Cricket has been a staple of the Australian summer for generations. Whether it’s a simple game of backyard cricket, or you’re in your full whites for an all dayer, from children to adults, if the sun is out, cricket is in the air. But what are the risks of cricket?
One of the most common issues for cricketers, especially bowlers, is lower back injuries. Repetitive, fast paced and enormous workload, such as bowling, can over time misalign your pelvis. This is especially true among kids and teenagers whose spines are yet to mature (this occurs in girls between 12-15 years of age, and in boys between 18-21). Misalignment of the pelvis can make it appear as though you have one leg shorter than the other, this is often misdiagnosed and orthotics are used incorrectly. It can also create unnecessary strain on the lower back, causing problems later in life.
Lumbar stress fractures are a common issue in adult cricketers, especially ones who have not treated an underlying pelvis problem. Merv Hughes is a classic example of lower back pain in a cricketer. He is famous for his stretching and warm up exercises during the game, unfortunately these problems slowed his bowl as well as his cricket career.
And it’s not just the pelvis that can cause problems. All along the chain of movement for a bowler, from the foot up to the neck, there is strain put on muscles and joints. Uneven or concrete cricket pitches can cause injury in the feet, ankles and knees. Incorrect shoulder movement when throwing the ball or even batting, due to a misaligned thoracic region can cause problems such as shoulder dislocation, frozen shoulder, even muscle or ligament tears.
So how can Chiropractic help?
Correcting issues as they occur will help prevent future injury. For example, correcting pelvic misalignment at an early stage will take pressure off the lumbar region, helping to prevent stress fractures from occurring later in life.
Seeing a Chiropractor when these issues occur is smart. Seeing a Chiropractor before they become issues is inspired!
There are 3 things that regular Chiropractic does that can help
- Manage Pain – regular Chiropractic can help you manage pain symptoms, as your spine is aligned your body is better able to deal with injury.
- Promotes Healing – a well aligned spine and properly functioning nervous system helps to promote your body’s natural healing, speeding up recovering time.
- Prevention – prevention is key in Chiropractic. By having a properly aligned spine, as well as fully functioning nervous system and properly mobile joints you are less likely to be injured with your movements.
In countries all over the world Chiropractors are a vital part of the medical entourage for national cricket teams. Chiropractic is encouraged to help keep players fit and healthy, and to help lengthen their careers.
