Exercise-based injury prevention for community-level adolescent cricket pace bowlers: A cluster-randomised controlled trial

Forrest, M.R.L., Hebert, J.J., Scott, B.R.ORCID: 0000-0002-2484-4019 and Dempsey, A.R. (2019) Exercise-based injury prevention for community-level adolescent cricket pace bowlers: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 (5). pp. 475-480.

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) N m/kg, hamstring strength (60°/s) 0.32 (95% CI 0.13–0.50) N m/kg, hip adductor strength dominant 0.40 (95% CI 0.26–0.55) N m/kg and non-dominant 0.33 (95% CI 0.20–0.47) N m/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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Murdoch Applied Sports Science Laboratory
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Copyright:	© 2019 Sports Medicine Australia.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/53986

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