LSEC Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Vertebral adaptation and stress fractures in elite cricket fast bowlers
IRAS ID
212965
Contact name
Peter Alway
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Loughborough University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 9 months, 7 days
Research summary
Stress fractures are the most common spinal injury in fast bowling, which can result in retirement from the game and often up to 2 years out of the game. The greatest risk is in adolescents. Therefore, the main purpose of the study is to increase understanding of risk factors that can affect stress fracture
Methods:
The main study will be a longitudinal study of elite cricketers over 2 years, with scope to extend into the future, with cohorts coming in from early 2017. Within this will be nested a case-control study, comparing changes in those who sustain stress fracture with those in an individually matched group who do not. Participants will be approximately 100 cricketers, of whom 50 will be fast bowlers, recruited through England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) supported male and female senior, academy, county and under 19 squads. Additionally, a control group of approximately 50 players will be recruited from elite university level teams. All participants will be required to undergo a DXA scan, at the beginning and end of the seasons, to assess bone health. Additionally, fast bowlers will undergo a MRI scan, to assess lumbar stress fracture, muscle size and any other bony abnormalities, and a biomechanical analysis of their bowling action, again at the start and end of each season. Workload, past bone loading activity, muscle strength, vitamin D status, pubertal development, flexibility and prior injury will also be analysed. All cricket players will be monitored for injuries as part of the ECB injury surveillance programme.From this information, it will also be possible to develop new bowling guidelines to allow safe adaptation and prevent injury, and to develop guidelines for management of stress fractures.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0062
Date of REC Opinion
8 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion