Cricket Fit

Cricket is a fantastic hobby, and something that can be enjoyed at any age, though cricket safety (especially in the older generation) is certainly something that should be considered.

Following the shocking and tragic death of cricketer Phil Hughes in Australia last November, the topic of safety in sports has been closely examined and severely reconsidered of late, not only in the cricket world but in the sporting world as a whole.

Of course, with any sport, there are certain minor injuries and ailments you’re likely to encounter, but unfortunately the older you get the more common this can be – something which is especially true when it comes to cricket.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways in which to prevent such injuries from occurring that may help with other complaints you may be suffering already. To help you to keep safe in the upcoming cricket season, whether you’re playing for a team or just having fun in the park with the grandchildren, here are just a few of the most common cricket-related injuries and the most effective ways of preventing them.

 Shoulder Pain

Perhaps one of the most common occurrences in cricket is shoulder pains, which occurs due to the repetitiveness of throwing and bowling.

Unfortunately, this can prove to be more of a long term issue, especially if you’ve been a keen participant in cricket practise over the years.

Years of cricketing can mean the muscles around the shoulder joint can become damaged and inflamed, ensuring you stretch correctly before play commences (even if it is just a friendly match between friends) in order to prevent this condition, as well as gradually working to build up the flexibility of the muscles – don’t overdo things too quickly!

Foot and Ankle Sprains

Cricket is a particularly active sport which can be strenuous but equally way to improve your lung capacity. Breathing aside, running around on uneven turf combined with the risk of being hit on the foot by stray balls, means that ankle and foot injuries are common complaints with cricket players.

Stress fractures, damaged nerves and even broken toes are all familiar sights in the cricket world, and are something we all want to avoid.

Preventing such occurrences is easier than you might think, by simply warming up correctly, wearing appropriately supportive footwear, regular massage therapy and sports braces are all proven methods of preventing; or at least reducing the chances of,  injury.

Low Back Pain

Fast bowling, posture when bowling and the repetitive action of bowling are all contributors to lower back pain, as is standing for long periods of time.

Bowling is a strenuous task which stretches your body in ways that are perhaps not natural to it especially if it’s not as flexible as you’d like, leading to your spine twisting – an action it is certainly not meant to do.

Warming up your muscles in your stomach, back and stretching your hips will mean they all work together to alleviate the pressure on your back. Strengthening your core through Yoga and Pilates have been known to help too, as they improve posture and flexibility immensely.

Of course, there are other common cricket injuries and so whether you’re an experienced player or are simply considering taking up the sport as a hobby, it’s whether researching a little further into the topic.

Aside from warming up correctly and footwear, one sure fire way of preventing injury is to ensure you have invested in high quality sports equipment such as cricket bats, helmets and protective wear, from companies such as Talent Cricket.