Search

Background and aim: Cricket is the most commonly played and followed sport in India and demands a high level of performance from the fast bowler. Large ground reaction forces generated at front foot contact put fast bowlers at high risk of lower limb and lumbar spine injury. Precise dynamic coordination of lower body segments is needed to absorb these forces and transfer the energy via the core to the upper limb to propel the ball at faster speeds. Thus, knowledge of lower quadrant strength, especially dynamic knee strength, can be useful for injury prevention and better performance in fast bowlers. There is a lack of literature on this subject in Indian fast bowlers despite the popularity of the sport. This study aims to evaluate isokinetic knee strength and determine the relevant asymmetries and strength imbalances in relation to injury risk in cricket fast bowlers. Methods: A total of 42 male Indian state-level fast bowlers underwent isokinetic knee strength testing. Peak torques (PT) normalized to body weight (BW) were obtained for quadriceps concentric (Qconc), quadriceps eccentric (Qecc), hamstring concentric (Hconc), and hamstring eccentric (Hecc). Bilateral strength asymmetries (BSA) and dynamic control ratio (DCR) (hamstring DCR (H-DCR) = Hecc/Qconc and quadriceps DCR (Q-DCR) = Qecc/Hconc) were evaluated. Descriptive statistical analysis of data was done. Results: Around 67% of bowlers had significant Qecc strength asymmetry. In addition, 40% had poor hamstrings DCR and 19% had poor Q-DCR on the front limb. Conclusion: A significant proportion of fast bowlers have unfavorable strength asymmetry and DCR and could be at risk of injury. Improving dynamic knee strength through plyometric training could help optimize performance and reduce injury risk. Clinical significance: This study highlights key areas of possible injury risk that can be targeted with strength and conditioning to prevent lower limb and lumbar spine injuries in fast bowlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thrombotic storm is a series of acute to subacute thrombotic events that evolve over a few days to weeks and result in progressive thromboses at multiple sites. There is often a predisposing event to thromboses, such as trauma or infections. Prompt initiation of anti-coagulation can prove life-saving in such patients. Case report: We describe a previously healthy young male who developed thromboses of the right axillary, brachial, radial, and ulnar arteries while bowling in a cricket match. A few hours later, he developed a stroke involving the right anterior and middle cerebral arteries. His thrombophilia workup was significant for elevated homocysteine levels. Although he had a delayed presentation to our hospital, he was treated with anticoagulation and given a trial of thromboembolectomy, which failed and he had to ultimately undergo a right below-elbow guillotine amputation. Conclusion: Thrombotic storm should be recognized promptly in the Emergency Department and timely anticoagulation should be initiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An increase in the on-field intensity in modern cricket, results in an increased number of player injuries. Integration and easy access to professional physiotherapy, technology, rehab protocols, and mental/physical conditioning aid in early return to sports in the injured; however, at the grassroots, these facilities may not be available with untrained support staff and limited funds. Injuries can go unnoticed and, therefore, there is a need for an easy process of identification and documentation of such injuries. We devised a questionnaire-based survey to evaluate its effectiveness at the junior level of professional cricket. Materials and Methods: An Online self-administered questionnaire was prepared and the link was given to active Union Territory Cricket Academy (UTCA), Chandigarh, cricketers of any gender between 15 and 35 years of age, through different online platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and emails, for the submission of their responses. Results: The questionnaire was administered to 98 participants out of which 77 participants' responses were evaluated (41 males and 36 females). 74/77 participants were below 30 years of age. There were 18 wicketkeepers, 33 bowlers and 26 batsmen as per their major role in the team. 37/77 cricketers (20 males, 17 females) had injuries during the previous 2 years; this included 17 bowlers, 11 batsmen and 9 wicketkeepers. The most common body part injured in the survey were fingers (12) followed by the back (7). The amount of training time lost, reported in the survey ranged from a week up to 1 year. Conclusion: Online surveys could be the first step to accumulating data and making initial player profiles, starting even at junior levels of cricket. Further detailed evaluations may be performed after this, and coaches and administrators could potentially profile cricket injuries and identify chronic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Injury surveillance is an important part of injury risk reduction in the sporting population. This study describes the type, side (dominant or non-dominant), occurrence, impact, activity of onset, and severity of foot and ankle injuries in elite South African male and female cricketers. Methods: Foot and ankle injuries sustained by elite cricket players between 2018 and 2021, obtained from the records of Cricket South Africa, were descriptively analysed. Results: A total of 104 foot and ankle injuries in 82 players were recorded. The majority (n = 100; 96%) of injuries were on the non-dominant side. Bowling (n = 31; 30%) and fielding (n = 20; 19%) contributed to most injuries. The majority were first-time (n = 83; 80%) and non-impact injuries (n = 62; 60%). Fifty percent (n = 52) of injuries rendered players unable to participate in at least one match or practice session. Lateral ankle ligament injury was the most common injury sustained (n = 36; 35%). Conclusion: The findings from this study can inform future researchers and assist healthcare service needs relating to injury risk reduction and management programmes. Effective rehabilitation programmes may reduce the risk of reinjury. Ideally, these programmes need to be role specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shoulder injuries in cricket were among the top injuries in the game. With increased effort by players batting, bowling and fielding, a further increase in its incidence can be anticipated. There are predisposing factors that can be screened and with prehabiliation, injuries can be prevented. This paper looks at the mechanism of shoulder injuries in cricket and how many can be prevented. It also presents a case of an unusual injury around the joint which can be mistaken for a shoulder injury. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal screening of the shoulder can reduce shoulder injuries. With an anticipated increase in incidence, this should be a focus of prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cricket, a sport immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent and Commonwealth countries, boasts a staggering global following of over 1 billion enthusiasts. However, injuries in cricket are prevalent, resulting in detrimental effects on player performance and leading to substantial absenteeism from the game. In recent times, there has been a surge in interest on the epidemiology, biomechanics, and prevention of cricket-related injuries. To gain comprehensive insights into the existing research landscape, we present a bibliometric analysis of the published research on cricket injuries. Materials: The Web of Science database was searched using a well-defined search strategy. Original research articles looking at any aspect of injuries in cricket were included. Search results were imported into the R Bibliometrix package for analysis. Analysis of bibliometric parameters included top authors, journals, countries and keywords. Co-occurrence networks were generated and thematic mapping was performed to identify emerging research topics. Observations: 423 publications from 126 journals were included. An increasing trend in publications was noted. JW Orchard was the highest published author; Australia was the highest published country and the Journal of Science and Sport in Medicine had the highest number of publications. Fast bowlers were the most extensively researched and the major research was noted to focus on three niche areas, i.e., epidemiology, consensus definitions and spinal issues in fast bowlers. Research on batsmen, wicketkeepers and fielders was relatively sparse. Furthermore, we observed limited representation of research from the Indian subcontinent, despite cricket's immense popularity in the region. Conclusions: Our study findings highlight that majority of the cricket injury research stems from developed countries. The primary research areas include epidemiology, injury prevention, and biomechanics, with a particular focus on fast bowlers. However, much more has to be done to encourage research publications, focused on batsmen, wicketkeeper and fielders, as well as cricket in the developing world. These insights are essential for researchers seeking to delve into cricket-related studies and organizations aiming to advance injury prevention research in cricket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lumbar spine injuries are among the most common overuse injuries in a fast bowler. Among various causative factors, bowling action technique is a crucial one. Three-dimensional motion analysis has been accepted as a gold standard tool to identify incorrect techniques. Previous studies have identified key biomechanical variables associated with lumbar injury risk in fast bowlers. Despite the large popularity of the sport, there is limited information available on the subject in Indian fast bowlers. This study aims to analyse the lumbar spine injury risk in Indian fast bowlers with respect to key biomechanical variables, using 3D motion analysis. Methods: Forty-seven male first class fast bowlers underwent 3D motion analysis in an indoor biomechanics laboratory. Motion capture was done with 3D cameras and 2D video cameras, using a standard marker set. Data processing and analysis was done using proprietary software. Biomechanical variables associated with lumbar spine injury risk including lateral trunk flexion (LTF) and knee angle at front foot contact (KA at FFC) were measured, and peak vertical ground reaction forces (pVGRF) were simultaneously recorded using force plates. Descriptive analysis of the data was done. Results: 26% of bowlers had a high LTF, 29% had low KA at FFC and 43% had high pVGRF. Thus, a large proportion of bowlers in this study were at risk of lumbar spine injury with respect to the assessed variables. Conclusion: This highlights the role of 3D motion analysis in early identification of injurious techniques, which can be modified by coaching and training interventions to prevent injuries. This study thus has implications on coaching and training of fast bowlers in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anterior shoulder instability due to labral tears in the dominant arm of cricket fast bowlers can be particularly disabling and results in significant match time loss. This often follows injuries sustained during fielding and training, although micro-instability following repetitive throwing progressing to overt anterior shoulder instability is also known. To ensure ball release speeds of over 140 km/h with different ball variations, these athletes require not only physical fitness and technical skill, but also a completely stable shoulder. Methods: A literature search of "MEDLINE", "SPORT DISCUSS", and "GOOGLE SCHOLAR" was done to identify relevant articles published till the year 2023. Results: A treatment approach that involves anatomic restoration of the shoulder via an arthroscopic Bankart capsulo-labral repair, followed by functional and biomechanical restoration via rehabilitation is the most predictable method to ensure a successful return to pre-injury fast-bowling status. A post-operative rehabilitation program that ensures a quick return to fast bowling without disrupting the surgical repair is crucial. Timely integration of exercises to recruit and strengthen the kinetic chain used for bowling and throwing plays a key role in this faster recovery. This current review provides a phase-wise, evidence-based rehabilitation guideline for return to competitive cricket after arthroscopic Bankart repair in a fast bowler. This review also highlights a structured return to bowling, throwing, and fielding program with a clinical decision-making process. Conclusion: Exercise selection at an early stage that does not compromise the healing tissue, and timely integration of workouts to recruit and strengthen the kinetic chain used for bowling and throwing is the key strategy to allow faster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Previous studies have shown a trend that elite athletes tend to live longer than the general population, which has been attributed to the "healthy worker hire effect" and the health benefits of exercise. There have not been any previous studies looking at survival of elite cricketers with the general population as a reference cohort. This study aimed to compare the annual mortality rates of current and retired elite male Australian cricket players to that of the age-matched general Australian male population. Methods: Analysis of publicly accessible dates of birth, death, and cricket debut data for male Australian Sheffield Shield cricket players who played before 2022 and had not died before 1971. Included persons were Sheffield Shield players who lived primarily in Australia during and after their cricket careers. Death rates from 1971 to 2021 (inclusive) were compared to the general Australian male population. Results: 1824 Sheffield Shield players had not died prior to 1971 (798 had played before the 1971 season, 1026 debuting subsequently). There were 586 deaths in the 51 years of observations, compared to 825 expected deaths, giving a Standardized Mortality Ratio of 0.71 (95% CI 0.63–0.80). Conclusion: Elite Australian male Sheffield Shield cricket players outlive the general male population with lower death rates. This is probably due to a combination of the healthy worker hire effect and the health benefits of exercise. This study provides evidence that in terms of longevity, it is safe to play elite-level cricket in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe traumatic head and neck injuries in elite Australian cricket players, for the purposes of understanding risk and the role of protective equipment and regulations. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study reviewed twelve seasons of clinical data for elite male and female cricket players who sustained a traumatic head or neck injury (excluding isolated concussion) whilst participating in a cricket match or training. Results: 199 events of head and neck injuries were recorded over the 12 seasons, equating to an average incidence of 5.6 per 100 players per season. Since the introduction of helmet regulations in 2016, the average incidence was 7.3. Including concurrent injuries, 232 injuries revealed contusions were the most common type of injury (41%, 35–48%), and the face was the most common location (63%, 57–69%). Injuries resulted in the player being unavailable for cricket for one or more days in 15% (11–22%) of events. Since the introduction of cricket helmet regulations, the proportion of injuries sustained while batting decreased from 54% (43–65%) to 38% (30–47%) (p = 0.026), and the proportion of injuries sustained while wicket keeping decreased from 19% (11-29%) to 6% (3-11%) (p=0.004). Conclusion: Traumatic head and neck injuries occur at an incidence of approximately 7.3 per 100 players per season in elite Australian male and female cricket players. Whilst most injuries cause a low burden with respect to days unavailable, the risk of potentially serious or catastrophic consequences warrants further risk reduction strategies including tightening of the existing industry standard for helmets and governing body regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In late 2014, batsman Phillip Hughes was hit in the neck by a bouncer and died 2 days later. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the options for cricket ball shock absorption at the neck and whether the current solutions are feasible. Materials and methods: The impact speed and the kinetic energy of the ball were photogrammetrically calculated from the match video. A library of impact absorber materials providing data on the optimal shock absorption point was used to select the best material for shock absorption based on an acceptable thickness and a maximum deceleration of 250 g according to the British Standard (BS). Result: The impact velocity on Hughes' neck was 30 m/s, and the energy absorbed was 70 J. Using this energy and the mass of a cricket ball, no suitable material was found, either because of the unacceptable thickness (>0.7 m) or the deceleration (>1000 g). Using the data required by the BS (15 J and 5 kg), several solutions were feasible, with a thickness of 14-28 mm and a deceleration of 40-60 g. Conclusion: When testing energy absorbers, it is not only the impact energy that is important but also the speed or mass. Testing an absorber at 70 J and a mass of 0.156 kg gives a different result than at 70 J and a mass of 5 kg. Reducing the impact energy to 15 J only makes it worse. The test conditions of crash cushions shall be based on the worst realistic case. If not, the designed shock absorbers are suboptimal at best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infrared imaging is an evidence-based, noninvasive method used in the field of medicine to detect the inflammatory level of the tissues. It is also used in sports to evaluate the peripheral blood supply of the various tissues of the human body to compare the performance level. Objective: To identify the loading pattern of tissues of the body during warm-up sessions and bowling of the cricketers using the thermal imaging technique. Materials and methods: Prospective observational study was conducted on 15 cricketers of the elite school-level central province team. Thermal imaging was done in all players at pre and postwarm-up sessions. Serial thermal images were captured on each player for 6 overs. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to assess the significance of these changes. Results: The thermal images obtained before warming up displayed heterogeneous temperature distribution, compared to the postwarm-up thermal pattern appeared to have uniform and symmetrical thermal distribution. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant difference in temperature distributions before and after warm-up (p < 0.05). In some players, the standard warm-up session may not be sufficient, as indicated by the distinctive thermal patterns observed during the prewarm-up. Four fast bowlers showed trunk region muscles, trapezius, pectoralis, and external oblique significant (p < 0.05) temperature patterns (26.6%). Two spinners showed significant thermal images (p < 0.05), trapezius, and gastrocnemius muscles, respectively (13.3%). The only left-arm orthodox bowler had a right elbow and left tibial regional increase thermal pattern (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Thermal imaging to assess the adequacy of the warming-up level in cricketers prior to bowling showed that the standard group-warm up session was not adequate for everyone. They need a tailor-made warming-up session for each one of the bowlers. All fast bowlers showed significant thermal imaging patterns suggestive of overloading of the trapezius, pectoralis, and external oblique muscles. Spinners showed both trunk and lower limb muscles overloading thermal patterns. Further investigation is warranted to identify specific warm-up strategies tailored to individual cricketers' needs. Tissue loading patterns while bowling should be further studied during training and matches. This will help to identify the areas of excessive tissue loading and hence to develop injury prevention strategies based on the real-time observational data through thermal imaging technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to document the lived experiences of professional cricketers who had encountered a career-ending non-musculoskeletal injury. Three male cricketers each with over nine years of playing experience in professional cricket representing England and Wales participated in retrospective in-depth semi-structured interviews. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis revealed that at the time of the injury, the participants were at the "final stretch" of their professional sporting careers and that despite a range of unpleasant reactions to injury, all participants experienced a healthy career transition out of sport. To best prepare athletes for a life outside of sport, ensuring athletes have sufficient plans in motion early on in their careers can reduce external and internal stressors, which if not addressed, can increase sport injury risk and have a negative effect on athletes' reactions post-injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the relationship between player internal workloads, daily wellness monitoring, and injury and illness in a group of elite adolescent cricketers during overseas competitions. Methods: A total of 39 male international adolescent cricketers (17.5 [0.8] y) took part in the study. Data were collected over 5 tours across a 3-y period (2014–2016). Measures of wellness were recorded and daily training loads were calculated using session rating of perceived exertion. The injury and illness status of each member of the squad was recorded daily. Acute and chronic workloads were calculated using 3-d and 14-d moving averages. Acute workloads, chronic workloads, and acute chronic workload ratios were independently modeled as fixed effects predictor variables. Results: In the subsequent week, a high 3-d workload was significantly associated with an increased risk of injury (relative risk = 2.51; CI = 1.70–3.70). Similarly, a high 14-d workload was also associated with an increased risk of injury (relative risk = 1.48; CI = 1.01–2.70). Individual differences in the load–injury relationship were also found. No clear relationship between the acute chronic workload ratios and injury risk was found, but high chronic workloads combined with high or low acute chronic workload ratios showed an increased probability of injury compared with moderate chronic workloads. There were also trends for sleep quality and cold symptoms worsening the week before an injury occurred. Conclusion: Although there is significant individual variation, short-term high workloads and change in wellness status appear to be associated with injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between perceived bowling intensity, ball release speed and ground reaction force (measured by peak force, impulse and loading rate) in male pace bowlers. Twenty participants each bowled 36 deliveries, split evenly across three perceived intensity zones: low = 70% of maximum perceived bowling effort, medium = 85%, and high = 100%. Peak force and loading rate were significantly different across the three perceived intensity zones in the horizontal and vertical directions (Cohen's d range = 0.14–0.45, p < 0.01). When ball release speed increased, peak force and loading rate also increased in the horizontal and vertical directions (ηp2 = 0.04–0.18, p < 0.01). Lastly, bowling at submaximal intensities (i.e., low – medium) was associated with larger decreases in peak horizontal force (7.9–12.3% decrease), impulse (15.8–21.4%) and loading rate (7.4–12.7%) compared to decreases in ball release speed (5.4–8.3%). This may have implications for bowling strategies implemented during training and matches, particularly for preserving energy and reducing injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cricket fast bowling is associated with a high prevalence of lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI), especially in adolescent bowlers. This has not been sufficiently explained by risk factors identified in adult players. This study aimed to examine the incidence of LBSI in adolescent fast bowlers over a prospective study and potential risk factors. Forty asymptomatic male fast bowlers (aged 14–17 years) received baseline and annual lumbar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and musculoskeletal and bowling workload assessment; 22 were followed up after one year. LBSI prevalence at baseline and annual incidence were calculated. Potential risk factors were compared between the injured and uninjured groups using T-tests with Hedges' g effect sizes. At baseline, 20.5% of participants had at least one