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Measures to prevent cricket injuries: an overview.
C F Finch1, B C Elliott, A C McGrath
1School of Human Health Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|November 24, 1999
Summary
Cricket injuries, particularly overuse back injuries in elite players, can be prevented by avoiding specific bowling actions and excessive fast bowling. Protective gear helps mitigate impact injuries in lower-level play.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cricket, a popular international sport, presents unique injury risks despite being non-contact.
- Overuse injuries, especially spinal injuries, are prevalent in high-level cricketers due to the biomechanical demands of bowling.
- Impact injuries from the ball are also a concern, particularly in informal settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the common injuries in cricket.
- To identify risk factors associated with cricket injuries, focusing on bowling actions and impact trauma.
- To highlight the need for research into injury prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of cross-sectional studies on cricket injuries.
- Analysis of biomechanical factors in the cricket bowling action.
- Examination of injury mechanisms related to overuse and impact.
Main Results:
- Spinal overuse injuries are more common in cricketers using a mixed bowling action compared to front- or side-on techniques.
- Improper or excessive bowling movements contribute significantly to back injuries in elite players.
- Protective equipment is widely used for impact injuries, but its effectiveness is understudied.
Conclusions:
- Implementing strategies to avoid mixed bowling actions and excessive fast bowling can prevent back injuries.
- Further research is crucial to understand cricket biomechanics, injury mechanisms, and risk factors for effective prevention.
- There is a need for formal assessment of the effectiveness of suggested injury prevention measures.