Injury and lumbar reposition sense in cricket pace bowlers in neutral and pace bowling specific body positions.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: The cricket pace bowling action consists of a complex sequence of forceful actions, involving practiced, particular movements of the lumbar spine. The nature and repetition of the pace bowling action is known to be associated with a high incidence of low back injuries.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to establish whether lumbar proprioception (as measured by joint position sense) in the neutral lumbar spine position as well as lumbar positions corresponding to those at front foot placement and ball release positions of the cricket pace bowling action were related to previous injury and injury sustained during the cricket season under review. Injuries specifically sustained during the bowling action and those specific to the low back were explicitly investigated.

STUDY SETTING: Longitudinal study with participants tested at the start and monitored over the duration of a cricket season.

PARTICIPANT SAMPLE: Seventeen male cricket pace bowlers between the ages of 18 and 26 years participated in this study.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Physiological outcome measures were used. Lumbar position sense was established using electrogoniometry.

METHODS: Lumbar reposition error was measured in three positions (neutral lumbar spine, front foot placement, and ball release bowling positions). In each position, lumbar orientation was determined in the sagittal (flexion-extension) and coronal (left-right lateral flexion) planes. Wilcoxon matched-pairs ranks and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to establish the relationship between variables.

RESULTS: Reposition error was associated with general injuries sustained in the past and during the cricket season under review, low back injuries, as well as injuries sustained during the bowling action (p<.05).

CONCLUSION: Lumbar position sense, as a measure of proprioception, was related to injury in general, injuries sustained during the bowling action, and, especially, low back injury sustained in the past. Low back injury prevention methods are particularly needed because of the high load nature of the pace bowling action. If the proprioception of the lumbar spine is improved in pace bowlers, their risk of lumbar injury can potentially be reduced.