National Basketball Association combine scores as a predictive measure of lower limb surgery over 10 consecutive seasons (2010–2020): A retrospective review

TL;DR

This study found that higher vertical leap scores at the NBA Combine may predict future lower limb injuries requiring surgery in basketball players.

Contribution

The study identifies vertical leap as a potential predictor of future lower limb surgery in NBA players.

Findings

Higher standing and max vertical leap scores were significantly associated with future lower limb surgery.

Knee injuries were the most common, with meniscal and arthroscopic surgeries being frequent.

No significant differences were found in anthropometric or sprint-related Combine scores between injured and noninjured players.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to correlate National Basketball Association (NBA) Combine scores with future surgical lower limb injury to determine if NBA Combine scores can be predictive of future surgery on the lower limb.

A retrospective review of NBA surgical lower limb injuries was performed using a data set covering 10 consecutive NBA seasons (2010–2020). All NBA Combine data were obtained through the official NBA Combine website. NBA Combine data were matched to injury list and compared against noninjured control, described using means and standard deviations. Differences were evaluated using independent t‐tests, with an a priori level of significance at p < 0.05.

A total of 27,105 injury transactions were reported and a total of 130 players were identified who had undergone lower limb surgical management. There was no statistically significant difference in anthropometric stats (weight, body fat % and height). Lane agility time, three quarter sprint and max bench press showed no statistically significant differences. However, standing vertical leap and max vertical leap showed statistically significant differences, with values increased in injured group. Mean standing vertical was 73.86 cm (SD = 7.82) in noninjured and 76.00 cm (SD = 7.77) in the injured group. Mean max vertical was 86.89 cm (SD = 9.37) in noninjured and 89.31 cm (SD = 9.17) in injured group. Knee injuries (80.0%) were most prevalent, followed by ankle (8.5%), calf (7.7%), and thigh (3.8%). Knee surgeries comprised of general surgery on knee (42.3%), meniscal surgery (20.2%), arthroscopic knee surgery (18.3%), anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (15.4%), and patellar tendon repair (3.8%).

Increased NBA Combine scores of standing and maximum vertical leap may be related to future lower limb injury requiring surgical management among basketball players. The knee remains the most injured joint with the majority of knee surgeries performed arthroscopically addressing meniscal pathology.

Level III.

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