LBSI. Subsequent LBSI incidence was 27.3 ± 18.6 injuries per 100 players per year (mean ± 95% CI). Injured bowlers were older on average at the beginning of the season preceding injury (16.8 versus 15.6 years, g = 1.396, P = 0.047). LBSI risk may coincide with increases in bowling workload and intensity as bowlers step up playing levels to more senior teams during late adolescence whilst the lumbar spine is immature and less robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review was conducted to identify the incidence, nature and mechanisms of head, neck and facial (HNF) injuries in cricket and the reported use of helmets. Five databases were searched up to 30th November 2020. From peer-reviewed cricket injury studies published in English, studies reporting on HNF cricket injuries as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were selected. Twenty-nine studies were included. HNF injuries had a cumulative total of 794/5,886 injuries equating to 13% of all injuries. Non- specified HNF injuries (n=210, 26%) were the most prevalent type of injury followed by non-specified head injuries (n=130, 16%), other non-specified fractures (n=119, 15%) and concussions (n=60, 8%).The impact of the ball was reported as the most common mechanism for sustaining HNF injuries in cricket. The use of helmet was reported in only three studies (10%). From studies reporting on HNF cricket injuries, facial fractures, and concussions were the most common specified-types of injury. There is little evidence on reporting of HNF cricket injuries as per the international cricket consensus injury definitions, as well as the use of helmets at the time of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 enforced prolonged training disruption and shortened competitive season, on in-season injury and illness rates. Injury incidence and percent proportion was calculated for the 2020 elite men's senior domestic cricket season and compared to a historical average from five previous regular seasons (2015 to 2019 inclusive). The injury profile for the shortened 2020 season was generally equivalent to what would be expected in a regular season, except for a significant increase in medical illness as a proportion of time loss (17% compared to historic average of 6%) and in-season days lost (9% compared to historic average of 3%) due to COVID-19 related instances (most notably precautionary isolation due to contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case). There was a significant increase in the proportion of in-season days lost to thigh injuries (24% compared to 9%) and a significant decrease in the proportion of days lost to hand (4% compared to 12%) and lumbar spine (7% compared to 21%) injuries. These findings enhance understanding of the impact prolonged period of training disruption and shortened season can have on cricket injuries and the challenges faced by practitioners under such circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) has been found to be a valid preparticipation screening tool in the prediction of injury among various athletes in different sports. The validity thereof in the prediction of injury among adolescent cricketers is yet to be established. Objective: To determine if a preseason FMS total score is a valid predictor of in-season injury among adolescent pace bowlers. Design: Prospective observational quantitative study. Setting: Bowlers performed the FMS before the start of the season. Injury incidence was monitored monthly throughout the season. The student t test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the FMS scores of the injured and noninjured bowlers as well as the injured and noninjured bowlers who scored ≤ 14. Participants: 27 injury-free, male, adolescent pace bowlers. Main Outcome Measures: The FMS (scoring criteria and score sheet) and standardized self-administered injury questionnaire. Results: There was no difference between the noninjured group (16.55 ± 2.57) and the injured (16.1 ± 2.07) group in terms of FMS scores. There was no significant difference between injured and noninjured bowlers who scored ≤ 14. A total FMS score of 14 does not provide the sensitivity needed to assess injury risk among adolescent pace bowlers and no other accurate cut-off score could be calculated. Conclusion: Preseason observed total FMS score is a poor predictor of in-season injury among adolescent pace bowlers. Further research should be conducted to determine if a specific FMS test will be a more valid predictor of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Epidemiological studies highlight a prevalence of lumbar vertebrae injuries in cricket fast bowlers, with governing bodies implementing rules to reduce exposure. Analysis typically requires complex and laboratory-based biomechanical analyses, lacking ecological validity. Developments in GPS microtechnologies facilitate on-field measures of mechanical intensity, facilitating screening toward prevention and rehabilitation. Objective: To examine the efficacy of using GPS-mounted triaxial accelerometers to quantify accumulated body load and to investigate the effect of GPS-unit placement in relation to epidemiological observations. Design: Repeated measures, field-based. Setting: Regulation cricket pitch. Participants: 10 male injury-free participants recruited from a cricket academy (18.1 ± 0.6 y). Intervention: Each participant was fitted with 2 GPS units placed at the cervicothoracic and lumbar spines to measure triaxial acceleration (100 Hz). Participants were instructed to deliver a 7-over spell of fast bowling, as dictated by governing-body guidelines. Main Outcome Measures: Triaxial total accumulated body and the relative uniaxial contributions were calculated for each over. Results: There was no significant main effect for overs bowled, in either total load or the triaxial contributions to total load. This finding suggests no cumulative fatigue effect across the 10-over spell. However, there was a significant main effect for GPS-unit location, with the lumbar unit exposed to significantly greater load than the cervicothoracic unit in each of the triaxial planes. Conclusions: There was no evidence to suggest that accumulated load significantly increased as a result of spell duration. In this respect the governing-body guidelines for this age group can be considered safe, or potentially even conservative. However, the observation of higher body load at the lumbar spine than at the cervicothoracic spine supports epidemiological observations of injury incidence. GPS microtechnologies might therefore be considered in screening and monitoring of players toward injury prevention and/or during rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine if playing position, a higher playing standard, and nonhelmet use are related to an increased odds of joint-specific injury and concussion in cricket. Design: Cross-sectional cohort. Participants: Twenty-eight thousand one hundred fifty-two current or former recreational and high-performance cricketers registered on a national database were invited to participate in the Cricket Health and Wellbeing Study. Eligibility requirements were aged ≥18 years and played ≥1 cricket season. Independent Variables: Main playing position (bowler/batter/all-rounder), playing standard (high-performance/recreational), and helmet use (always/most of the time/occasionally/never). Main Outcome Measures: Cross-sectional questionnaire data included cricket-related injury (hip/groin, knee, ankle, shoulder, hand, back) resulting in ≥4 weeks of reduced exercise and self-reported concussion history. Crude and adjusted (adjusted for seasons played) odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression. Results: Of 2294 participants (59% current cricketers; 97% male; age 52 ± 15 years; played 29 ± 15 seasons; 62% recreational cricketers), 47% reported cricket-related injury and 10% reported concussion. Bowlers had greater odds of hip/groin [odds ratio (95% CI), 1.9 (1.0-3.3)], knee [2.0 (1.4-2.8)], shoulder [2.9 (1.8-4.5)], and back [2.8 (1.7-4.4)] injury compared with batters. High-performance cricketers had greater odds of injury and concussion than recreational cricketers. Wearing a helmet most of the time [2.0 (1.4-3.0)] or occasionally [1.8 (1.3-2.6)] was related to higher odds of self-reported concussion compared with never wearing a helmet. Concussion rates were similar in cricketers who always and never wore a helmet. Conclusions: A higher playing standard and bowling (compared with batting) were associated with greater odds of injury. Wearing a helmet occasionally or most of the time was associated with higher odds of self-reported concussion compared with never wearing a helmet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summarising and synthesising the evidence on cricket health and wellbeing can help inform cricket stakeholders and navigate future research directions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cricket participation, health and wellbeing at all ages and playing standards, and identify research gaps in the existing literature. A scoping review was performed from inception to March, 2020. Studies were included if they assessed a construct related to health and/or wellbeing in cricketers, available in English. 