How many injuries are there in Cricket?
Lower back pain and stress fracture. How do I know if I have a stress fracture?
Whether its diving catches or repetitive movements playing cricket relies heavily on the lower back. These movements and actions can trigger pain and inflammation. A specific lower back injury which is particularly prevalent in young fast bowlers is a stress fracture. This is due to the repetitive stress and load the back is placed under with fast bowling. An X-ray along with a clinical examination is usually sufficient to defect a stress fracture. However, if pain persists despite rest and physical therapy, additional imaging such as an MRI/CT scan may be needed. The best thing for low back pain is prevention.
Side strain- Can I play cricket with a side strain?
A side strain is an injury that occurs in the Oblique’s (side of the body), and is an injury commonly seen in bowlers. It occurs on the opposite side of the bowling arm due to forced contraction as the front arm pulls down at delivery stride. Unfortunately, with this injury the faster you bowl and the more force you produce through delivery stride the more likely this injury is. If you have suffered a side strain you are likely to get immediate pain in the side of your body. This pain will be increased by bending sideways. You should gradually increase your load and capacity over an 8-12 week period as your strain heals. This will allow for a long term return without “breaking down”.
Hamstring strain – What causes a hamstring strain?
Poor conditioning and lack of strength are the key contributors to a hamstring strain, but there are options available to treat this injury and prevent it from reoccurring in the future. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles that run down the back of your thigh. The key action of the hamstrings is to bend the knee, it is particularly active when sprinting. A hamstring strain is usually caused when they have become overloaded, leading to a strain or tear.
Bruises and Broken Bones – How do you treat a cricket ball injury?
Who decided to make a cricket ball so hard? This may be a question you have asked yourself if you have ever been struck by a cricket ball. Whether it is batting or fielding a ball to the body is likely to leave you with a bruise or fracture. Immediate first aid involves ice over the injured area for 10-15 minutes, repeated for the first day or so. Or until the pain settles. Fractures are most commonly found in the fingers of cricketers when either being struck in the hand while batting or attempting to take a catch in the field. Signs of a fracture may include point tenderness, swelling, bruising and an inability to bend or straighten the finger. However, an X-ray is the best way of knowing if you have a fracture.
Shoulder pain – Why are shoulder injuries so common?
Experiencing shoulder pain as a cricketer is almost a certainty. This is because the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body, with this increased mobility comes decreased stability. Bowling, batting, fielding and even wicket keeping puts your shoulders into physical overdrive. Rotator cuff Injuries are also relatively common. The good news is that through physiotherapy you can 1. Treat your shoulder injuries and get back to the things you love and 2. Reduce the risk of getting shoulder pain in the future.
