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With the cricket season now in full swing, injuries are already making their way through our doors.
Some of the more common injuries incurred by cricketers are simple muscle strains or joint sprains. Hamstring and calf muscles are often “pulled” when taking off for a quick single or going for a catch in the outfield. These acute injuries must be managed in the first 48 hours with, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (R.I.C.E.). Once the acute management has commenced the injuries should be assessed by a professional qualified to assess and treat sports injuries, these include a Sports Medicine doctor or a physiotherapist.
Early assessment and appropriate treatment planning will reduce the risk of a simple injury blowing out to become a complicated chronic injury.
The more complex injuries are those that come on slowly over time, these could include injuries such as shoulder rotator cuff injuries, stress fractures in the low back and shin splints.
These types of injuries are often characterized by:-
1. Bowling too many overs without the appropriate conditioning.
2. Technique faults in the bowling action.
3. Inadequate recovery time.
4. Inadequate muscle flexibility and strength
5. Previous injury
Simple tips to avoid injury:-
1. Ensure correct conditioning which includes appropriate flexibility and strength to allow you to bat, bowl or wicketkeep for the duration of a match.
2. Correct any technique or biomechanical faults. Speak to your coach and have your action video analysed.
3. Do not push through pain. PAIN is our bodies warning system to say that something is wrong.
If you develop musculo-skeletal pain, a sports physiotherapist is well positioned in the management and prevention of cricket related injuries. The key to the prevention of chronic pain from injury is in the early detection, management and correction of faults.
Written by
Marc Di Paolo |
