Cricket may have a reputation as being somewhat more sedate than other sports, but anybody who plays the sport either casually or professionally knows that this reputation is way wide of the mark. The sudden bursts of speed and unnatural, savage jerking motions associated with batting, bowling and fielding can all take their toll on the fittest body, and it's no surprise that cricketers tend to suffer from a distinct range of injuries and ailments because of them.
Treating these injuries as quickly and effectively as possible when they occur is vital for getting you back on the field as quickly as possible, and physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for a wide variety of cricket-related injuries. The following injuries are also common in avid cricket players and can be treated effectively with various physiotherapy techniques:
Thrower's elbow
Thrower's elbow is the same condition known as golfer's elbow in the world of golf and is broadly similar to tennis elbow except that it affects a different part of the elbow. Thrower's elbow is actually caused by irritation and inflammation of a group of tendons that control wrist and elbow movement; these tendons meet near the inner elbow, and the condition makes itself known in the same location. Symptoms can include inner elbow pain, stiffness, and muscle weakness that has the potential to become permanent without prompt treatment.
Treating thrower's elbow is a multi-faceted process, and many doctors will prescribe physiotherapy courses along side the usual measures of rest and pain relief. Physiotherapists can help to reduce pain and swelling in the affected elbow with ice packs and compression bandages and will guide you through a serious of strengthening and flexibility exercises designed to prevent loss of strength and range of motion as the inflamed tendons heal.
Lower back pain
Considering how much the lower back and torso twists during the average drive or fast bowl, it's no surprise that cricketers are particularly vulnerable to lower back pain. Persistent lower back pain can be caused by a wide variety of conditions and injuries, but physiotherapy can always help reduce the pain, muscle weakness and instability associated with most lower back pain cases. Massage, flexibility exercises and strengthening routines planned and supervised by your physio can be especially effective, and you may also be supplied with supportive braces and tapes.
Shoulder impingement
Another condition caused by inflamed tendons, shoulder impingement afflicts the tendons that give strength and mobility to the rotator cuff joint of the shoulder. These tendons pass through a narrow gap of bone known as the subacromial space, and become inflamed when forced to rub against the hard edges of this gap. The twisting, jerking moments produced by bowling and batting actions are particularly efficient ways to cause shoulder impingement, which usually results in significant pain and weakness when the arm is raised above the head.
While severe, intractable cases of shoulder impingement have to be corrected with minor surgery, most cases tend to resolve using more conservative methods, and physiotherapy is one of the most effective. As well as using braces and tape to stabilise the damaged shoulder and allow the tendons to heal, your physio may also offer other treatments, such as deep tissue massage, acupuncture and ultrasound therapy, to help promote quicker healing and reduce pain.
Share20 March 2018
Thanks for visiting my health blog! My name's Caroline. A few years ago, I started to notice changes in my appearance. My hair was dull, my eyes were circled with dark rings, and my skin was looking like it used to when I was a teenager. When cosmetic treatments didn't fix things, I realised the problem wasn't on the outside of my body—it was on the inside! That's when I started researching how to keep myself healthy. To my surprise, improving my internal health really worked. A few years down the line, I feel and look better than ever, and I'm ready to share what I've learned with all of you.