Cricket injuries can occur among amateurs and professionals. Direct contact injuries, such as a blow to the hand from a ball traveling at a high speed, are the most common type of cricket injuries. These blows can cause fractures and severe bruising. The most common cricket injuries are sprains, fractures, and bruising. “Overuse” injury of the shoulder, associated with throwing, typically referred to as “thrower’s shoulder or acute, traumatic injuries, especially when players fall on a shoulder while fielding
Adult cricketers mostly get injuries to the upper limbs, followed by injuries o the lower limbs and the head. For children, the most common injury site is the head and face, followed by the fingers and hands.
Shoulder injuries
Thrower’s shoulder
It involves injury to the tendons of the rotator cuff (the muscles around the shoulder joint), and may include weakness around the scapula (shoulder blade). There may be associated bursitis (inflammation of the joint sac) within the shoulder.
One specific mechanism for the development of thrower’s shoulder is the stretching of the anterior ligaments as a result of continuous throwing, which may lead to anterior instability. It may also involve posterior capsular tightness, leading to secondary damage.
Shoulder pain that gradually worsens when the player throws the ball, and, at a later stage, even when the player is bowling. There are a number of potential causes: poor throwing technique, shoulder muscle imbalance, previous injury, shoulder instability, too much or too little practice, and poor posture.
Traumatic injury to the shoulder
Classically occurs when a fielder dives for the ball and lands hard on an outstretched arm. The injury could include damage in the form of tears to the tendons, cartilage, in and around the shoulder, and dislocation of the shoulder may occur. Pain caused by this kind of injury usually limits participation in the game.
Management includes appropriate diagnosis, which will require referral to an orthopedic surgeon. If the injury is significant, surgery may be necessary. Following this, it is essential that the cricketer be appropriately rehabilitated to prevent weakness of selected muscles, which may in turn lead to future overuse injuries.
Impingement Syndrome
Impingement Syndrome, which is caused by the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles becoming ‘impinged’ as they pass through a narrow bony space called the Subacromial space – so called because it is under the arch of the acromion. With repetitive pinching, the tendon(s) become irritated and inflamed.This can lead to thickening of the tendon which may cause further problems because there is very little free space, so as the tendons become larger, they are impinged further.
Shoulder pain comes on gradually over a long period. Pain when lifting the arm above 90 degrees. Pain on internal (medial rotation) movements – for example reaching up behind your back.
Glenohumeral instability
It is most commonly caused by indirect force to the arm moving to outward direction or fall on outstretched arm when it is in internally rotated position.
There is tearing of the glenohumeral ligament and capsule that causes joint laxity and subluxation. Pain over the shoulder, inability to use the arm and paresthesia in the arm are usual symptoms. On examination movement of the arm is painful and limited.
Initial treatment is RICE and analgesics as needed and immobilization for 2-3 weeks.
Subluxation may require reduction of joints by Orthopaedician
Glenoid labral tears
Glenoid labrul tears are commonly seen in cricketers while throwing activity due to repetitive microtrauma.
A feeling of clicking or snapping in the joint with pain mostly during the acceleration phase. Player feels that speed of the throwing motion is decreased.
Initial management is rest, analgesics and sling immobilization. Long term physiotherapy is flexibility and posterior rotator cuff muscles strengthening exercises.
Scapulo thoracic problems
It is common in sports requiring repetitive shoulder motion as in cricket. There is dull ache or pain in shoulder girdle and pain feels with shoulder elevation movement. Malalignment along the lower scapular border leads to bursitis.
Management is rest and NSAIDS and physiotherapy If conservative treatment fails consult a doctor.
Biceps tendinitis problems
It may be associated with glenohumeral instability or impingement syndrome. There is a snapping feel in the region of anterior shoulder joint. Arm rotation is difficult due to pain.
Management is RICE and analgesics and strengthening exercises of shoulder rotators. Counterforce bracing proximal to biceps belly is useful. If severe cases surgery is recommended.
Management and rehabilitation
Pain management and rehabilitation are the two mainstays of treatment for this condition. Physiotherapy treatment can reduce acute (short-term) inflammation and chronic (long-term) degeneration of the cuff where a tear is not present. The objective of physiotherapy treatment is to limit inflammation using Ice Therapy (never apply ice directly to the skin). Anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by a doctor is often helpful.
Rehabilitation is focused on both stability and strength around the shoulder joint. It is essential that there is a balance of strength and stability around the shoulder and surrounding joints. Rehabilitation and correction of the cricketer’s throwing technique is important to prevent the recurrence of injury.
In cases where structural damage has occurred, the appropriate management would be referral to a shoulder specialist for possible surgical repair.
