High acute:chronic workloads are associated with injury in England & Wales Cricket Board Development Programme fast bowlers. Issue 1 (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Warren, A.; Williams, S.; McCaig, S.; Trewartha, G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of science and medicine in sport. Volume 21:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Cricket injures -- Cricket bowling -- Sports -- Workload -- Individuality -- Male; Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- physiology -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Sportgeneeskunde; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.07.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-2440

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between acute (1 week) and chronic (4-week average) bowling workloads and injury risk in National Development Programme fast bowlers, and to investigate individual differences in the relationship between acute:chronic workloads and injury. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Bowling workloads and injury data were collected prospectively for 29 male fast bowlers (age range 15–18) on a National Programme over two years. Workload variables were calculated and the likelihood of injury and individual effects were explored using a generalised linear mixed effects model and magnitude-based inferences. Results: Acute:chronic workloads of 109–142% (relative risk [RR]: 1.46, 90% CI: 0.93–2.29; likely harmful), and ≥142% (RR: 1.66, 90% CI: 1.06–2.59, likely harmful) were associated with a substantial increase in injury risk compared with the reference quartile (<87%). A high chronic workload (>83 balls) substantially attenuated the influence of a high (>108%) acute:chronic workload ratio on injury risk (RR: 0.35, 90% CI: 0.17–0.74). Significant individual differences in the acute:chronic workload-injury relationship were evident. Conclusions: The present study provides further evidence of the association between 'spikes' in workload and injury risk, but also demonstrates that this relationship is individual-specific and dependent on the level of chronic workload. Support teams for fast bowlers should monitor bowling workloads to avoid rapid fluctuations but should also base decisions on individualised data.