Lower back pain in bowlers

Cricket is often labelled a sport of minimal injury risk.  However, with the changing dynamics of the game and the repetitive nature of the sport, cricketers can be susceptible to a wide range of injuries - bowlers in particular. 

Research has suggested that bowling is by far the most common cause of injuries in cricket (41%). The vast majority of these injuries are overuse injuries, where the repetitive action in players with poor biomechanics (movement patterns) eventually cause back injury.

Back pain in bowlers

In the act of fast bowling – particularly the arching and rotation of the lower back - a lot of stress is placed through the joints and bones in the spine.

Normally the majority of these forces are absorbed in the facet joints that are located on either side of the vertebral bones and connect the adjacent vertebrae.

In cases where the forces are excessive or repeated they can transfer through these facet joints to the connecting bone of the vertebra, causing overload through the bone itself. Over time a stress reaction can form and in severe cases a stress fracture may develop.

Symptoms of back injury

Facet joint injury

• Pain on one side of the low back (usually same side as bowling arm)
• Worse when bowling
• Pain with arching or rotating back

Stress reaction/stress fracture

• Pain on one side of the low back, often radiating into the buttock region
• Worse when bowling – may limit ability to complete spell
• Pain with arching or rotating back
• Pain often worse at night

What causes back injury in fast bowlers?

Factors that can contribute to these injuries include:

• Inadequate pre-season physical preparation
• Rapid increase in training load (or recent rest period)
• Postural problems
• Incorrect bowling technique
• Length of bowling spells in matches
• Lack of core strength

Read more: Don't get bowled over by injury this Summer

Treating low back pain in cricketers

Once an injury has occurred, a period of rest from bowling will generally be required and work done to correct whichever contributing factors were present in that particular bowler’s case.

Continuing to bowl with low back pain will almost certainly require a longer period of time out, so if you are a fast bowler and experiencing any low back discomfort, it would certainly be worth seeing your local Back In Motion physiotherapist.

There may in fact be some simple treatment that can alleviate your symptoms and prevent a more serious stress fracture occurring.

Author

Daniel Verdon, Clinical Associate - Back In Motion Camberwell

Dan joined Back In Motion Camberwell in 2011 and has been a dedicated member of the team since. He was born and raised in Ararat, and completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University in 2010.

Dan developed his management of sporting injuries working with the Old Paradians Football Club throughout his University days and since has taken particular interest in dry needling, shoulder pathology and advanced taping techniques. Dan is equipped with strong assessment and treatment capabilities, essential for managing a broad range of conditions - from nagging back pain to sporting injuries to developmental issues.