Abstract

Increasing participation of children and adolescents in organized sport and fitness activities has resulted in an increased number of reported injuries-1. Furthermore, new injuries, specific to certain sports, have been reported in these young athletes. Fast bowling, an integral part of the game of cricket, is an activity that in Australia has produced injuries to young fast bowlers in almost epidemic proportions. The young fast bowler has been described as the cricketer most susceptile to either traumatic or over-use injuries-2. We have reported that 50 per cent of a sample of fast bowlers from one A grade club experienced a stress fracture over a five year period. Back injuries are commonest in activities requiring repetitive flexion, extension and/or rotation of the spine, egg. gymnastics, high jumping, tennis serving and fast bowling-1,23,4. This prospective study investigated the relationship between back injuries in criket with the biomechanical techniques used in the bowling action and the physiological and kinanthropometric characteristics of young fast bowlers. Verf.-Referat