Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

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mechie

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Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Hi All

I am newbie at this site, its great to see cricket knowledge being shared, thanks to all the gurus.

I was a medium pace bowler when i was in my teens(now I am 27), now over the years I have put on weight, my stats are 5ft9in, 190 lbs. However I jog 3 miles @ 4 mph and cross train for 3 miles without exhaustion. But now when I am playing cricket regularly and bowling with my old action I found out I am getting really painful shin splits on my left leg( right arm bowler).

I concluded that maybe my foot cannot sustain the pressure of excess body weight. Can there be any other reason for it? I only get shin splits after bowling for 5 - 8 overs.

Now I am reducing my weight with hope that it will reduce shin splits.I have changed my bowling and now I just sending the balls seam up without minimal run up or walk to crease , one jump and use my shoulder and back to get some pace.Am I still damaging my shins?

I want to get back to bowling normally, Do you guys recommend continue bowling the way I am now and as my fitness improves experiment with run up/change in action or both ( weight loss and change in action/runup) should go hand in hand?

I am in US, so I am not confident that docs here will understand the pressure felt on the leg when bowling.

I am also thinking to change my original action ( mixed --more side on) to front on action, to remove the jump and reduce the pressure, --any recomendations on classic front on action bowlers?

thanks...
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Hi mechie and welcome to the board!

I'm going to pop this into the fitness and nutrition section as it'll get seen by people who can help you more in this case.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Hi mechie, great to hear from you.

Before we discuss anything else, could you describe your symptoms and pinpoint the area that causes pain. Is it the full length of the shin? Left/centre/right side? Or, is it just below the knee in the centre?
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Hi

The pain is constant pain on the right side of the bone on the left leg. 6 inches above the ankle. I think its the fibula.Inner side of the leg, however when pain increases it spreads to the outer side of the leg.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

The symtoms are after sustained bowling medium pace for about 8 overs the throbbing pain starts and increases from there, once pain starts its a constant pain unabling me to even field or run for runs for batting. The pain usually stays for 2 -3 days after the initial outbreak and subsides till I run/bowl again. However When I just run/jog on threadmill no pain.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Sorry mechie... I feel a long post coming up. Get yourself a cup of coffee, sit down and relax :D

Although your weight is a little high, you BMI is only 28. Do you do much in the weight room? If not, you really need to get your weight down to around 170 lbs. However, this is not the only cause of your shin splints.

Your main problem is more likely to be tight calf muscles and weak shin muscles. If you are jogging on hard ground, this will also be adding to your injury as it puts added strain on the front leg muscles.

Slouching while you jog or bowl will also cause you to pull hard on the calf muscles ;)

Another problem may be your foot posture; does it tilt in or out when you run and/or bowl? This can also cause your front leg muscles to work harder to stabilise your foot. Do you have flat feet?

You might have the wrong shoes; you might need more stability and/or cushioning. You could try inserting heel lifts so that your calves do not have to stretch so much.

How often do you jog? You may be overdoing it with the cricket training as well.

If you continue to put strain on your leg, it is possible that micro-fractures [stress fractures] may form in your tibia. If pain is really bad, check it out with a doctor and get it x-rayed. If the pain is not so bad, it's probably shin splints and should ease after a few days, if not... stress fracture ;) in which case we are talking about approximately six weeks total rest.

The best thing to do to reduce the pain is to ice your lower leg after you run and after sustained bowling. You could put a wet towel in the freezer ready for when you have finished. Ice for ten to fifteen minutes, keeping your foot elevated and take ibuprofen, this will help reduce the inflammation. Apply heat to your leg just before you go to bed.

Take a couple of days off and do not run or bowl through the pain!

Stretch your calves and strengthen your anterior leg muscles.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

thanks

Few years back I did a in the weight room and then stoppped, so all the effects have become detrimental, now I am really focussing upon getting my weight to 170.

I will pay attention and see if I am slouching , if I am I will rectify it.

My foot tilts inside on the time of delivery. More like pointed towards leg slip than straight.

At present I take Ibuprofen before I go out to play to sustain any pain that I may get. let me try stretching and see if it makes any difference. I am trying to make arrangements to get few videos out.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

It is best to save the ibuprofen until after activity; you do not want to 'mask' any pain. If you wish to prevent stress fractures you must not play through the pain so you need to feel it. Do not take it on an empty stomach.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

I dunno what ibuprofen is, but on the matter of feeling pain, is it wise for me to take a Panadol (or rather Panamax or Herron) before the match day so I don't feel the pain in the Granny? I'll have to take it?
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Jonesy said:
I dunno what ibuprofen is, but on the matter of feeling pain, is it wise for me to take a Panadol (or rather Panamax or Herron) before the match day so I don't feel the pain in the Granny? I'll have to take it?
Click to expand...

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug which also has the added bonus of some short term pain relief. It's pretty much the same as a Panadol (Paracetamol) but without the anti-inflammatory benefits.

Personally (and I'm not a doctor etc), I wouldn't take pain relief and then play (unless the injury was very,very minor) but I guess you know your own body. I can't see there being any effect on performance (check side effects though - non-drowsy would be good) - the biggest risk is probably in increasing any existing damage. However, when it comes to medicine and drugs if in any doubt ask a doctor\pharmacist as they generally know best.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong; believe me, your body knows best if you have a biomechanical malfunction for instance and it will tell you so. Why would you want to block these messages? If you ignore your body's messages, you will shorten your playing career at best; end up crippled at worse.

If you suffer from pain, find out why and correct it. Don't play through it or you risk injury and degeneration.

You may only be thinking of the 'now' but fast forward 20 years. Would you like to be the Dad, out there, teaching your children to play and joining in the Parents' games or the Dad, sitting on a deck chair watching from a distance thinking "If only"?

Basically, if you cannot play without pain relief, you should not be playing. ;)

However, if pain comes on during the match take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eg ibuprofen after the match.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

Yeh but the thing is, I know what is wrong, it is getting fixed, although it probably won't be perfect by sunday. I know that playing through this pain won't do anything I the long run as it is almost healed and I don't think it is a result of any poor action (although I may have one, I doubt it was caused from that as it hasn't got worse from training). It is still there, especially early in the spell, duller than before but still there, and I would perform better without it there, but I won't anyway.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

You have to do what you have to do Jonesy, but how about getting your Dad to work in a 'heated' sports balm prior to the game instead of taking an oral pain killer? Although not anti-inflammatory, they do contain an analgesic which should help to put away any dull pain and will warm up the muscles. Then get ready with the ice, just in case. Then, if the pain increases, you know you are doing some damage.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

It got worse today. Then got better. At least I know I can bowl for a long time without it hurting. Will get some more acupuncture tonight if dad isn't too busy putting together the slideshow. My coach joked about injecting some pain killer hahaha. But nah I'll fight it out since it's the granny then I'll lay off bowling for a month maybe.
 
Re: Bowling problems - injuries/action/pace

All the best for tomorrow Jonesy... stay cool and enjoy it, whatever happens. Our energies will be with you!
 
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