SHOULDER INJURY IN CRICKET

How shoulder injuries occur and are treated.

Written by the Physiotherapy Department - McKINNON SPORTS MEDICINE

Cricket is a game of skill, coordination and tactics. Fortunately or unfortunately, it is also a physical game which sometimes leads to injury. Among the most common complaints from cricketers are shoulder injuries - and of these, there are many different kinds.

The most common types of shoulder injury are:
1.    Rotator cuff muscle irritation/impingement/tear
2.    Shoulder joint instability/partial dislocation/complete dislocation
3.    Acromioclavicular joint (A-C) sprains

The rotator cuff group of muscles help to stabilise the shoulder. They also work in a very confined space, especially as they near the shoulder joint. These muscles originate from the shoulder blade, so any damage to the shoulder means the muscles will shut down and smooth shoulder function will be lost.

This loss of function means the problem will linger if not properly addressed. Add to this the fact that blood supply to the tendons of these muscles is poor and we approach quite a serious scenario. The level of injury can range from an irritation, causing local inflammation merely requiring rest & ice, to full thickness tendon tears which may require surgery. Pain may be felt in the shoulder or the upper arm. Careful assessment is required to identify the source of the pain.
Shoulder joint instability

Another type of injury which may occur in isolation, or in conjunction with rotator cuff problems, is shoulder joint instability. This may be merely "looseness", or may be a partial or full dislocation of the ball and socket components of the shoulder joint.

As with rotator cuff injury, the muscles of the shoulder will shut down or may even be damaged, and function of the shoulder altered, causing ongoing problems. The shoulder must once again be carefully assessed to accurately determine the cause of the pain.

The above types of injury most commonly occur with throwing or bowling but may occur with falls and collisions which do occasionally occur in cricket - just ask Steve Waugh!

The third common injury, which also occurs with falls or collisions, is the A-C joint sprain. Two components of the shoulder, the Acromion and the Clavicle comprise the joint. They are joined by a ligament which is the vulnerable element. This quite painful injury, can be minor ( 2-3 weeks) or a complete rupture (hello surgeon).

Good news?

Rotator cuff tears tend to affect older athletes. Younger people tend to suffer irritations, middle aged people most commonly suffer partial tears. For those who have fully dislocated a shoulder, the management is usually conservative. Watch out if it becomes recurrent - you may be faced with the scalpel. The unlucky few will ever suffer an A-C joint whilst playing cricket.

Further good news is that only a small percentage of people ever see their surgeon, most injuries are managed conservatively with good effect.

Always remember, enjoy your cricket, and protect that throwing arm.