THORACOLUMBAR DISC DEGENERATION IN YOUNG FAST BOWLERS IN CRICKET - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Objective. To determine the progression of thoracolumbar disc degenera tion in young fast bowlers in cricket. Design. Prospective fast bowlin g technique and MRI follow-up study. Background. Previous studies on h igh-performance young fast bowlers have found that lumbar spine pathol ogy was related to the mixed bowling technique. Methods. Nineteen youn g male fast bowlers (mean age 13.6 years) underwent MRI scans to detec t the presence of intervertebral disc abnormalities. Subjects were als o filmed laterally (200 Hz) and from directly above (100 Hz) whilst bo wling two maximum velocity deliveries (session 1). Subjects were teste d using an identical methodology 2.7 years later (session 2). Results. At session 1, the incidence of thoracolumbar disc degeneration was 21 %; however, at session 2, the incidence significantly (P = 0.008) incr eased to 58%. Furthermore the increase in the incidence of back pain b etween session 1 and session 2 was also significant (P = 0.002). The p rogression of disc degeneration was found to be significantly (P = 0.0 15) related to the group of fast bowlers who utilized the mixed techni que during both session 1 and 2 when compared to those who used this t echnique during one session only. Conclusions. Thoracolumbar disc dege neration and back pain increase significantly during the time period e xamined in this study. Further, bowlers who utilize the mixed bowling technique stand a greater chance of developing degenerative changes of the spine.