Exploration of injuries among male athletes in the Mongolian National Basketball League: 2022/2023-2024/2025.

OBJECTIVES

Basketball is a high-intensity contact sport with a substantial risk of injury. However, epidemiological data on injuries in Mongolian basketball players remain limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, mechanisms, and burden of injuries in the Mongolian National Basketball League (MNBL) over three consecutive seasons.

METHODS

A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted on 374 male professional basketball players during the 2022-2023 to 2024-2025 seasons. Injury data and athlete exposures (AEs) were collected using standardized medical reporting forms. Incidence rates (IR) per 1,000 AEs, injury rate ratios (IRRs), and injury burden (days lost per 1,000 AEs) were calculated with 95% Poisson-based exact confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

A total of 105 injuries were recorded during 28,804 AEs. The overall IR was 3.65 (95% CI: 3.00-4.41). The injury risk was significantly higher during games (IR: 7.45) than in training (IR: 2.49), with an IRR of 2.99 (95% CI: 2.04-4.39, p < 0.001). The ankle was the most frequently injured anatomical site (32.38%; IR: 1.18), and sprains were the most common injury type (32.38%; IR: 1.18). Player-to-player contact was the primary injury mechanism (53.33%), showing a five-fold higher risk in games than in training (IRR = 5.48, p < 0.001). Moderate and severe injuries predominated (87.62% of total injuries), contributing to a substantial injury burden of 91.55 days lost per 1,000 AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Professional basketball in Mongolia is characterized by a high risk of injury during competitive play, particularly contact-related injuries. The prolonged recovery times and high severity of injuries highlight the critical need for evidence-based prevention, including neuromuscular control training, and the enhancement of on-court medical infrastructure to optimize athlete safety and professionalization in the MNBL.