Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

Tips from the Experts

Get the Best Hops for Hoops

Comfort, Stability Important in Basketball Shoes, Experts Say

Basketball players are known for style, but shoes are a critical part of a player’s equipment. That’s because the quick starts and stops, pivots and cuts, jumping and running that occur during a basketball game require a great deal of the feet and ankles, and thus a player’s shoes.

For those players looking for more than the latest style and maybe even some chance of injury prevention in a basketball shoe, the sports experts at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation offer some advice when choosing the right shoes for your next game.

Cushion Versus Stability

Most basketball shoes require a choice between more stability for the ankles or more cushioning for the soles. “Consumers need to recognize that there’s a trade off,” said Blaine Wilson, sports health educator at the Roger Clemens Institute. “Usually a more stabilizing shoe has less cushioning, and a shoe with more cushion is less stable.”

That means that someone with a previous ankle injury or a child might need a more stable shoe to protect the ankles, while weekend warriors might opt for more cushioning.

Leather is the material of choice since it gives more side-to-side stability, lasts longer and has more give than cloth, said Danie Nguyen, a physical therapist with Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
   

High Tops Versus Mid-rise

“Basketball requires a lot more side-to-side motion than other sports, like running,” said Nguyen. “That makes ankle support more critical, so many people prefer a high-top shoe.”

Anyone who has weak ankles or has previously sprained their ankle should definitely wear a high top, added Nguyen. However, someone who plays basketball occasionally might be fine with a mid-rise or low-top shoe, particularly if that person is looking for a shoe that is more versatile for other sports than a high top.

In terms of injury prevention, statistically, the shoe’s top height doesn’t matter. Studies show the only shoes with higher rates of ankle injury are those with air cells in the soles.

Shock Absorbers for the Feet

Basketball moves require a player to work more from the toes and the front of the foot than soccer or running, for example. The combination of quick starts, running up and down the court, jumping and pivoting from side to side necessitate a shoe with more cushion toward the front than other sports.

“Look for more cushion at the ball of the foot for shock absorption,” said Nguyen. “They should also make sure the toe box allows the toes to spread out and gives the front of the foot plenty of room. In the end, what’s most important is comfort.”

Meanwhile, Wilson feels that shoe quality is most important for preventing ankle injuries. “It’s quite possible to buy a well-constructed, durable shoe at a reasonable price,” he said. “It may not be the most fashionable, and that’s often important to young players in particular, but it’s important to wear the proper equipment for the sport.”

About the Institute

The Roger Clemens Institute is the largest, most comprehensive medically based sports program in the Southwest. The state-of-the-art facility is located on the 16th floor of the new 30-story Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza in the Texas Medical Center.

The Institute brings together medical professionals in sports medicine and orthopedics for specialized research and treatment. Services include orthopedic surgery, sports performance and enhancement research, training and conditioning, education, rehabilitation and therapy, radiology, nutritional counseling and sports psychology.

For more information, call 713-704-2200 or visit the Web site.