Introduction
Most common cricket injuries are Fractures, Sprain and Strain of the ligaments and muscles, Bruising etc.
Injury may happen due to blow on the face, hands, thigh etc from a ball with high speed. Teeth injuries, Jaw injuries occur when ball hits the face.
Adult cricketers may get injured to Upper limbs, Lower limbs and head. In children, face and head injuries are common.
Common cricket injuries
• Bowling injuries
Bowling injuries may be 41.3% of overall cricket injuries.
Back Injuries
- They occur due to repeated stress to spine area during bowling action.
- Bowling involves Repetitive twisting, Extension and Rotational movements of the body in a minimum period.
Body soft tissues and footwear are prone to ground reaction forces due to force landing on legs while bowling.
Hip Injuries
Quadriceps and Hamstrings (thigh front and back area) muscle is affected.
Knee Injuries
Hyperextension, Lateral flexion and Thoracic-lumbar rotation with jerk force occur while landing during bowling action cause knee injuries.
Ankle Joints Injuries/Pain
Metatarsal bones, Fibula and Tibia bone fractures - Due to pressure on legs while landing during bowling
Shoulder Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries may occur while throwing the ball with speed and force during bowling.
• Fielding Injuries
Fielding injuries may be 28.6% of overall cricket injuries.
Out Fielding injuries
Shoulder injury (While throwing the ball accurately with certain speed)
Elbow pain/injury (Due to throwing ball)
Hand injuries (Common as they catch the fast balls)
Minor avulsion/Breaking fractures of peripheral joints and bones.
Middle phalanx dislocation
Mallet fracture (Dorsal base of the distal phalanx of hand/foot get fractured and cause flexion/dropping of the part)
Ligament fractures of hands
Thumb injuries
Close- Fielding injuries
Eye injuries, Face injuries and soft tissue injuries occur
In close fielding injury, occurs to all parts of the body because fielders stop fast travelling balls and rapidly return them to the wicket.
• Head, Neck and Facial injuries
Sometimes the fielders occasionally collide with each other/boundaries/fence causing head, neck and facial injuries.
• Batting Injuries
Batting injuries comprise of 17.1% of the total cricket injuries.
Batting injuries are mainly
Overuse injuries
Running injuries
Injuries due to collision of ball to the player
Cracked rib injuries
Eye injuries
Knee injuries
Leg injuries
Hand and soft tissue injuries
Shoulder injuries
• Other Common Injuries
All the bowling, Batting and Fielding include running long distances throughout the play. These may lead to
Overuse injuries of legs
Stress fractures of legs
Shin injuries/pain (Injury to leg bone)
Patellar tendinitis
Muscle tears etc.
Physical Therapy Treatment
• Physical therapist helps in Restoring of normal activities, Strength and Movement following injury, trauma or surgery.
• They teach specific techniques of Exercises, Stretches, Movements to reduce the problem and improve Range of motion, Strength and Flexibility.
• Physical therapist knows about the surgical procedures and treatment goals and program in a way to improve to improve your well-being.
• Shoulder Injury
Pain management
Rest to the injured limb
Ice therapy
Compression bandage
Elevation of the injured part if needed
Medicines like pain killers
Modalities like heat, straps, and supports.
Passive movements - To prevent stiffness early mobilization
Active movements - To improve strength resistive exercises are done.
Muscle Strengthening Exercises
Free-weight training Exercises
Stretching exercises
• Finger Injuries
Pain Management
Rest to the injured limb
Ice therapy
Buddy strapping is done (The near-by finger is also strapped for support)
Elevation of the injured part if needed
Medicines like pain killers
Modalities like heat, straps, and supports.
Passive movements - To prevent stiffness early mobilization
Active movements - To improve strength resistive exercises are done.
Muscle Strengthening Exercises
Isometric Exercises of fingers
Stretching exercises
• Cracked Rib Injuries
• Knee Injuries
• Start sporting activities only after getting 100% recovery.
• Psychological counseling is to be done to avoid depression, anxiety and negative attitudes which may develop during injury.
• Orthopedic and surgical treatments are to be undertaken at appropriate situations.
• Recovery phase includes aims to regain normal active and passive movements, Scapular control, and upper limb strength.
• Functional phase promotes increased power, strength in UL with increase in neuromuscular control and introduction of sports specific activity before return to active play.
• While batting players wear knee pads, shin pads, box over scrotal area, helmet to face. In spite of these also sometimes injuries may occur.
Prevention
Injury prevention methods are similar to all most all the sports but slight variations regarding protective equipments and conditioning exercises should be taken care of.
• Warm-up Program
- It should consist of 5 min Cardio/Pulse raising exercises like Jogging, Cycling, and Skipping etc.
- Stretching exercises (Static and Dynamic). They include Running, Marching with high knees etc.
- Specific sports exercises.
- Benefits
Increasing temperature of muscles.
Increases blood circulation and oxygen to muscles.
Increase the speed of nerve impulses making the muscle action faster.
Increase the range of motions of the joints.
Improves the performance of the joint action.
• Stretching Exercises
All muscles and joints stretching to be done. This helps in preventing injuries.
• Cool-down Program
It consists of gentle jogging followed by light stretching.
Benefits
- Gradually lower your heart rate
- Restoration of blood and oxygen to muscles as they were before exercise program
- Removes toxic and waste products
- Reduces muscle soreness present after activity.
• First Aid Kit
- Adhesive bandages, Adhesive tape, Ace bandages
- Ice packs
- Pain killers
- Sterile gauze pads,
- First aid cream/Disinfections cream/Analgesic cream
- Scissors
- Cloth swatches for making slings in case of emergency
• Sports Massage
- Regular sports massage help in flushing of toxic and waste products.
- Relaxes the muscle stress.
- Releases tight lumps and bumps in the muscles.
• Dress Appropriately
- Proper fitted equipments should be worn.
- Good batting helmets with face guard
- Batting gloves
- Forearm guards
- Wicket keeping gloves
- Leg guards
- Scrotal pads
- Footwear should be appropriate depending on the need of the player. Fast bowlers, especially with flat feet/high arches should seek professional advice about their shoes design and orthotics.
• Correct techniques of bowling, batting and fielding are to be practiced.
• Good fitness training and trainer are also necessary.
• During practice also wear good and protective equipments.
No comments:
Post a Comment