Back pain from cricket (bowling)

[physiobob]

Small fractures don't always show on x-ray and often don't show on x-ray especially in this type of problem. Stress fractures, spondylitis etc. won't show at all on x-ray. These need more investigation like a bone scan or MRI

On late stage ones will show. You, your coach and your sports physio need to take a look at your action and especially you follow-through to see what's going on. Not that rest makes a lot of things seem better but their cause remains. Best to look at the reasons why now if you are serious about developing cricket to higher levels. Good luck

[michaeljackson555]

yes, thankyou for your help, my action has been checked half way though last season by a level 3 coach and he says it is normal, i will wait for the physio to tell me his opinion and exercises,
thankyou for your help

[aptan4]

Hi Micheal,

If you back pain has not improved much, you might want to try physiotherapists who practise Mckenzie Technique with/ without Mulligan techniques. They tend to work well with lower back pain. You can find Mckenzie practioner in your country via searching Mckenzie institute- look for practioners in your country. I hope this might help.

[physiodawg]

HI Michael,

I hope your pain is getting better and you are getting back to your bowling. It is good that your basic bowling action is not mixed.

You may still have had a stress fracture even if it was not shown on the x-ray. They often don't, even with an oblique view as suggested in the text books. Having a mixed action is not the only risk factor one may have. The injury can be related to amount of bowling you do, the types of surfaces you play on and your own intrinsic susceptibility to stress fracture.

But a period of rest and gradual return to bowling is the treatment anyway. For young fast bowlers it is suggested that no more than 7 over spells are bowled. You could possibly apply this principle to your practice sessions as you recover. It may even be a good idea to implement while your body matures and gains the strength and resilience needed to bowl longer spells.

It may also be that some general strengthening would beneficial as well.

[physiofixme]

Hi

I'm all for thorough investigation in your situation. I'd check that the xray included oblique views. An oblique view is more likely to pick up the stress fracture that other physios have mentioned here. Standard xrays don't usually include an oblique view unless specifically asked. I'd also opt for an MRI aswell. A missed stress fracture could cause you more problems further down the track.