219 articles were eligible. Injury incidence per 1,000 player exposures ranged from 1.8–5.7 injuries. 48% of former cricketers experienced persistent joint pain. However, former cricketers reported greater physical activity levels and mental-components of quality of life compared to the general population. Heat injury/illness and skin cancer are concerns and require further research. Cricket participation is associated with an inherent injury risk, which may have negative implications for musculoskeletal health in later life. However, cricket participation is associated with high quality of life which can persist after retirement. Gaps in the literature include prospective studies on health and wellbeing of cricketers, female cricketers, injury prevention strategies, and the impact of cricket participation on metabolic health and lifetime physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes hand fracture and dislocation injuries in terms of anatomical distribution, incidence and impact on playing time in registered professional adult male players of all 18 First Class England and Wales County Cricket clubs over a five-year period from 2010–2014. Prospectively collected injury surveillance data for 1st and 2nd Team matches (Twenty20, One day and four-day) and training were analysed. There were 109 hand fractures and 53 dislocations. Hand injury was commonest during fielding (60%, 98/162) compared to batting, bowling or wicket-keeping. Exposed parts of the hand including tips of all digits, the index finger, thumb ray and little finger ray were most frequently injured with 78% (125/160) of all injuries where anatomical location was recorded. Match injury incidence for batsmen was highest in four-day matches (0.071 injuries per 1000 overs batted) but for other player roles it was highest in Twenty20 matches (0.587 per 1000 overs bowled). Player unavailability for selection to play was incurred in 82% (89/109) of hand fractures but only 47% (25/53) of dislocations. This study clarifies the hand fracture and dislocation injury burden for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Describe the proportion of upper lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI; T12-L3) relative to all LBSI, and the clinical presentation and diagnosis of upper LBSI in elite cricketers. Design: Case series. Setting: Professional domestic and international cricket teams over a 9-year period. Participants: Elite Australian cricketers. Independent Variables: Symptomatic upper LBSI diagnosed based on clinical findings and medical imaging. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence, injury history, and clinical management. Results: Twenty-four pace bowlers (22 male and 2 female) sustained 39 cases of upper LBSI (T12:2, L1:3, L2:20, L3:14). Upper lumbar vertebrae were involved in 41% (95% CI 31-51) of all LBSI in this cohort. Twenty-seven (69%, 54-81) cases had an injury that occurred only on the side contralateral to the bowling arm. Ipsilateral injuries tended to occur secondary to a contralateral nonunited defect. In all 7 cases with known radiology follow-up that had a contralateral then ipsilateral LBSI, the contralateral injury did not achieve bony union before the onset of the ipsilateral LBSI. For stress fractures with imaging follow-up, those who achieved bony union took longer to return to bowling training [median 152 days (IQR 117-188)], compared to those who achieved partial or no union [median 68 days (IQR 46-115)]. Conclusions: Upper LBSI in elite cricketers occurs in approximately 2 out of 5 cases of LBSI. Clinicians should allow sufficient time for upper LBSI to resolve and unite (if a fracture) because cases that returned to bowling training earlier were less likely to achieve bony union, and those that failed to unite commonly went on to have a recurrent LBSI. Level of Evidence: Therapy/prognosis/diagnosis level 2b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published injury rates amongst elite and club-level youth cricketers highlight the need to implement injury risk-reducing strategies amongst the youth cricketing population. Data from sports injury surveillance systems are a prerequisite for the development and evaluation of strategies to reduce injury risk. Therefore, collecting injury surveillance data is a positive move towards reducing injuries in cricket. In South Africa, a systematic, standardised, evidence-informed injury surveillance system currently does not exist for community levels of play, namely, in cricket-playing high schools and cricket clubs. Although injury surveillance systems exist at elite levels, the obvious differences in elite versus community cricket settings mean that these systems cannot be implemented in their current form at community-level cricket. An innovative model is required to implement an injury surveillance system in community cricket. Clinical implications: This article proposes and describes a new research–practice partnership model to implement a systematic, standardised, evidence-informed injury surveillance system at cricket-playing high schools or cricket clubs within South Africa. Once this model has been employed, database systems will need to be established to allow long-term data management and sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bowling workload is linked to injury risk in cricket fast bowlers. This study investigated the validity of microtechnology in the automated detection of bowling counts and events, including run-up distance and velocity, in cricket fast bowlers. Method: Twelve highly skilled fast bowlers (mean ± SD age 23.5 ± 3.7 y) performed a series of bowling, throwing, and fielding activities in an outdoor environment during training and competition while wearing a microtechnology unit (MinimaxX). Sensitivity and specificity of a bowling-detection algorithm were determined by comparing the outputs from the device with manually recorded bowling counts. Run-up distance and run-up velocity were measured and compared with microtechnology outputs. Results: No significant differences were observed between direct measures of bowling and nonbowling events and true positive and true negative events recorded by the MinimaxX unit (P = .34, r = .99). The bowling-detection algorithm was shown to be sensitive in both training (99.0%) and competition (99.5%). Specificity was 98.1% during training and 74.0% during competition. Run-up distance was accurately recorded by the unit, with a percentage bias of 0.8% (r = .90). The final 10-m (–8.9%, r = .88) and 5-m (–7.3%, r = .90) run-up velocities were less accurate. Conclusions: The bowling-detection algorithm from the MinimaxX device is sensitive to detect bowling counts in both cricket training and competition. Although specificity is high during training, the number of false positive events increased during competition. Additional bowling workload measures require further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Side strains refer to injuries of the internal/external oblique or the transversus abdominis, commonly at their attachment to the lower four ribs and rarely at their pelvic attachments. Injuries at the rib attachments are well-described while literature on iliac crest attachment injuries is sparse. We report four cricketers who had side strain and direct impact injuries with varying degrees of severity at the iliac crest attachment. The purpose of this