Cricket Ball Injuries
Cricket is a game which is played with a very hard ball that is pitched and hit at high speeds on a small field. At all levels of the game, injuries can occur from being struck with the ball or by trying to hit, pitch or throw it, causing dislocated joints, broken bones and even head trauma.
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Broken Hands
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Trying to catch a cricket ball which has been hit at high speed can cause broken bones in hands or fingers, as the ball is made of solid rubber and becomes harder when struck or thrown. Hands or fingers which are crushed by the ball or between the ball and the ground can be shattered, resulting in long-term injuries. Many players wear gloves or sometimes wrap their hands or fingers in tape to minimize the impact of a fast-moving ball when they attempt to catch it.
Impact Injuries
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If a speeding cricket ball strikes parts of the body, bruising is likely to occur, as skin and muscle pinched between the ball and bone will suffer broken blood vessels, creating large, painful marks which can last for many weeks. If the balls strike areas without much muscle or fat to protect the bone, the bones can be broken -- such as ribs, arms or the face. Some cricket players wear layers of clothing, protective vests or masks to protect themselves. These injuries can also occur from balls being thrown at high velocity.
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Shoulder Injuries
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Throwing cricket balls at a high rate of speed over and over again, especially if one is the pitcher or bowler, can lead to shoulder injuries, as the motion of flinging the ball at a batter can cause unnatural tension on rotator cuffs. The tendons, ligaments and cartilage can be stretched, torn or broken from these repeated movements, especially when players are trying to make the ball move in a particular way while throwing it as hard as they can. These injuries take much longer to heal and sometimes never do without surgery.
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References
- Photo Credit cricket image by PeteG from Fotolia.com
