Lumbar bone stress injuries and risk factors in adolescent cricket fast bowlers.

Cricket fast bowling is associated with a high prevalence of lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI), especially in adolescent bowlers. This has not been sufficiently explained by risk factors identified in adult players. This study aimed to examine the incidence of LBSI in adolescent fast bowlers over a prospective study and potential risk factors. Forty asymptomatic male fast bowlers (aged 14-17 years) received baseline and annual lumbar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and musculoskeletal and bowling workload assessment; 22 were followed up after one year. LBSI prevalence at baseline and annual incidence were calculated. Potential risk factors were compared between the injured and uninjured groups using T-tests with Hedges' g effect sizes. At baseline, 20.5% of participants had at least one LBSI. Subsequent LBSI incidence was 27.3 ± 18.6 injuries per 100 players per year (mean ± 95% CI). Injured bowlers were older on average at the beginning of the season preceding injury (16.8 versus 15.6 years, g = 1.396, P = 0.047). LBSI risk may coincide with increases in bowling workload and intensity as bowlers step up playing levels to more senior teams during late adolescence whilst the lumbar spine is immature and less robust.

Comparing power hitting kinematics between skilled male and female cricket batters.

Organismic, task, and environmental constraints are known to differ between skilled male and female cricket batters during power hitting tasks. Despite these influences, the techniques used in such tasks have only been investigated in male cricket batters. This study compared power hitting kinematics between 15 male and 15 female batters ranging from university to international standard. General linear models were used to assess the effect of gender on kinematic parameters describing technique, with height and body mass as covariates. Male batters generated greater maximum bat speeds, ball launch speeds, and ball carry distances than female batters on average. Male batters had greater pelvis-thorax separation in the transverse plane at the commencement of the downswing (ß = 1.14; p = 0.030) and extended their lead elbows more during the downswing (ß = 1.28; p = 0.008) compared to female batters. The hypothesised effect of gender on the magnitude of wrist uncocking during the downswing was not observed (ß = -0.14; p = 0.819). The causes of these differences are likely to be multi-factorial, involving aspects relating to the individual players, their history of training experiences and coaching practices, and the task of power hitting in male or female cricket.

Optimising the front foot contact phase of the cricket fast bowling action.

Cricket fast bowling is a dynamic activity in which a bowler runs up and repeatedly delivers the ball at high speeds. Experimental studies have previously linked ball release speed and several technique parameters with conflicting results. As a result, computer simulation models are increasingly being used to understand the effects of technique on performance. This study evaluates a planar 16-segment whole-body torque-driven simulation model of the front foot contact phase of fast bowling by comparing simulation output with the actual performance of an elite fast bowler. The model was customised to the bowler by determining subject-specific inertia and torque parameters. Good agreement was found between actual and simulated performances with a 4.0% RMS difference. Varying the activation timings of the torque generators resulted in an optimised simulation with a ball release speed 3.5 m/s faster than the evaluation simulation. The optimised technique used more extended front ankle and knee joint angles, increased trunk flexion and a longer delay in the onset of arm circumduction. These simulations suggest the model provides a realistic representation of the front foot contact phase of fast bowling and is suitable to investigate the limitations of kinematic or kinetic variables on fast bowling performance.

Effect of racket-shuttlecock impact location on shot outcome for badminton smashes by elite players.

A logarithmic curve fitting methodology for the calculation of badminton racket-shuttlecock impact locations from three-dimensional motion capture data was presented and validated. Median absolute differences between calculated and measured impact locations were 3.6 [IQR: 4.4] and 3.5 [IQR: 3.5] mm mediolaterally and longitudinally on the racket face, respectively. Three-dimensional kinematic data of racket and shuttlecock were recorded for 2386 smashes performed by 65 international badminton players, with racket-shuttlecock impact location assessed against instantaneous post-impact shuttlecock speed and direction. Mediolateral and longitudinal impact locations explained 26.2% (quadratic regression; 95% credible interval: 23.1%, 29.2%; BF10 = 1.3 × 10131, extreme; p < 0.001) of the variation in participant-specific shuttlecock speed. A meaningful (BF10 = ∞, extreme; p < 0.001) linear relationship was observed between mediolateral impact location and shuttlecock horizontal direction relative to a line normal to the racket face at impact. Impact locations within one standard deviation of the pooled mean impact location predict reductions in post-impact shuttlecock speeds of up to 5.3% of the player's maximal speed and deviations in the horizontal direction of up to 2.9° relative to a line normal to the racket face. These results highlight the margin for error available to elite badminton players during the smash.

Are Planar Simulation Models Affected by the Assumption of Coincident Joint Centers at the Hip and Shoulder?