article is to describe the anatomy, possible mechanism of injury, and imaging findings in the lateral abdominal wall muscle injuries at the iliac crest, which have not been described previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI) are the most prevalent injury in cricket. Although fast bowling technique has been implicated in the etiology of LBSI, no previous study has attempted to prospectively analyze fast bowling technique and its relationship to LBSI. The aim of this study was to explore technique differences between elite cricket fast bowlers with and without subsequent LBSI. Methods: Kinematic and kinetic technique parameters previously associated with LBSI were determined for 50 elite male fast bowlers. Group means were compared using independent-samples t -tests to identify differences between bowlers with and without a prospective LBSI. Significant parameters were advanced as candidate variables for a binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 50 bowlers, 39 sustained a prospective LBSI. Significant differences were found between injured and noninjured bowlers in rear knee angle, rear hip angle, thoracolumbar side flexion angle, and thoracolumbar rotation angle at back foot contact; the front hip angle, pelvic tilt orientation, and lumbopelvic angle at front foot contact; and the thoracolumbar side flexion angle at ball release and the maximal front hip angle and ipsilateral pelvic drop orientation. A binary logistic model, consisting of rear hip angle at back foot contact and lumbopelvic angle at front foot contact, correctly predicted 88% of fast bowlers according to injury history and significantly increased the odds of sustaining an LBSI (odds ratio, 0.88 and 1.25, respectively). Conclusions: Lumbopelvic motion is implicated in the etiology of LBSI in fast bowling, with inadequate lumbopelvifemoral complex control as a potential cause. This research will aid the identification of fast bowlers at risk of LBSI, as well as enhancing coaching and rehabilitation of fast bowlers from LBSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between injury status of the team and all-rounders on match outcome were investigated in international cricketers. Time and non-time loss injuries were recorded over a 32-month period in 47 senior international cricketers. Team injury status was expressed on a 1–4 scale from "fully available" to "unavailable". Generalised linear model (GLM) was employed to examine whether team injury status and the injury status of all-rounders (AR) and single skill (SS) players was associated with the outcome of the match or series. A significant association between team injury status and match and series outcome was found. Team mean injury status was 12.0% lower (P < 0.001; ES = 1.06) during successful series wins and 7.8% lower (P < 0.001; ES = 0.66) during successful match outcomes. Skill group injury status was also significantly associated with match (P = 0.001) and series (P = 0.001) outcomes with AR exhibiting greater injury status than SS cricketers (P < 0.001, ES = 0.44). All injuries, irrespective of time lost, influence the outcome of international cricket series' and matches with injuries to AR having a higher impact on the results. The findings will impact on the injury prevention strategies in elite cricket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Injury surveillance and prevention are as significant as early detection and treatment. This study describes injuries and risk factors involved so that preventive measures can be identified. Aim: To examine the epidemiology of the annual musculoskeletal injuries among injured male cricket players. Method: This study assessed 319 male cricket players, across five State Cricket Associations from January 2017 to January 2018. Results: With an annual injury prevalence of 10.97%, prominent anatomical sites of injury were shoulder (22.85%), lumbar spine (17.14%) and knee (11.42%). Medium pacers sustained 25.71% of the injuries. Age range of 18-24 years had a prominent 37.14% of overuse injuries of which 71.42% were lumbar spine injuries. Lumbar spine injuries resulted in a distinct loss of play days (34.64%). Bowling injuries with 49.5% of loss of play days was most predisposed. Report suggests an upswing in rate of injuries in December (20%). Four surgeries were reported (11.42%). Conclusion: Overuse injuries among young cricket players need prompt attention. Shoulder, lumbar spine and knee are principal anatomical regions that are prone to injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cricket fast bowlers are at a high risk of injury occurrence, which has previously been shown to be correlated to bowling workloads. This study aimed to develop and test an algorithm that can automatically, reliably and accurately detect bowling deliveries. Inertial sensor data from a Catapult OptimEye S5 wearable device was collected from both national and international level fast bowlers (n = 35) in both training and matches, at various intensities. A machine-learning based approach was used to develop the algorithm. Outputs were compared with over 20,000 manually recorded events. A high Matthews correlation coefficient (r = 0.945) showed very good agreement between the automatically detected bowling deliveries and manually recorded ones. The algorithm was found to be both sensitive and specific in training (96.3%, 98.3%) and matches (99.6%, 96.9%), respectively. Rare falsely classified events were typically warm-up deliveries or throws preceded by a run. Inertial sensors data processed by a machine-learning based algorithm provide a valid tool to automatically detect bowling events, whilst also providing the opportunity to look at performance metrics associated with fast bowling. This offers the possibility to better monitor bowling workloads across a range of intensities to mitigate injury risk potential and maximise performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shoulder injuries in cricket are often undetected and untreated. Objectives: To determine whether there are associations between shoulder internal and external rotation range of movement (ROM), throwing arc (TA) ROM, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), external rotation gain (ERG), pectoralis minor muscle length and the incidence of shoulder injury during the first 3 months of a cricket season amongst provincial and club cricketers. Method: Male, actively participating, provincial and club cricketers were included in this prospective longitudinal cohort study. The independent variables included shoulder pain, which did not limit participation in cricket training and matches; shoulder external and internal rotation (ROM, TA ROM, GIRD and ERG) and pectoralis minor muscle length. Time-loss dominant shoulder injury was recorded for 3 months. Results: Nine of the 32 participants sustained dominant shoulder injuries. Initial non-time-loss shoulder pain during baseline testing was associated with time-loss in-season shoulder injury (p = 0.007). Statistically significant side-to-side differences were found for all of the independent variables (internal rotation ROM, TA ROM and pectoralis minor muscle length distance), with the exception of external rotation ROM, amongst the uninjured players. Conclusion: Non-time-loss-defined shoulder pain in actively participating cricketers seems to be a precursor to time-loss shoulder injury. Asymmetries in ROM and pectoralis minor muscle length in uninjured cricketers may have a protective role to play in the case of shoulder injury. Clinical implications: The presence of shoulder pain and asymmetries in ROM should be investigated during the pre-season screening procedures, and early intervention should be implemented where appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competitive cricket demands a high level of performance from fast bowlers. Ground reaction forces during the landing phase pose a risk for lower limb and lumbar spine injury. Good dynamic knee strength allows the knee to flex to absorb these forces and extend prior to ball release for maximum efficiency. Plyometric training has been shown to improve dynamic strength. There is a lack of literature on this subject for cricket. This study evaluated the effect of a combined plyometric and strength training program on isokinetic knee strength of