Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Ankle Injury in Collegiate Basketball Players

Collegiate athletics have seen an increase in participation time, leading to high rates of injury. Injury often leads to time away from the sport and can have a negative effect on players both physically and mentally. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of ankle sprains in Division III collegiate basketball players. A total of 246 players from nine teams participated in the study.  Participants completed a pre-season survey that included height, weight, and injury history.  Participants were then followed for injury over the course of the season, with injury information provided by athletic training staff at each institution.  Results indicated that athletes with a high BMI (>25.0) have a 4.2 times greater risk of sustaining an ankle injury compared to those with a lower BMI (p=0.002). Female players with a BMI in the high range had a 4.5 times higher likelihood of suffering an ankle injury (p=0.02). Male players with a BMI in the high range had a 2.7 times higher likelihood of suffering an ankle injury (p=0.02). Logistic regression also supported a relationship between increasing BMI and increased risk for ankle sprain.  Understanding the relationship between body mass index and ankle sprain risk will inform future training and fitness programs for collegiate athletes, potentially leading to a reduction in the rate of ankle sprains in this population.