Planar simulation models which assume coincident joint centers at the hip and shoulder are often used to investigate subject-specific maximal performances rather than 3-dimensional models due to the viability of determining subject-specific parameters. To investigate the effect of coincident joint centers on model accuracy, 3 variants of a 16-segment planar subject-specific angle-driven model were evaluated using an elite cricket fast bowling performance: (a) planar representation assuming coincident joint centers, (b) planar representation with noncoincident hip joint centers, and (c) planar representation with noncoincident hip and shoulder joint centers. Model (c) with noncoincident hip and shoulder joint centers best matched the recorded performance with better estimates of the ground reaction force (mean RMS differences: (a) 18%, (b) 12%, and (c) 11%) and ball release velocity (mean RMS differences: (a) 3.8%, (b) 3.2%, and (c) 1.7%) due to a better representation of the mass center location and link system endpoint velocity. Investigations into the subject-specific performance of maximal effort movements, where nonsagittal plane rotations of the pelvis and torso could affect model accuracy, should consider the use of noncoincident hip and shoulder joint centers within a planar model rather than using a simple planar model or a full 3-dimensional model.

Differences in cricket fast bowling kinematics between grass and artificial surface pitches.

Cricket fast bowling training and research are often conducted on artificial turf, while matches are played on natural grass. It is unknown if technique differs between the different surfaces; therefore, the aim of this study was to explore if fast bowling technique differed between surfaces. Shoe slip distance and kinematic and temporal parameters previously associated with ball release velocity and lumbar bone stress injury were determined for eight male sub-elite fast bowlers using three-dimensional motion analysis on grass and artificial surfaces. Paired t-test and statistical parametric mapping were used to identify differences in technique between surfaces. Significantly greater slip distance was observed during back and front foot contact on the artificial surface compared to bowling on the grass surface. No kinematic or temporal parameter significantly differed between surfaces, therefore fast bowling technique is likely similar between grass and artificial surfaces, and previous research utilising artificial surfaces in fast bowling research is likely to be valid.

Impact on habitual crossfit participant's exercise behavior, health, and well-being: A cross-sectional survey of UK COVID-19 lockdowns.

Background and Aims: The period between March 2020 and March 2021 saw an unprecedented change to everyday life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included the closure of businesses in the health and fitness sector. Such closures impacted people in several ways; increasing stress, reducing mental well-being, and decreasing motivation to exercise. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of UK lockdowns on the behavior, motives, and general health & well-being of CrossFit™ gym members in the United Kingdom. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 757 CrossFit™ participants (height 1.71 ± 0.10 m; weight 76.4 ± 16.1 kg; body mass index [BMI]: 26.1 ± 4.7 kg/m²) using an online survey, which included questions pertaining to COVID-19, lockdown behaviors, motivation, health, and well-being. Participants also reported on their training background and exercise habits during lockdown restrictions. Results: Differences were observed in levels of exercise (p = 0.004), motivation to train at home (p < 0.001), and the feeling of being more stressed during the second lockdown compared with the first lockdown (p = 0.008). It was also highlighted that motivation to exercise was lower and stress levels significantly higher, in the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups compared with older ages groups. Conclusion: This study found that exercise behavior, motivation, and stress levels were significantly impacted by the second government-imposed lockdown. It is argued that these factors need to be addressed in planning for future National lockdowns to maintain the health and well-being of UK residents, especially in younger adults.

The Effect of Cognitive Task Complexity on Healthy Gait in the Walking Corsi Test.

Dual-task activities are essential within everyday life, requiring visual-spatial memory (VSM) and mobility skills. Navigational memory is an important component of VSM needed to carry out everyday activities, but this is often not included in traditional tests such as the Corsi block tapping test (CBT). The Walking Corsi Test (WalCT) allows both VSM and navigational memory to be tested together, as well as allowing measures of gait to be collected, thus providing a more complete understanding of dual-task function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an increasingly complex cognitive task on gait in a healthy adult population, using the WalCT and body-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. Participants completed both the CBT and WalCT, where they were asked to replicate increasingly complex sequences until they were no longer able to carry this out correctly. IMU sensors were worn on the shins throughout the WalCT to assess changes in gait as task complexity increased. Results showed that there were significant differences in several gait parameters between completing a relatively simple cognitive task and completing a complex task. The type of memory used also appeared to have an impact on some gait variables. This indicates that even within a healthy population, gait is affected by cognitive task complexity, which may limit function in everyday dual-task activities.

Lumbar Bone Mineral Adaptation: The Effect of Fast Bowling Technique in Adolescent Cricketers.