fast bowlers. Forty-two professional fast bowlers were randomly assigned to a training group (n=21) and a control group (n=21). Both groups underwent isokinetic knee strength and vertical and standing broad-jump testing. Quadriceps and hamstring concentric and eccentric peak torques, bilateral strength asymmetries (BSAs), and dynamic control ratios (DCRs) were evaluated by isokinetic testing. The study group underwent 12 weeks of plyometric training, whereas the control group continued with their own training methods. The study group showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in jump performance and eccentric strength. There was a reduction in the proportion of bowlers with poor BSA and DCR. Improving dynamic knee strength through plyometric training reduces injury risk and improves performance in cricket fast bowlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Lumbar bone stress injury ('bone stress injury') is common in junior fast bowlers. The repetitive loading of cricket fast bowling may cause bone marrow oedema (BMO), detectable on MRI, before the bowler suffers from symptomatic bone stress injury. We investigated the temporal relationship between BMO, bone stress injury, along with bowling workload correlates, in elite junior fast bowlers throughout a cricket season.Methods: 65 junior fast bowlers were prospectively monitored for one 8-month cricket season. For research purposes, participants had up to six MRI scans at set times in the season; findings were withheld from them and their clinicians. Standard practices for bowling workload monitoring and injury diagnosis were followed.Results: 15 (23%) participants developed bone stress injury during the study. All 15 of these participants had BMO detected on at least one of the preceding MRI scans, including the scan immediately prior to diagnosis. The risk of BMO progressing to bone stress injury during the season was greatest for participants with BMO present 2 weeks prior to the national championship tournament (period of high load) (RR=18.9, OR=44.8). Both bone stress injury and BMO were associated with bowling a higher percentage of days in training and having a shorter bowling break during the season. The number of balls bowled and acute-to-chronic workload were not associated with imaging abnormalities or injury.Conclusion: The presence of BMO on MRI in asymptomatic junior cricket fast bowlers confers a very high risk for bone stress injury. The risk may be managed by MRI screening and monitoring bowling frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Shoulder injury is common in cricketers, with disorders of the upper-limb accounting for up to one fifth of the total number of injuries in modern-day cricket. Pain and cross-season loss of range of motion of the dominant side have been demonstrated in over-head throwing athletes, but only limited data exists concerning cricketers. We aimed to inform injury prevention and management strategies by determining whether elite cricketers demonstrated altered shoulder range or strength, and whether this related to pain presentation, across a competitive period. METHODS: Eighteen male professional county cricket players (mean±SD) aged 24.0±4.3 years, 1.8±0.1m height, and 83.6±7.7kg body mass underwent shoulder range-of-movement (ROM), strength, and pain assessment using the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow score on two separate occasions at least 12 weeks apart (13.2±1.0), over the course of a competitive season. RESULTS: One third of all players tested reported playing with shoulder pain at some stage during season. Both dominant (20°±11.8°) and non-dominant (14°±14.7°) throwing arm Total Arc ROM increased between testing intervals (p≤0.01), with significant concomitant increases in player external rotation (ER) ROM of both dominant (11.6°±8.4°) and non-dominant (8.8°±6.4°) throwing arms (p≤0.01). The dominant shoulders of prospectively injured players demonstrated a reduction in ROM (mean Total Arc ROM difference of -17.3°±6.2° vs -0.6°±11.8°), and lower dominant ER:IR strength ratios mean ER 0.71±0.13 vs IR 0.93±0.21) at baseline testing compared to non-injured players. ER strength decreased in both arms (p≤0.01), while ER:IR DOM strength ratios were significantly lower than at pre-season (mean loss of 16–18±21N/0.2±0.25 ER MVIC NBW per side, p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Professional county cricket players exhibit increases in shoulder ROM and decreases in dominant throwing arm strength ratios across a competitive Cricket season. Pre-season differences in dominant vs non-dominant shoulder ROM and dominant throwing arm shoulder strength ratios appear to be associated with prospective onset of in-season shoulder trouble in the professional cricketers studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cricket players nowadays are faced with increased physical demands, and as a result, it is important to manage their workload, particularly to control and predict risk of injury. While this has been investigated at an elite level, few studies have looked at the workloads placed on adolescent cricket players. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the workloads placed on school boy cricketers, specifically within a South African context. Twelve male school boy cricketers between the ages of 16 and 19 years participated in the study. Match and practice data were collected over a period of 74 days and included number of shuttles run (batsmen), number of deliveries bowled (bowlers) as well as central ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Injury data were also collected. These data were then used to determine the acute:chronic (a:c) workload ratio (two-week rolling average) as well as session RPE (sRPE). Fast bowlers delivered more balls during matches compared to practices, whereas batsmen ran more shuttles at practices compared to matches. Session RPE was higher for matches compared to practices. There did not appear to be a relationship between workload and injury risk; however, this may have been due to the small sample size. It was concluded that it is important to monitor individual workloads of players. Also, intensities of practices need to be increased to match game demands. Lastly, the study design was effective and the methods used were found to be appropriate for a larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent cricket pace bowlers are prone to non-contact shoulder, low back and lower-limb injuries. Exercise-based injury prevention programmes (IPPs) are effective for reducing non-contact injuries in athletes; however, a specific programme for adolescent pace bowlers has not been published. This paper therefore seeks to provide a rationale for the development of an exercise-based IPP specific for adolescent pace bowlers. It also outlines design principles and provides an example exercise programme that can be implemented at the community level. In addition, the paper addresses other injury prevention techniques concerned with the prescription of appropriate bowling loads and the modification of poor bowling biomechanics. Performing an exercise-based IPP before cricket training could reduce injury rates in adolescent pace bowlers. Eccentric strengthening exercises can be employed to target injuries to the posterior shoulder muscles, hip adductors and hamstring muscles. The risk of low back, knee and ankle injury could also be reduced with the inclusion of dynamic neuromuscular control exercises and trunk extensor endurance exercises. Other prevention strategies that need to be considered include the modification of poor bowling biomechanics, such as shoulder counter-rotation and lateral trunk flexion. Coaches and players should also aim to quantify bowling load accurately and coaches should use this information to prescribe appropriate individualised bowling loads. Specifically, players would benefit from avoiding both long periods of low load and acute periods when load is excessively high. Future evidence is needed to determine the effectiveness of the example programme outlined in this paper. It would also be beneficial to investigate whether the modification of bowling biomechanics is achievable at the non-elite level and if bowling load can be accurately measured and manipulated within a community-level population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At the turn of the century, a new format of cricket [Twenty20 (T20)] was introduced that has led to more matches being played. Since then, it has been debated whether T20 cricket has increased the risk of overuse injuries.Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to meta-analyse the cricket injury rates in the twenty-first century. The secondary aims were to explore the risk factors and mechanisms of injury by analysing correlates such as age, format, era of play, country, player type, etc., and to conduct a qualitative analysis of the published studies.Methods: Several databases were searched using keywords “cricket” and “injur*” and 24 papers reporting cricket injuries fitted the inclusion criteria. Fifteen papers included data on exposure time and were used to calculate injury rates to perform sub-group analysis.Results: Pooled data on 12,511 players revealed 7627 injuries, and the 1.12 million hours of cricket play from 15 studies reporting exposure time showed an injury rate of 53.16 (95% confidence interval 51.84-54.52) per 10,000 h of play. There were no statistically significant differences in injury rates based on age, format, era of play, country, player type and injury definitions. Bowling biomechanics and workload were identified as the major risk factors for bowling injuries.Conclusions: This review shows that injury rates in junior and amateur cricket are higher than the injury rates of comparable cohorts playing other popular non-contact or quasi-contact team sports. There is not enough evidence to conclude that T20 cricket has increased injury rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The grade cricket competition, also known as premier cricket, supplies players to the state and national teams in Australia. The players involved are generally high-performing amateur (subelite) club cricketers. However, to date, there is no study on the injury epidemiology of Australian grade cricket.Aim: To conduct injury surveillance across all teams playing Sydney Grade Cricket (SGC) competition during the 2015-2016 season.Methods: A cohort study was conducted to track injuries in 408 male cricketers in 20 teams playing SGC competition. Players were tracked through the MyCricket website's scorebook every week. Cricket New South Wales physiotherapists were alerted if there were changes to the playing XI from the last game. If any changes were made due to injury, then an injury incident was registered.Results: During the course of the season, a total of 86 injuries were registered from 65 players, resulting in a loss of 385 weeks of play. The overall injury incidence rate was 35.54 injuries/10 000 playing hours with an average weekly injury prevalence of 4.06%. Lower back injuries (20%) were the most common injuries followed by foot (14%), hand (13.75%), knee (7.5%) and calf (7.5%). Linear regression analysis showed that the likelihood of injury increased as the mean age of the teams increased (R=0.5, p<0.05).Conclusion: The injury rate in SGC is lower than that reported at elite level. However, the high rate of lower back injuries (20%) highlights an area of concern in this cohort. High workloads or inadequate physical conditioning may contribute to such injuries. This study sets the foundation for understanding injury epidemiology in grade cricket and examines the links between injury and performance, these results may assist coaches and administrators to develop and implement cricket-specific injury prevention programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Fast bowlers display a high risk of lower back injury and pain. Studies report factors that may increase this risk, however exact mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: : To provide a contemporary analysis of literature, up to April 2016, regarding fast bowling, spinal kinematics, ground reaction force (GRF), lower back pain (LBP) and pathology. METHOD: Key terms including biomechanics, bowling, spine and injury were searched within MEDLINE, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscuss, Science Citation Index, OAIster, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, Science Direct and Scopus. Following application of inclusion criteria, 56 studies (reduced from 140) were appraised for quality and pooled for further analysis. RESULTS: Twelve times greater risk of lumbar injury was reported in bowlers displaying excessive shoulder counter-rotation (SCR), however SCR is a surrogate measure which may not describe actual spinal movement. Little is known about LBP specifically. Weighted averages of 5.8 ± 1.3 times body weight (BW) vertically and 3.2 ± 1.1 BW horizontally were calculated for peak GRF during fast bowling. No quantitative synthesis of kinematic data was possible due to heterogeneity of reported results. CONCLUSIONS: Fast bowling is highly injurious especially with excessive SCR. Studies adopted similar methodologies, constrained to laboratory settings. Future studies should focus on methods to determine biomechanics during live play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To find out if kinesiotaping and kinetic chain exercise are effective in treatment of scapular dyskinesia in fast bowlers and to compare if kinesiotaping or kinetic chain exercises were effective in treatment of scapular dyskinesia. Aim: To compare two different approaches to shoulder rehabilitation, kinetic chain exercises and kinesiotaping throughout the program in treatment of downward rotated scapula in young elite fast bowlers. Design: Experimental study Settings: cricket clubs in and around mumbai and Pune. Method: the study included males of age group 19-25 years and playing cricket since 2 years diagnosed with downward rotated scapula using lateral scapula slide test. the subjects were divided randomly in two groups, and group A was Kinesiotaped and group B was given kinetic chain exercises and both groups continued with conventional rehabilitation for scapular dyskinesia. Analysis and Results: Post data analysis shows the treatment given to Group B (kinetic chain based rehabilitation) was statistically more significant than group A (kinesiotaping). Conclusion: Kinesiotaping is not as effective as kinetic chain exercises and thus might not help prevent shoulder injuries like impingement syndrome and rotator cuff injuries in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cricket is the most commonly played and followed sport in India. Modern day cricket demands a high level of consistent performance from the fast bowler, who carries the highest risk for injury. 3D motion analysis can be used to prevent injuries by identifying incorrect techniques. Researchers have identified key biomechanical variables as predictors of injury in fast bowlers. Very little such information is available with respect to Indian cricket fast bowlers despite the huge popularity of the sport here. Objectives: To identify areas of injury risk in Indian fast bowlers with respect to key biomechanical variables, using 3D motion analysis. Methods: 22maleState level fast bowlersbetween ages 18 -30yearsunderwent3Dmotionanalysis inanindoor cricket biomechanics testing facility. Bowling action was captured with a set of 3D cameras (250 fps) and 2D video cameras (125 fps). Data processing & analysis was done with proprietary software using a standard model. Key biomechanical variables including delivery Stride Length (SL), Lateral Trunk Flexion at Ball Release (LTF at BR) and Knee Flexion at Front Foot Contact (KF at FFC) were measured. Peak Vertical Ground Reaction Forces (pVGRF) were recorded simultaneously using force plates. Descriptive statistical analysis of results was done. Results: A large proportion of bowlers were at risk of injuries (100% had less than optimum SL, 41% had high LTF at BR, 45% had high pVGRF and 45% had low KF at FFC). Bowling action type was found to be ideal or acceptable in 77%. Conclusions: Indian fast bowlers, in spite of possessing less injurious bowling action types, are vulnerable to injury with respect to key biomechanical variables. This emphasises role of 3D motion analysis in Indian state level fast bowlers for early identification of injurious techniques and could have implications on coaching of fast bowlers in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]