Bay Street Hoops League Basketball � How You Can Safely Play Basketball Without Injury

Basketball is a celebrated sport that people from all ages and walks of life enjoy.� The roots of basketball hail from Canada and the small Ontario town of Almonte.� Here, in 1891, the game was invented by Dr. James Naismith.� Mere hours from Almonte, Toronto is filled with basketball lovers who are both die-hard Toronto Raptors fans and active basketball players. Basketball is a great way to stay healthy and in shape.� It�s also a wonderful way to enjoy leisure time, and even raise money to support Toronto communities. Bay Street Hoops League Basketball is a charity basketball tournament that does just that.

Through the Bay Street Hoops charity, lawyers, accountants and other financial service professionals participate in one of Toronto�s largest sports charities. In the past 15 years, The Bay Street Hoops Charity has raised over $2,000,000 for Toronto children and youth charities supporting Toronto communities.

Basketball is not only a competitive sport but also an excellent form of exercise and stress-release, as many executives who play basketball know. Because basketball is a fast-paced sport, it can present risks for minor and major sport injuries. It is important to be physically prepared before you play, and to exercise caution while on the court to reduce the likelihood of injury.

Here are some basketball �Do�s� and �Don�ts� to help you play a safer game:

�������� There is a reason professional basketball players wear high-necked running shoes: they provide much needed ankle support. Ankle injuries are very common in basketball so this kind of footwear is a must.

�������� Exercise will also condition your body to play basketball without injury. Core stability training, cardio training and a non-aerobic cardio program are all recommended.

�������� Dynamic stretching that includes sport specific drills will stretch out muscles and is ideal both before and after you hit the basketball court.

�������� Hydration is also very important as dehydration can have potentially dangerous outcomes. You�ll often see pros drinking plenty of fluids during the game, sipping on their bottles of water, Gatorade and Powerade.

�������� Static stretching prior to a game or practice is recommended

�������� Do not play through pain. If you begin experiencing pain at any point, stop playing right away because you may have an injury which will be further aggravated without immediate rest. If you already have a previous injury, resist temptation to resume playing basketball pre-maturely. Make sure a clinician has given you clearance for shooting hoops again.

Even the most seasoned basketball players get injured from time to time. Most basketball injuries can be treated through physical therapy and rehabilitation. If you think you may have injured yourself while playing basketball you may want to seek medical attention. Sports therapy clinics are medical facilities that treat people with sports injuries. While you may think that only professional athletes are treated by sports therapy clinics, this is certainly not the case. Many people who play basketball on a casual basis find relief and assistance through a sports therapy clinic. If you love to play sports like basketball, having a good sports therapy clinic in your back pocket is wise.� It can offer you advice about nutrition and other important factors that will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable athletic experience. And if and when you do suffer a sports injury, you have somewhere to turn to for help.

For more information about how you can enjoy playing basketball safely, or if you have a basketball injury needing attention, call Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca