The relationship between training load and injury risk in basketball is a critical factor in performance optimization and injury prevention. Evidence accumulated over the past 25 years indicates a complex, non-linear association: while excessive training may increase injury risk, appropriately managed workloads can provide protective benefits, whereas undertraining or sudden workload spikes may also elevate risk. This review synthesizes findings from studies examining professional and youth basketball players, incorporating both observational and retrospective cohort research. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to September 2025 identified six studies that met the inclusion criteria. Observational studies using session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) demonstrated that most injuries occurred in the lower extremities and were frequently associated with periods of peak physical and psychological fatigue. These monitoring approaches represent practical and cost-effective tools for tailoring workloads and preventing overtraining. Retrospective cohort analyses of professional players indicated that athletes with lower in-game activity, such as fewer decelerations or reduced distance covered, exhibited higher injury incidence, suggesting that under-loaded players may be at greater risk. In youth basketball, wearable technologies and neuromuscular metrics such as weighted jump height revealed that overuse injuries often occur following periods of low chronic workload combined with high acute load highlighting the impact of sudden workload spikes. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of individualized workload management, progressive training strategies, and continuous monitoring to reduce injury risk while optimizing performance. Integrating session rating of perceived exertion and biomechanical metrics into training planning offers an evidence-based approach for safeguarding athletes’ health and optimizing outcomes.
Naglić et al. (Thu,) studied this question.