the Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach (SPH), peer-reviewed journal, among the 5 most common injuries in basketball, ankle sprains (21.7%) takes the lead. And it is followed by finger sprains (8.0%), finger fractures (7.8%), knee sprains (3.9%), and facial lacerations (3.9%). Appropriate basketball protective equipment can help to reduce these rates of injuries.
But, there are no strict rules on protective gear imposed by any basketball league. However, to mitigate or avoid accidents, it is best to come to the court wearing some of these protective equipment. Protection and prevention should be a top priority in every sport, such as basketball. Therefore, consider getting the safety required and get a few more years of playing on the court.
What are Basketball Protective Equipment?
Protective equipment are tools, products, and clothing that allow a player to be safe in the field of gaming. In accordance with the sport, they vary. We are going to take a look at the basketball protective equipment in this post, as we promised. So, in the following checklist, you can see the necessary protective equipment to play basketball.
- Safety Glasses or Glass Guards
- Face Masks
- Mouth Guards
- Elbow Pads
- Knee Brace
- Ankle Brace
- Basketball Shoes
- Kinesio Tape
In the following sections, we discuss in detail about the 8 protective equipment mentioned in the above list. Simply keep reading to find out about them.
1. Safety Glasses or Glass Guards
As you read in the first chapters of this article, facial injuries (3.9%) are common among basketball players. So, one of the basketball protective equipment a players must wear protective glasses to shield their eyes in the court. Safety glasses help to avoid or shield the eye area of a player from a strike or scratch by another player. Dwyane Wade sports glasses are famous on the court nowadays. However, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA legend, was among the first to wear safety goggles and even made them a fashion accessory.
Best safety glasses for basketball – our pick
- PONOSOON Sports Goggles – 99% UVA/B/C sun protection and impact protection offered by scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses
- GGBuy Basketball Sport Glasses with Elastic Wrap – Best for kids
2. Face Masks
Face masks are a very common term that you hear mainly because of COVID 19 pandemic these days. But we’re not talking about the surgical masks you need here to suppress the virus. Yet, of course, make it a regular part to wear a mask when you are in public. And the proper face masks are also important in this era for playing sports and exercising as well.
Face Mask as a Basketball Protective Equipment
In basketball, a broken nose is not very common. Yet, there are possibilities where a player may be struck, knocked down, or even hit by the ball with such force that it breaks their nose. The safety mask is able to avoid this from happening. If you’re up to basketball, chances are you have seen Lebron James with a face mask already. And, there is a growing number of basketball players who wear face masks on the court.
The face masks can be used to fulfil two cases. One is to shield the players from future injuries and the other is to help recover after sustaining an injury. There are transparent face masks today that can customize to better suit the player’s face. But those were not available from the very beginning. The only face mask available for a player to wear in the 80’s was a one-size-fits-all mask. It never matched anybody and mostly caused further injury.
When selecting a face mask to wear in the court, consider about its,
- Strength and durability
- Impact for your vision
- Comfort
- Stability
- Security
Some masks do not have any padding on the inside of the mask, but there are silicone padding kits like QiangCheng nose guard face shield silicone gel protective pads for pressure points, that are available separately on online or sport goods stores to give additional comfort.
Best face masks for basketball – our pick
- Mueller Face Guard – It helps shield the face from injuries to the maxillary, nasal, zygomatic and orbital regions.
- Sports Knight – Nose Guard/Face Shield with Removable Extra Grip Padding – High impact medical grade polycarbonate face guard
3. Mouth Guards
In professional sports, wearing protective gear such as mouth guards in the game, and even in practice, is a must. But players are not as defensive and serious about it at amateur levels, such as high school or AAU games. While on the basketball court, players at any level must wear a mouth guard if you care about your pearly whites. After all, they’re not as bulky as boxing mouth guards. But, they offer ample protection to protect your teeth in the basketball court.
Basketball mouth guards are affordable and easy to use. Standard sizes in mouth guards exist, but you can customize them as well. Although the best safety and comfort is provided by a custom fitted mouth guard, standard guards are still much safer than playing without even a guard. Because, even basketball pros like Steve Nash and Isaiah Thomas must have undoubtedly wished that they wore some.
Best mouth guards for basketball – our pick
- Impact Custom Made Mouth guard – It is high impact absorbent at 5 mm, allowing maximum oxygen flow to talk easily
- Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouth Guard – mold shapes specifically for your teeth and gums, offering a supportive fit for prolonged use. Gel-fit liner technology is simple to fit.
- SISU Aero 1.6mm Sports Mouth Guard – Medium sports mouth guard provides guaranteed premium dental security
4. Elbow Pads
Elbow pads are padded covers for the elbows. Particularly that helps players when the play gets rough and intense, to protect them from abrasions, bruises and wounds. You might think it’s a little disturbing to wear elbow pads to a basketball game, but if you’ve ever fallen and hit your elbow on a basketball court, then you know the pain can be serious. Even if you do not break the elbow, a lot of pain is caused by actually striking this portion of the body. Therefore, you can rethink your opinion regarding the elbow pads.
There is a thicker layer of padded material above the elbow that covers the bone and joint if a rough surface is to be hit. The elbow pads do not limit your movement at the game. Because, if it is struck, the elbow pad merely acts as a cushion to protect the elbow. It is not a compression system such as a brace or sleeve.
To make them less noticeable or to look stylish, NBA stars frequently add sleeves in their elbow pads, and stars such as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson are some of the few who cover their shooting arm with elbow pads.
Best elbow pads for basketball – our pick
- McDavid Compression Arm Sleeve Orthopedic brace – McDavid specializes in protective gear.
- Nike Pro Elite – Feature technology for sweat-wicking to help you stay dry and concentrated.
- McDavid 6500 Padded Shooter Sleeve – Worn by many NBA players. Padding at the elbow minimizes the effect of crashes and falls.
5. Knee Brace
Knee braces are available as braces that lace up on your leg or as sleeves. The sleeve type is the most common knee brace on basketball players. Certain leggings are proved useful for so many NBA players, because they care about their safety. Both brace styles provide the knee with support, compress the knee tissue, and minimize swelling and traumatic injury.
In order to protect the knee from getting bent, the brace prevents mobility in the knee and stops the kneecap from getting pushed or injured during play. Individuals who have sustained an injury can also wear them to prevent complications such as swelling from occurring.
Best knee braces for basketball – our pick
- EXOUS Bodygear EX-701 Knee Brace – It prevents minor-to-medium injuries to the knee at a very fair price.
- Bracoo Breathable Neoprene Knee Support – It provides extra stability and help reduce displacement stress.
- Gladiator Hinged Knee Brace by BioSkin – This peculiar knee brace is also prescribed by a variety of orthopedists as a healing gear during arthroscopic knee procedures.
6. Ankle Brace – Basketball Protective Equipment That is Really Worth Investing In!
Ankle sprains are the most common type of basketball injuries. Basketball shoes help avoid these accidents, but players can improve their safety significantly by wearing an ankle brace. Ankle braces are also popular among pros like Steph Curry, Derrick Rose, and Michael Jordan.
More than 40$ of high school basketball players hurt their ankle during a single season, and you’re five times more likely to injure the same ankle if you get an ankle injury.
The majority of players prefer to wear fabric ankle braces that slide like a sock over the foot. These are braces in compression style that provide protection but still allow the player to have a full range of running and jumping motion.
However, unlike an elbow pad, some of the usual ankle movements are limited by an ankle brace. It will restrict your ability to point your foot away from your leg at a lower setting. The ability to turn the foot inward, which is a major cause of ankle sprains and injury during sports games, will also be limited.
Best ankle braces for basketball – our pick
- Med Spec ASO Ankle Stabilizer – Without being cumbersome or costly, it provides substantial protection.
- Zamst A2-DX Strong Ankle Brace – According to the manufacturer, NBA player Stephen Curry wears this brace during practice and games. So, highly suit those looking for professional-grade safety.
- SENTEQ Ankle Brace Asain Slim Fit – Valuable pick for those who prefer discretion.
- McDavid Ankle Brace – Lightweight and supportive.
7. Basketball Shoes
Basketball shoes may not look like safety gear, then just wait until you try to play basketball in the wrong shoes. In basketball, ankle strains, sprains, and other injuries are common. Basketball shoes are specifically helpful for the competitive sport’s physical demands and challenges, most of which incorporate safety and security features. Players should select close-fit basketball shoes, strong ankle protection, and non-skid treads. So, no! It is not a good idea to play with running shoes or baseball shoes, nope.
Ankle-support basketball shoes cover the most injury-prone component of the body of a basketball player to minimize ankle injuries. There will be some kind of ankle protection for most basketball shoes. Their non-slip treads ensure that you get a good grip on the basketball court. Of course, it is important to get shoes that fit, so get shoes that fit now and not those that you will eventually develop into.
Best for shoes for basketball
You will find everything you need to know about the right shoes for basketball here!
8. Kinesio Tape
A relatively new taping technique that involves Kinesio tape is the Kinesio taping technique. Simply put, the type of adhesive designed to relieve discomfort, soreness, exhaustion or weakness from some injuries is known as elastic therapeutic tapes or more generally referred to as Kinesio tapes. It also provides the joints and muscles with flexibility. It also supports without suppressing the normal movements of the body. This one is proved by an investigation conducted by International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy as well. Kinesio taping is helpful for both after injury and during the recovery period.
The tape used for Kinesio taping varies from the conventional white athletic tape used for taping. It has elasticity in one direction, and can be extended to 140% of its original length before applying it to the skin. It provides a continuous force for the skin to pull. Kinesio tape is air-permeable and water resistant and can be worn without removal for several days.
Best Kinesio tapes for basketball – our pick
- KT Tape Pro Kinesiology Therapeutic Sports Tape – Made for professional and Olympic athletes in the 1970s. It has stood the test of time as a product that is extremely supportive, robust, and long-lasting.
- RockTape Kinesiology Tape – Flexible and provides a tight but yet comfortable fit to provide the right amount of support for your muscles.
- Sparthos Kinesiology Tape – Stretches and flexes when supplying the injured area with gentle support. Gently boosts the skin by enhancing blood circulation to facilitate healing.
- Kinesiology Tape Tex Gold – It uses a medical grade acrylic adhesive made of a porous cotton fabric that allows for a firm grip.
Basketball Protective Equipment | Final Thoughts
In order to play basketball, you clearly do not need to have protective gear. Basketball protective equipment is mainly precautionary and it is up to each person whether they want to use this equipment or not. It is crucial and advisable, however, to wear the right protective equipment because it enables every athlete to be safe while competing. Bear in mind that it is vital for each sporting activity to consider the required equipment, whether it’s basketball, baseball, American football or rugby. So, reach your goals safely, and as Arnold Henry says, “Your limits are somewhere up there, waiting for you to reach beyond infinity.”
One comment in this post