BCCI to concentrate on injury management of domestic players

Physiotherapists around the country experienced a spike in the number of reported cases of injury during the domestic season last year. However, in order to direct surveillance of injury management at the domestic level, BCCI has collected an injury-related database of the players. 

Stress fractures, side strains, and hamstring strains - the fast bowlers, who run the greatest risk of being afflicted by injuries, will prove to be most benefited by the initiative.

Recognising the need to concentrate extensively on the players' workload, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) conducted a webinar involving all physios across the country. The web conference was aimed at tackling the workload/injury management of players at the domestic level. 

“The main motto of this initiative is injury surveillance. Players will have more faith and confidence in our domestic physios. It’s a process which will surely give us results in future,” a physiotherapist was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

The data will assist in identifying the injury patterns and also discern the optimum level of the individual. 

“There is so much cricket at the domestic level. Besides Ranji Trophy, there are one-day and T20 tournaments, apart from the IPL. So the workload needs to be managed properly. For example, if a fast bowler had to bowl a lot in a previous match, he can bowl less in the nets prior to the next match,” another physio said.

Last year, the BCCI decided to expand its borders, augmenting more state teams into the fold. This move impelled teams to play a barrage of matches prior to the knockouts, thus taking a toll on the players, mainly the fast bowlers. One of the physiotherapists stressed the significance of possessing adequate bench strength to preserve young talents. 

“The states will also have to think about having proper bench strength in the fast-bowling department to preserve talented pacers. If it is mismanaged, we might lose a good talent. By the time a fast bowler reaches the highest level, he should have optimum fitness levels. The data will also help in judging injury patterns,” he added. 

Upon reviewing the various players' records, the data will determine when a player should return back to training regime after completing his injury rehabilitation program. 

“The data will be useful for RTP testing. It will help in determining when a player should be back in action after injury. Physios follow different methods regarding this, because of which the chances of injury recurrence increase.” - the physio added.

[ TOI Input ]