By Corbin Vanderby
The Spokesman-Review
SPOKANE, Wash. 鈥� Broken arms, ruptured Achilles and many other minor injuries were seen during Spokane鈥檚 Hoopfest, but with 892 total incidents as of 4 p.m. Sunday , numbers were down from previous years.
鈥淚njury numbers have been a little bit different than previous years,鈥� said Nicholas Strasser, medical director of Hoopfest. 鈥淲e saw a reasonable decline, which is kind of what we鈥檙e hoping for, right? We want as few injuries as possible.鈥�
Four MultiCare medical tents were positioned across downtown Spokane and were staffed with around 150 workers, according to Nicholas Strasser, medical director of Hoopfest. The tents offered free care to people at the event ranging from ankle taping to on-site x-rays from a portable machine.
Last year, MultiCare treated almost 1,200 injuries at Hoopfest, but as of writing, MultiCare spokesman Kevin Maloney said he鈥檇 be surprised if it surpasses 1,000. Strasser attributed the decrease to lower temperatures on Saturday and improvements in communication devices as well as partnerships with the Spokane Fire Department.
鈥淓very year we鈥檙e trying to get better,鈥� Strasser said. 鈥淭his year, we鈥檝e streamlined our procedures and coordination has become really really smooth.鈥�
Strasser said some common injuries resulted from such conditions as the high weather, which peaked at 86 degrees Sunday, and the inconsistent court materials. Strasser recommended things like ice baths, stretching and predisposing yourself to the heat to prevent some of the injuries.
鈥淣ot very often are folks going out and playing 30-minute basketball games every hour for four to five hours in a row,鈥� Strasser said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly a pretty substantial physical burden to be a part of this whole tournament.鈥�
Some severe injuries led to hospital visits, but Strasser said with minor ones, medics work to get them back in the game.
鈥淚f they don鈥檛 have much going on, we get them back on the court in a safe fashion,鈥� Strasser said. 鈥淲e want them to miss as little playing time as possible.鈥�
Parker Munns, Bradley Runge and Ben Fried, played in the tournament under the team name the Leopard Boys, and have participated in Hoopfest for the past 15 years as kids. They all agreed that injuries seemed to remain pretty steady with nothing too major. However, they did see a shoulder dislocation and someone hit their head and got knocked out.
鈥淵ou know what you鈥檙e signing up to do,鈥� Runge said. 鈥淎nything active can come with pros and cons, but just playing the game safe is the best you can do.鈥�
None of the Leopard Boys said they experienced any injuries while playing other than rolled ankles, scraped knees and bloody noses but said it was worth it.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like it,鈥� Runge said. 鈥淣o city shuts down completely for basketball and everybody all comes to play together and just be happy.鈥�
Strasser also said MultiCare expects hospital visits to increase following Hoopfests as people have lingering injuries. Joseph Labrum, an orthopedic surgeon from MultiCare working at the event, said that the biggest thing to look for is any continued pain or limitation.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e worried, come to us and let an expert make that assessment of whether something more needs to be done or not,鈥� Labrum said.
For those recovering from Hoopfest, Strasser also recommended doing gentle mobility to keep muscles active and blood flowing.
鈥淚 always tell folks, don鈥檛 stop moving,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he worst thing you can do is sit on the couch and wait for your soreness to go away.鈥�
Strasser said the event, other than the injuries, is good for people and encourages them to participate.
鈥淧eople say, 鈥楬ey, I kind of got a taste of moving more and being healthier here, maybe that鈥檚 something I can get into,鈥欌�� Strasser said. 鈥淩egular exercise is better than anything else I can do.鈥�
MultiCare Injury Report:
- Fractures: 21
- Achilles Ruptures: 9
- Knee (ACL/PCL/MCL): 12
- Dislocations: 7
- Concussions: 13
- Dehydration: 3
- Strains/sprains: 121
- Lacerations: 29
- Wounds: 215
- Blisters: 14
- Tape: 448
Total: 892
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