FUNCTIONAL SCREENING TEST ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERED TRUNK AND PELVIS KINEMATICS AND LOW BACK INJURY INCIDENCE IN ADOLESCENT FAST BOWLERS

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between pelvi-femoral stability and low back injury incidence in adolescent fast bowlers using the single leg decline squat test, and examined the relationship between knee kinematics during this clinical test and bowling kinematics during the delivery stride. Twenty-five uninjured male fast bowlers participated in a prospective cohort study. Bowlers who suffered a low back injury had significantly increased knee valgus angle during the single leg decline squat on the dominant leg (8.6° ±3.2 vs 4.5° ±2.6, t=3.495, p=0.002) and non-dominant leg (9.1° ±4.2 vs 5.5° ±3.3, t=2.362, p=0.027). Increased knee valgus angle during the test was associated with increased frontal plane hip and knee motion, pelvis rotation and thorax lateral flexion during bowling, which may lead to increased torsional stress on the lumbar spine.