Abstract
Objectives:
This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on injury rates experienced by athletes of the National Basketball Association (NBA). We hypothesized that there would be a change in the incidence rates of sports-related injuries on return to play post-lockdown.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing data retrieved from Pro Sports Transactions Archive. This database records all transactions occurring in the NBA, including injuries, trades, signings, and waivings. Information about all injuries to players in the NBA over the last 10 years were collected. All injury descriptions in the dataset were stratified by key anatomical locations and the dataset was shortened to the eight most common. These specific locations were selected due to higher injury rates overall comparatively to the rest of the body. We then compared basketball players who played after the COVID-19 NBA suspension to a propensity score generated control group before the suspension.
They were matched for age, body mass index (BMI), regions of the country and positions played. The study outcome variable was the injuries stratified into 4 different groups. Demographics for every player injured (height, weight, years played, and birth dates) were collected from Basketball Reference, in line with publicly available information from the NBA.
Results:
We compared 789 players during the post-suspension to 3,945 match controlled pre- suspension players. The mean age of players was 27.1± 5 years, mean BMI was 25.0± 1.2. The eight most common injuries were knee, ankle, back, hamstring, shoulder, calf, groin, and elbow injuries. Prior to propensity score matching, the rates of the three most common were: knee (pre-suspension: 33.79%; postsuspension: 36.88%), ankle (pre: 27.28%; post: 26.62%), back (pre: 18.52%, post: 14.45%) (p-value: 0.022). Following propensity score matching, the results are as follows: knee (pre-suspension: 29.89%; post-suspension: 36.88%), ankle (pre: 27.10%; post: 26.62%), back (pre: 19.06%, post: 14.45%) (p-value: <0.001).
Conclusions:
Our study concluded that among the three most common injuries, the knee was noted to have a statistically significant increase post the COVID-19 NBA suspension. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of players who suffered back and ankle injuries
