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Br J Sports Med doi:10.1136/bjsm.2009.061309

Throwing Workload and Injury Risk in Elite Cricketers

  1. Richard Saw (richard.saw{at}student.unsw.edu.au)
  1. University of New South Wales, Australia
    1. Rebecca J Dennis (rebecca.dennis{at}unsw.edu.au)
    1. NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia
      1. David Bentley (d.bentley{at}unsw.edu.au)
      1. University of New South Wales, Australia
        1. Patrick Farhart (patrick.farhart{at}cricketnsw.com.au)
        1. Cricket NSW, Australia
          • Published Online First 20 July 2009

          Abstract

          Objective: To investigate the risk between throwing workload and upper limb injury in elite cricketers.

          Design: Prospective cohort study.

          Setting: Elite Australian cricket.

          Participants: Twenty-eight male adult cricketers, aged 18 – 32 years.

          Assessment of risk factors: Daily throwing workload and injury were prospectively monitored over the 2007-8 cricket season. Risk ratios were calculated to describe the association between throwing workload and injury.

          Main outcome measurement: Upper limb injury associated with throwing.

          Results: Seven (25%) players sustained an injury during the season. Injured players threw approximately 40 more throws per week (p=0.004) and 12.5 more throws per throwing day (p=0.061) than uninjured players. Players were at significantly increased risk of injury if they completed more than 75 throws per week (RR = 1.73, 95%CI = 1.03, 2.92) and there was a trend towards increased risk if they completed more than 40 throws per throwing day (RR = 1.41, 95%CI = 0.88, 2.26). Injured players also completed more throws and had more throwing days (and consequently less rest days) in the week prior to injury, as compared with the rest of their season preceding that point.

          Conclusion: An increased throwing workload is a risk factor for the development of upper limb injury in elite cricketers. Investigation of the kinematics of throwing in elite cricketers would complement this study and further research is required to develop detailed throwing workload guidelines for cricketers across a range of ages.

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