The NBA, along with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the Next Gen Basketball Players Union (NBGPU), has announced the completion of a crucial data collection phase for a pioneering longitudinal study focused on the health and wellness of NBA G League players. This extensive research project, conducted in collaboration with GE HealthCare and MedStar Health, marks the largest assessment of training and game load impacts on athletic performance over an entire professional basketball season.
Over the 2023-24 season, the study monitored the musculoskeletal and joint health of players from four G League teams, aiming to gather insights that will inform best practices for playing, training, and recovery—particularly concerning the knee joint and patellar tendon health. The research employed a combination of wearable technologies and advanced imaging techniques, such as ultrasound shear wave elastography and MRI with deep learning capabilities, to provide comprehensive data on players’ physical health.
This study is groundbreaking, as it is the first to apply ultrasound shear wave elastography in a professional basketball context, potentially offering new ways to assess tendon stiffness and identify risk factors for injuries like tendinopathy. The findings are expected to contribute significantly to understanding the balance between training, playing, and recovery, ultimately aiding in injury prevention and promoting the long-term health of athletes.
Prominent figures involved in the study have expressed their enthusiasm for its implications. Erin Angel from GE HealthCare emphasized the study’s potential to innovate athlete care by deepening our understanding of how physical activity affects musculoskeletal health. Wiemi Douoguih, MD, highlighted the importance of reducing injuries to enhance players’ career longevity. Scott Magargee of Springbok Analytics noted that their technology plays a critical role in personalizing training and informing return-to-play decisions.
Asheesh Bedi, MD, from the NBPA, underscored the study’s value in providing a comprehensive dataset on athlete workload and its impact on joint health, which has been a significant area of interest for medical professionals and researchers alike. The study leverages state-of-the-art technology from GE HealthCare, including advanced MRI and ultrasound systems, to create detailed analyses of players’ musculoskeletal health. This initiative represents a significant step in the NBA’s ongoing commitment to enhance player well-being through cutting-edge research and collaboration with medical experts.
