Highlighting Rural Cricket: Prevalence, Aetiology, and Risk Factors of Injury among Cricket Players in a Community Setting

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played among teams. The game is correlated with complex proficiencies and strategies that require remarkable physical fitness levels. Investigations on competitive cricketers based on the community level are scanty. Furthermore, injuries occurring during play at this level are not well understood and additional research is required for injury prevention. The study explored the prevalence, aetiology, and risk factors of cricket injuries (sustained over a single season) among cricketers in a community setting.

An epidemiological cross-sectional quantitative study design was performed. Data were collected from participants (n = 96), based on two cricket boards. A self-reported questionnaire for a single season was administered, which focused on demographics, the prevalence of injury, risk factors, and aetiology of injury.

A total of eighty-seven participants (90.6%) experienced injury or related musculoskeletal pain (K-S 0.145, p < 0.000). The most common sites were the upper limbs (51%), followed by the lower limbs (45.8). Specific anatomical sites prevalent were the shoulder (33.3%), ankle (33.3%), hand (25%), and thigh (22.9%). Overuse injuries (45.8%) were prevalent, as well as sprains (49%), strains (41.7%), and bruising (49%). Mechanisms included overuse (51%), rapid rotation (44.8%), and struck by ball (41.7%). Majority (82.3%) of the participants reported not having access to primary healthcare in the clubs.

Community cricket players have a high overuse injury rate, concentrated mainly in the shoulder. Prevention and early primary healthcare are crucial in community-level sports.