It is important that any increase in the amount of training or competition must be gradual in order to prevent overload of the Rotator Cuff muscles. In particular, bowling and fielding practice should be increased gradually to allow the Rotator Cuff tendons to adapt.
Elbow Injuries
Medial Epicondylitis
There is pain in the medial aspect of elbow joint. It is common in the fielders while repetitive throw the ballot the centre.
Pain on the inside of the elbow when you grip something hard. Weakness in the hand and wrist may be present.In severe cases pain becomes more severe and constant.
Management is RICE and analgesics.physiotherapy like Laser and Ultrasound is effective.If not cured with conservative treatment surgery is recommended.
Median Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Sites of compression include at the proximal or the middle forearm.
Signs and symptoms: These include pain in the front part of forearm that is exacerbated with activity and relieved by rest; decreased sensation in the thumb, index finger, long finger, and radial side of the ring finger; weakness of thenar muscles.
Treatment includes rest and anti-inflammatory medications. Surgical treatment includes exploration of the median nerve in the proximal forearm, and the release of all sites of possible compression.
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Sites of compression at the medial side of elbow joint. It may be because of direct trauma as ball travelling to the boundary and hits the fielder or repetitive elbow flexion.
Symptoms include pain in the forearm, which radiates, numbness, tingling in the little and half ring fingers. Wasting or weakness of intrinsic hand muscles, and the reproduction of symptoms with elbow flexion, with or without wrist extension.
Treatment include pillow splints during night to keep the elbow extended. Rest and anti-inflammatory medications are also useful. Surgical methods focus on releasing the nerve along its course at sites of compression.
Triceps tendinitis
There is inflammation at the triceps muscle-tendon unit. It is because of repetitive microtrauma to the muscle as in full elbow extension movement.There is pain and swelling at the posterior aspect of elbow joint.
Initial treatment is RICE and NSAIDS. Physiotherapy like Laser and ultrasonics to relief the pain.
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Seen most frequently in young players. Cause is repetitive stress to radial head due to rotation, extension and valgus overload.Pain increases with the sporting activity. Intermittent clicking and locking of elbow joint .X-rays shows presence of loose bodies.
Initial treatment is rest for 6-12 weeks and casting followed by physiotherapy.
Wrist and hand injuries
Mallet finger-Can occur in any activity while playing cricket where the finger is subject to jamming. Pain at the distal interphalangeal joint . Cricketer is unable to extend the distal interphalangeal joint. X-ray shows bony avulsion from the distal phalanx. Splinting for 6-12 weeks and rest is required.
Volar plate rupture-The volar plate is fibrocartilage structure reinforcing the palmar aspect of interphalangeal jont. An injury to the finger at this level can also damage the volar plate. Treatment can include splinting and occasionally hand surgery.
Collateral ligament tears-It result from valgus and varus stress to the metacarpophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joint. Pain and swelling at the involved joint and on examination joint laxity is present. Initial treatment is rest and splinting for 3 weeks. If unstable then refer for surgical repair.
Fracture-Fracture can occur in carpals, metacarpals and phalanges caused by direct trauma from either an axial load or compressive forces. There is pain and swelling over the area. There is varying degree of angular and rotational deformity depending on the type of fracture.
Treatment of finger fractures differ for the type. These fractures are generally immediately treated by means of the “so called” buddy strapping technique, by which the injured finger is attached to the adjacent finger, with some stability and support. A hand specialist needs to be consulted as soon as possible. Any fracture takes six weeks to heal completely.
In a limited number of cases surgery may be required. Physiotherapy is important for pain management, swelling control, and to ensure that the finger and hand do not become stiff and weak during the period of healing.
Web space splitting (especially between thumb and index finger) when players dive in the field and their hands collide with the ground, or catch a ball awkwardly. This also sometimes includes a joint dislocation.
If web space is split, with joint dislocations, with or without fractures, a hand specialist is crucial.
Split webbings have a high incident of reoccurrence, as the scar tissue that heals is very weak and vulnerable to the same impact forces, and special taping might be essential for a good few weeks after the injury. Sometimes specially designed gloves have to be made if it continues to re occur despite all efforts – these have to be cleared by cricket governing bodies, boards, and umpires for each match/season.
PREVENTION
1.Always warm up and stretch
2.Suitable and properly fitted footwear should be worn
3.Wear protective gear during practice as well, not just during formal play
4.Have physical training before the start of the season
5.Make sure you have proper instruction on how to do skills (ex. bowling)
6.Have good sportsmanship, just have fun
7.Have a first aid kit on hand and be able to use it for minor injuries
8.Have a way to reach medical personnel in case of emergency situations





