Bowlers more vulnerable to injuries: Study

CHANDIGARH: The orthopaedic department of PGI has conducted a study for looking into injuries sustained by young cricketers of north India and exploring limitations of available treatment options. It states that bowlers are injured the most. Titled ''Injury Profile and Management Outcomes of North Indian Cricketers: Are We As Good As the Rest of the World'', the study is based on data collected over a year by observing 95 players, who were involved in cricket camps held at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali.The study is to be presented on Thursday at the two-day World Congress on Science and Medicine in Cricket being held in Chandigarh from March 31.
According to Dr Mandeep Dhillon, head of the PGI's orthopaedic department and principal author of the study, 54 new injuries were recorded in the 95 players, with the average age of sufferers being 20.8 years. Dr Ritesh assisted him in the effort.
No serious injury to head or face was documented due to the fact that all players were aware of using protective equipment like helmets and guards. However, due to other injuries, the number of days of practice that a player missed was often as high as two months, with bowlers getting affected the most.
Citing some of the conclusions, Dr Dhillon says, ''It was found that seven of 26 fast bowlers had some episodes of significant back pain during this period. Though the incidence of injury was significant, the occurrence was less than that compared to reports from western countries. One reason can be that the cricket season never gets over in India.'' The study further states that it had been documented in the west that severity of injury while bowling was the highest followed by fielding, batting and wicket keeping.
''Bowlers have an increased risk of sustaining lower limb injuries with fast bowlers mostly suffering back injuries. The study also blames players for their injuries not getting checked, as they hide those from coaches and medical staff for fear of losing their place in the team,'' he says.
The paper also points to the absence of any system for surveillance, pre-season screening or computerized documentation for cricket injuries, as is available in the top nations of the world. Recommending ways to eradicate the discrepancies, it stresses on having a special programme for grooming, training and exercise protocols for fast bowlers.
''Injury surveillance protocols focusing on fast bowlers should include examination and x-rays of even those who do not have back pain, and a computerized database should be created, which should be available to all coaches, selectors and physiotherapists,'' it states.