Charles Barkley, Power Forward for the Houston Rockets

NAME: Allen Iverson
TEAM: Philadelphia 76ers
POSITION: Guard
INJURY: Broken thumb

HOW IT HAPPENED

Iverson injured his right thumb in a game in late November. Although he finished the game, an X-ray afterward revealed that the thumb was broken. He was unsure exactly when during the game the injury occurred, but suggested that it may have happened on a loose ball midway through the second quarter. He played through the pain but shot poorly and missed two shots in the final minute of play.

BIOGRAPHY

Allen "The Answer" Iverson, 24, is a four-year veteran of the NBA. He won the scoring title in the 1998-1999 season by averaging 26.8 points per game; he was also selected to the All-NBA First Team. These accolades came after he changed positions from point guard to shooting guard. He was the first overall selection in the 1996 NBA draft and won Schick Rookie of the Year honors. He left Georgetown after his sophomore season, when he was named First Team All-American, and Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the second time.

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF A BROKEN THUMB?

A broken thumb is not generally considered a major injury. For example, a football player (unless he is a quarterback) would play through it, and a hockey player would miss 2-3 games. But for a basketball player, who needs to grip and balance the ball with his thumb, this is a serious injury. Iverson broke the proximal phalanx, which is the bone below the thumbnail. This type of injury is usually caused by pulling more than twisting or pushing the thumb.

DIAGNOSIS

A broken thumb, like any other fracture, can be diagnosed using an X-ray.

TREATMENT

Iverson will wear a cast for 2-3 weeks; when the cast is removed, he will have another X-ray. Depending on the results, the thumb will either be put into another cast or into a splint. When he is able to wear a splint, he will begin exercises on the thumb. If all goes well, he will be cleared to play 3-4 days after the cast comes off.

RECOVERY

Once the cast is removed, Iverson will exercise the thumb using tools such as putty and rubber balls. He will squeeze them to gain strength and flexibility in the thumb. While he is wearing the cast, he will stay on a vigorous aerobic conditioning program using both a stationary bike and a treadmill. He can continue as much basketball training as he is able to, as long as he does not use the right hand.

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

The only lingering effect that Iverson will suffer is rustiness. The thumb will heal completely, and once he gets back into the flow of the season, he should play as well as he did before the injury.