INTRODUCTION: Localized bone mineral density (BMD) adaptation of the lumbar spine, particularly on the contralateral side to the bowling arm, has been observed in elite male cricket fast bowlers. No study has investigated this in adolescents, or the role of fast bowling technique on lumbar BMD adaptation. This study aims to investigate lumbar BMD adaptation in adolescent cricket fast bowlers, and its relationship with fast bowling technique. METHODS: Thirty-nine adolescent fast bowlers underwent anteroposterior dual x-ray absorptiometry scan of their lumbar spine. Hip, lumbopelvic and thoracolumbar joint kinematics, and vertical ground reaction kinetics were determined using three-dimensional motion capture and force plates. Significant partial (covariate: fat-free mass) and bivariate correlations of the technique parameters with whole lumbar (L1-L4) BMD and BMD asymmetry (L3 and L4) were advanced as candidate variables for multiple stepwise linear regression. RESULTS: Adolescent fast bowlers demonstrated high lumbar Z-Scores (+1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-1.4) and significantly greater BMD on the contralateral side of L3 (9.0%; 95% CI, 5.8%-12.1%) and L4 (8.2%; 95% CI, 4.9%-11.5%). Maximum contralateral thoracolumbar rotation and maximum ipsilateral lumbopelvic rotation in the period between back foot contact and ball release (BR), as well as contralateral pelvic drop at front foot contact, were identified as predictors of L1 to L4 BMD, explaining 65% of the variation. Maximum ipsilateral lumbopelvic rotation between back foot contact and BR, as well as ipsilateral lumbopelvic rotation and contralateral thoracolumbar side flexion at BR, were predictors of lumbar asymmetry within L3 and L4. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracolumbar and lumbopelvic motion are implicated in the etiology of the unique lumbar bone adaptation observed in fast bowlers whereas vertical ground reaction force, independent of body mass, was not. This may further implicate the osteogenic potential of torsional rather than impact loading in exercise-induced adaptation.

Cricket Fast Bowling Technique and Lumbar Bone Stress Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI) are the most prevalent injury in cricket. Although fast bowling technique has been implicated in the etiology of LBSI, no previous study has attempted to prospectively analyze fast bowling technique and its relationship to LBSI. The aim of this study was to explore technique differences between elite cricket fast bowlers with and without subsequent LBSI. METHODS: Kinematic and kinetic technique parameters previously associated with LBSI were determined for 50 elite male fast bowlers. Group means were compared using independent-samples t-tests to identify differences between bowlers with and without a prospective LBSI. Significant parameters were advanced as candidate variables for a binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 50 bowlers, 39 sustained a prospective LBSI. Significant differences were found between injured and noninjured bowlers in rear knee angle, rear hip angle, thoracolumbar side flexion angle, and thoracolumbar rotation angle at back foot contact; the front hip angle, pelvic tilt orientation, and lumbopelvic angle at front foot contact; and the thoracolumbar side flexion angle at ball release and the maximal front hip angle and ipsilateral pelvic drop orientation. A binary logistic model, consisting of rear hip angle at back foot contact and lumbopelvic angle at front foot contact, correctly predicted 88% of fast bowlers according to injury history and significantly increased the odds of sustaining an LBSI (odds ratio, 0.88 and 1.25, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Lumbopelvic motion is implicated in the etiology of LBSI in fast bowling, with inadequate lumbopelvifemoral complex control as a potential cause. This research will aid the identification of fast bowlers at risk of LBSI, as well as enhancing coaching and rehabilitation of fast bowlers from LBSI.

Passive range of motion of the hips and shoulders and their relationship with ball spin rate in elite finger spin bowlers.

OBJECTIVES: Investigate rotational passive range of motion of the hips and shoulders for elite finger spin bowlers and their relationship with spin rate. DESIGN: Correlational. METHODS: Spin rates and twelve rotational range of motion measurements for the hips and shoulders were collected for sixteen elite male finger spin bowlers. Side to side differences in the rotational range of motion measurements were assessed using paired t-tests. Stepwise linear regression and Pearson product moment correlations were used to identify which range of motion measurements were linked to spin rate. RESULTS: Side to side differences were found with more external rotation (p = 0.039) and less internal rotation (p = 0.089) in the bowling shoulder, and more internal rotation in the front hip (p = 0.041). Total arc of rotation of the front hip was found to be the best predictor of spin rate (r = 0.552, p = 0.027), explaining 26% of the observed variance. Internal rotation of the rear hip (r = 0.466, p = 0.059) and the bowling shoulder (r = 0.476, p = 0.063) were also associated with spin rate. CONCLUSIONS: The technique and performance of elite finger spin bowlers may be limited by the passive range of motion of their hips and shoulders. The observed side to side differences may indicate that due to the repetitive nature of finger spin bowling adaptive changes in the rotational range of motion of the hip and shoulder occur.