Musculoskeletal profile of the lumbar spine and hip regions in cricket fast bowlers

Max C. Stuelcken, Karen A. Ginn and Peter J. Sinclair

The objective of this study was to determine the career history of low back pain (LBP) in current elite female cricket fast bowlers and then compare measures of lumbar spine and hip range of motion (ROM) and trunk extensor endurance between those bowlers with and without a history of LBP. Measures for the female bowlers were also compared to a small sample of male fast bowlers.  Twenty-six elite female fast bowlers participated in this study.  Fourteen had a history of LBP. There was a significant difference in lumbar lateral flexion ROM to the bowling arm side between those female fast bowlers with and without a history of LBP. The female fast bowlers had significantly more bilateral hip extension ROM compared to male fast bowlers.

The difference in lumbar lateral flexion ROM to the bowling arm side between female fast bowlers with and without a history of LBP should be useful information for practitioners involved in the conditioning and rehabilitation of cricketers.

Physical Therapy in Sport,18 April 2008, online article ahead of press 

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