Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the review was to describe the incidence and prevalence of injuries among female cricket players of all ages, participating in all levels of play.
INTRODUCTION
Cricket, a bat-and-ball sport, is becoming popular among women of all ages and abilities worldwide. However, cricket participation carries a risk of injury. Injuries negatively affect sport participation, performance, and short- and long-term health and well-being. Injury prevention, therefore, is the key to safe, long-term cricket participation as a physical activity goal. Epidemiological data are needed to underpin evidence-based injury-prevention strategies.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Studies reporting incidence and prevalence of injuries in female cricket players of all ages, participating in all levels of play, were included in this review, including studies that report data by sex or by sport. Studies without enough data to calculate prevalence or incidence, that do not distinguish female injury data from males', that focus on athletes participating in other sports, or that focus on case studies were excluded.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted according to the JBI and PRISMA 2020 guidelines. MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), EBSCO MasterFILE Premier, EBSCO CINAHL Complete, ProQuest Health and Medical Complete, Scopus, and Science Direct were systematically searched from inception to August 2021. Additionally, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and ClincalTrail.gov were searched. EBSCO MegaFile Premier (EBSCO), OpenGrey (SIGLE), WorldCat, Grey Matters, Grey Literature, and Google Scholar databases were searched for gray literature. Full-text articles that met the inclusion criteria were critically appraised using JBI-tools, and were extracted and synthesized in narrative summary and tabular forms. Three meta-analyses were conducted: injury incidence rate, injury prevalence proportions, and injury incidence proportions. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and the random-effects model.
RESULTS
Of the 7057 studies were identified and only 4256 screened after duplicates removed, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was low for 21 studies. The injury incidence rate for elite cricket was 71.9 (SE 21.3, 95% CI 30.2-113.6) injuries per 1000 player hours, time-loss injury incidence rate was 13.3 (SE 4.4, 95% CI 4.6-22.0) injuries per 1000 player hours, and non-time-loss injury incidence rate was 58.5 (SE 16.9, 95% CI 25.6-91.7) injuries per 1000 player hours. The injury prevalence proportions for community to elite cricket was 65.2% (SE 9.3, 95% CI 45.7-82.3) and injury prevalence proportions for community cricket was 60% (SE 4.5, 95% CI 51.1-68.6). The injury incidence proportions for community cricket was 5.6 (SE 4.4, 95% CI 0.1-18.3) injuries per 10,000 participants. Elite cricket players were more frequently injured than community cricket players. The most prevalent body regions injured were the shoulder and knee, and most were sustained by fast bowlers. Injuries to the hand, wrist, and fingers had the highest incidence and were most sustained by fielders.
CONCLUSIONS
The study's findings can help stakeholders (including players, coaches, clinicians, and policymakers) make informed decisions about cricket participation by informing and implementing strategies to promote cricket as a vehicle for positive public health outcomes. This review also identified gaps in the available evidence base and addressing these through future research would enhance women's cricket as a professional sport.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER
PROSPERO CRD42020166052.
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