title: Spinal abnormalities in young fast bowlers.
abstract: The action of fast bowling in the game of cricket is known to cause injuries to the lumbar spine. We studied a group of 16- to 18-year-old fast bowlers, selected for special training in Western Australia. All 24 had MR scans of the spine, 22 had radiographs and CT scans; in 20 the bowling technique was analysed biomechanically. There was a high incidence of back pain and this was always associated with a radiological abnormality. Pars interarticularis defects were diagnosed in 54% and intervertebral disc degeneration in 63%. Bowling actions which involved counter-rotation were associated with a higher incidence of both injuries.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Annear
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chakera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khangure
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed