Prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility and its association with sports injuries at recreational cricket players

Abstract

Introduction. Cricket is a dynamic sport that involves many abstract skills and movements. At present, the optimum level of flexibility required to prevent injury when participating in sporting activity is not clear and may vary. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility and its association with sports injuries in recreational cricket players.
Material and Method. One hundred and two male recreational cricket players participated in this study. The participants were assessed for joint hypermobility using the validated Beighton score (0-9). Player profile and details of sporting injuries while playing cricket were gathered by means of a selfadministered questionnaire. Data was analysed using and inferential statistics of Pearson´s correlation coefficient was used to find the association between the variable and summarised with mean, standard deviation.
Results. The result showed that the 12-month prevalence of injuries was 69 injuries among cricket players. The prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility was 50%. There was no significant association (p=0.061) between generalized joint hypermobility and upper limb injuries while there was a significant association (0.011) between generalized joint hypermobility and lower limb injuries among cricketers. Hand and finger injuries were the most common injury sustained by the cricket players.
Conclusion. In this study generalized joint hypermobility had no association with upper limb injuries in recreational cricket player but had a significant association with lower limb injuries in recreational cricket players.

Key words:

cricket players, joint hypermobility, sports injuries

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