Bone health and asymmetry in elite female cricketers

The aim of this study is to determine if bone mineral density (BMD) and bone asymmetry differs between female cricket fast bowlers, spin bowlers and batters. BMD was determined at the total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femurs in 12 fast bowlers, 13 batters and 11 spin bowlers from pre-season DXA scans. High Z-scores at the total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur were observed in all cricketers (mean Z-scores: +1.4 to +3.3) compared with a general age matched reference population. Fast bowlers had significantly greater BMD on the contralateral side of the lumbar spine compared with the ipsilateral side (p = 0.001, 5.9-12.1%). No asymmetry was found between hips in all groups. All cricket positions demonstrated high BMD at all measured sites. The lumbar spine of fast bowlers is asymmetric, with significantly greater BMD on the contralateral side of the spine, particularly at L4, possibly in response to the asymmetric lumbar loading patterns observed in bowling.HighlightsElite female cricketers demonstrate high BMD at total body, lumbar spine and proximal femur sites, regardless of playing position compared with a general age and ethnic group matched reference population.Fast bowlers have greater BMD on the contralateral (opposite bowling arm) side of the lumbar spine compared with the ipsilateral side, while a symmetrical pattern was observed in spin bowlers and batters.No asymmetry in BMD or section modulus between hips was observed at any proximal femur site for any cricket position.