Citation

Forrest MRL, Hebert JJ, Scott BR, Dempsey AR. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Australia; Murdoch Applied Sports Science Laboratory, Murdoch University, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2019.12.009

PMID

31874733

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if an exercise-based injury prevention program (IPP) can modify risk factors for injury in community-level adolescent cricket pace bowlers.

DESIGN: Cluster-randomised controlled trial.

METHODS: Eight cricket organisations (training two times per week and no previous involvement in a structured IPP) participated in this cluster-randomised trial. Participants were aged 14-17 years, injury free, and not currently performing a rehabilitation/exercise program. Cricket organisations (clusters) were block-randomised by computerised number generation into an intervention group (performed an eight-week IPP at training) or control group (continued their usual cricket activity). Participants were not blinded to group allocation. Strength, endurance, and neuromuscular control were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Treatment effects were estimated using linear mixed models.

RESULTS: Sixty-five male adolescent pace bowlers (intervention n=32 and control n=33) were randomised. There were significant treatment effects favouring the intervention group for shoulder strength (90°/s) 0.05 (95% CI 0.02-0.09) Nm/kg, hamstring strength (60°/s) 0.32 (95% CI 0.13-0.50) Nm/kg, hip adductor strength dominant 0.40 (95% CI 0.26-0.55) Nm/kg and non-dominant 0.33 (95% CI 0.20-0.47) Nm/kg, SEBT reach distance dominant 3.80 (95% CI 1.63-6.04) percent of leg length (%LL) and non-dominant 3.60 (95% CI 1.43-5.78) %LL, and back endurance 20.4 (95% CI 4.80-36.0) seconds. No differences were observed for shoulder strength (180°/s) (p=0.09), hamstring strength (180°/s) (p=0.07), lumbopelvic stability (p=0.90), and single leg squat knee valgus angle (dominant p=0.06, non-dominant p=0.15).

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-based IPPs can modify risk factors for injury in community-level adolescent pace bowlers. Future research is needed to confirm if IPPs can also reduce injury risk in this population.

Copyright © 2019 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Cricket; Exercise-based injury prevention; Pace bowlers; Risk factors; Youth athletes