Prevalence and Anatomical Distribution of Non Contact Musculoskeletal Pain among Elite Adolescent Cricket Fast Bowlers in Sri Lanka

Background Even though the nature of the cricket game is gaining with time, there is a considerable increase in the incidence of injuries ranging from mild to severe. Purpose This study aims to examine the prevalence and anatomical distribution of non-contact musculoskeletal pain among adolescent elite cricket bowlers in Sri Lanka (n=102) over the competition period of the 2019 cricket season. Study design Secondary data collected from Division 1 boys’ schools in Colombo were used for the study. Subjects’ participation was dependent on both parental informed and voluntary consent. Participants were required to answer interviewer-administered questions regarding the presence of non-contact musculoskeletal pain during the competition period of the 2019 cricket season. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through the statistical package for the social sciences software. Methods Secondary data collected from Division 1 boys' schools in Colombo were used for the study. Subjects’ participation was dependent on both parental informed and voluntary consent. Participants were required to answer interviewer-administered questions regarding the presence of non-contact musculoskeletal pain during the competition period of the 2019 cricket season. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through the statistical package for the social sciences software. Results Among the total sample, 53% of the subjects experienced non-contact musculoskeletal pain. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain specific to the anatomical site is mostly experienced in the lower back (36.3%), knee (6.9%), and ankle (5.9%) followed by shoulder (2.9%) and groin (1%). 47% of the subjects remained pain-free for the duration of the season. Conclusions Adolescent elite cricket bowlers reported a high prevalence of non contact musculoskeletal pain. The lower back was the most common anatomical site to occur non contact musculoskeletal pain. Each person in the multidisciplinary sports medicine team should consider about the conditioning of players to address the nature and the anatomical site of pain.