The Impact of Groin Injuries in Cricket and the Science to Recovery
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, is most-likely to miss the test series against India, due to a groin injury. Williamson was suffering from groin injury while playing the second test against Sri Lanka. New Zealand Cricket stated that the athlete will not join the India-bound squad but will instead remain back and start his rehabilitation process. The fact that he decided to stay home makes obvious that groin injuries are pretty severe. They can really affect the athlete, though if not treated accordingly. Groin Injuries in Cricket: A Better Understanding Groin injuries are one of the most common sports injuries, particularly in cricket. Some of the main reasons for this type of injury are the quick change of direction or sudden stops and, of course, explosive movements strain these muscles located in the groin region. The inner thigh muscles, that is, the adductor muscles are usually strained or torn in groin injuries. These muscles offer stability to the pelvis, which in turn enables the leg to move it through several mechanisms, such as bringing them together or turning inwards. In cricket, they are heavily engaged during running between wickets, quick pivots and abrupt stops, which can easily cause strain. Classification of Groin Injuries Groin strains are typically graded. Grade 1 injuries involve slight damage, with tears in the muscle fibers, often allowing athletes to continue playing with limited mobility however some discomfort. Grade 2 injuries are more severe injuries and have partial tears of the muscle, moderate pain and difficulties in performing movements such as sprinting and sharp stops. Grade 3 injuries are the most severe type of injury with complete tearing indicated by severe pain, immobility or inability to move. Such an injury may take some weeks or months to heal. Symptoms and Impact on Athletes For a groin injury, the signs are pain and tenderness on the inner thigh; swelling and bruising around the inside of the thigh; and strain when moving about, especially when running or changing direction in an instant. Because of the very dependence on quick, supple movements during play, groin injuries can be especially daunting for cricketers like Williamson. Treatment and Recovery For all other types of groin injuries, treatment depends on the grade of the strain. Minor injuries, or Grade 1 injuries, might perhaps be cared for with rest and the application of ice and gentle stretching exercises. In Grade 2 or 3 injuries, it becomes necessary to include a formalized rehabilitation schedule. Ultimately, there is nothing but rest; rest of the muscle is the healing of the muscle without putting further pressure on it. Ice and compression reduce swelling and pain, but other exercises are conducive to strength and flexibility in the area. Preventing Recurrence and Gradual Return to Play Gradual return to activity is also important. As the pain diminishes, athletes can start light training and then progress towards full activities. A suitable warm-up routine, strength, and flexibility exercises must be undertaken to avoid recurrence of the injury. For an elite athlete like Kane Williamson, a careful rehabilitation process with close monitoring is essential to ensure that he returns to his peak performance without risking further damaging the muscles that are injured. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
