Lower back pains

[LCricket]

Lower back pains

Hello all,

So I've recently been bowling a lot more than I used to (I was an opening bat last year and bowled some spin, now I'm bowling right arm medium pace and I had to open the bowling today). Also, in juniors, I was an opening bowler.

Anyway, I've noticed during training over the past few months I was getting some pain in the lower left side of my back, about an inch or two to the left of my spine, which basically prevented me from having a follow through. So at this morning's game, I bowled a few overs, however after my spell I felt incredible pain in the area described above, and even extending down to my thighs on my left leg. I didn't bowl again in the day however I had to field and I noticed that there was a sharp pain whenever I sat down or stood up, as well as running and reaching for the ball.

I know I need to see a doctor, but would anyone be able to shed some light from past experience etc? Also, should I see a physiotherapist or should I goto a chiropractor? I know it needs rest but I don't want to miss too much of the season.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Liz Ward]

Re: Lower back pains

... Also, should I see a physiotherapist or should I goto a chiropractor?

Hi LCricket,

This is an interesting question. Both will work with you to alleviate the symptoms [in different ways] but unless they have a good knowledge of pace bowling biomechanics, they will not be able to eliminate the cause.

Eliminate the cause and the symptoms will disappear... as simple as that . I suggest you do it soon before any stress fractures set in.

If you do not have access to a pace bowling biomechanist/performance analyst, post a video and we shall have a look.

 

[Cricket Addict]

Re: Lower back pains

I've had lower back problems as well and have a little niggle at the moment which I'm hoping to get over. What I'd suggest you do is to do lots of stretching. I'd recommend doing some core muscle strengthening aswell. If that's too sore to do then running or cycling can be an option. Using anti-inflammatory tablets can help temporarily and using deep heat cream can help too. Wearing a back brace may help. Hopefully that helps.

 

[Liz Ward]

Re: Lower back pains

I've had lower back problems as well and have a little niggle at the moment which I'm hoping to get over. What I'd suggest you do is to do lots of stretching. I'd recommend doing some core muscle strengthening aswell. If that's too sore to do then running or cycling can be an option. Using anti-inflammatory tablets can help temporarily and using deep heat cream can help too. Wearing a back brace may help. Hopefully that helps.

Some of this could help to kill the pain Cricket Addict but, unfortunately, none of this actually solves the problem.

Core exercises are great [nearly] all of the time but LCricket will need to get the all clear from an x-ray/scan before he attempts this or stretching. If his situation has developed into a stress fracture then he could cause irreparable damage.

I would have to advise against running for the same reason and cycling only with 100% perfect technique, which I have yet to see in the gym or on the road . Although this will only improve fitness and not solve the problem.

Anti-inflammatories and analgesics only mask the condition... it is still there. They just fool the body that it is OK to train, again, possibly causing irreparable damage.

NB. This can also be said for rest. I often hear sportspeople saying all they need is rest and it will be OK. If the cause has not been addressed at the same time as rest, as soon as activity is resumed, the damage is repeated.

If you wish for longevity in the sport and a lot less down time, solve the cause.

 

[phil2oo8]

Re: Lower back pains

I would have to advise against cycling only with 100% perfect technique, which I have yet to see in the gym or on the road .

I know this is random, but i love cycling and what do you mean by perfect technique, because i cycle lots???

 

[Liz Ward]

Re: Lower back pains

I know this is random, but i love cycling and what do you mean by perfect technique, because i cycle lots???

Ah! Now that's difficult to describe Phil but basically it boils down to posture and the correct position in the seat.

Poor technique is not likely to cause too much of a problem if you have no underlying injury. However, if you have stress on any part of your skeletal structure, you need to make sure the body moves the way it is supposed to, or the contorted twisting is likely to aggravate the condition; especially if the condition refers to the spine.

It is amazing how many recreational cyclists do not have a good technique. I do not need to see them cycle to know what they are doing wrong... their muscles speak to me, first in observation and then during palpation on my couch.

 

[phil2oo8]

Re: Lower back pains

i used get taught to keep my back straight as i can even when leaning over the handlebars... erm something about its better to have your arse high then to be hunched over....



Another weird one on back, I started learning how to drive a car recently and when ever i'm done it kills lower down and feels really tight and sudden sideways movement which requires movement at the waist really hurts, I think its a posture problem but then again i can sit the same in a car when im not driving and it feels fine at worst a bit stiff so i don't know if it has something to do with how i'm sitting with the effects of streching my legs and moving my feet.....

I know not cricket related but bloody annoying.

 

[Liz Ward]

Re: Lower back pains

i used get taught to keep my back straight as i can even when leaning over the handlebars... erm something about its better to have your arse high then to be hunched over....

Yes, that's quite right Phil, but your back must not arch.

It is also about how your hip joints work... or not in most cases.

Another weird one on back, I started learning how to drive a car recently and when ever i'm done it kills lower down and feels really tight and sudden sideways movement which requires movement at the waist really hurts, I think its a posture problem but then again i can sit the same in a car when im not driving and it feels fine at worst a bit stiff so i don't know if it has something to do with how i'm sitting with the effects of streching my legs and moving my feet.....

It sounds like posture... more that your car seat is not adjusted correctly for your size/shape. However, I work with racing drivers and they present with some strange symptoms, mostly due to stress. They, of course, feel quite relaxed when they're driving but, in fact, they are quite tense, which has quite a knock on effect... including loss of speed.

Try having the back of your car seat more upright and bring the seat a little closer to the steering wheel so your knees are a little more bent.

 

[phil2oo8]

Re: Lower back pains

Ahhh, some of the pleasures of being tall. I'll try and spend abit longer getting positioned correctly before setting off, and i will try to be less nervous because i do feel tense and a bit plastic when i'm driving.

 

[bboy0001]

Re: Lower back pains

oh no lol, i had this problem mid way last season i had to miss half the season get x-rays physio the whole lot, my spine was slightly moved to the left because my right back muscle was under stress causing my back to move to the left. If it hurts a lot get it checked out mate, dont ignore it for 2 games like i did.

 

[LCricket]

Re: Lower back pains

Well the doc said that I should just apply heat cream and/or hot packs and rest up, which I have been doing, I won't be playing for the next games in case I do aggravate it further, but I'll see how I rest up and if I still get pain when I'm moving around then I will go and get an x-ray..at the moment I am getting some minor pain when I sit down, not as much as saturday though when I struggled to stand up straight.


....to make it worse, my work requires a lot of manual lifting and I think sometimes when I get careless and don't lift properly this may have contributed to some strain on my back.

So I will see how it is in a few days time, about finding the cause, I will tape myself bowling (obviously after recovery) and post a video as I don't have access to any coaches. Thanks for your advice, I'll keep you posted.