Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Amongst Recreational Cricket Players

Sagar Katkam; Amruta Khilwani; Albin Jerome

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72137

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Amongst Recreational Cricket Players

Author(s)	Mr. Sagar Katkam, Dr. Amruta Khilwani, Dr. Albin Jerome
Country	India
Abstract	Background: The repetitive high-intensity movements of cricket, such as bowling, batting, sprinting and throwing result in substantial biomechanical stresses being placed on the musculoskeletal system. Although the epidemiology of injuries among elite cricketers has been well studied, available information is minimal about the frequency and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among recreational cricket players, especially in developing cricket nations with high rates of cricketing participation. Objective: Exploring musculoskeletal disorders, with an emphasis on the prevalence and anatomical distributions in recreational cricket players 18–25 years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 130 amateur male cricket players, aged between 18 and 25 years. Eligible participants were drawn from cricket teams across the city. Musculoskeletal symptoms were measured using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), which assesses symptoms in nine regions of the body in the previous 12 months and in the last seven days. Descriptive analysis was carried out in determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in different regions of the body. Results: The sample size for musculoskeletal disorders was 93.8%, suggesting that most players had symptoms in one or more of the anatomical regions. The lower back (38.5%) was the most commonly affected location, followed by the knee (29.2%), neck (28.5%) and shoulder (26.9%). Ankle/foot (23.8%), wrist/hand (23.1%) and elbow (20.8%) symptoms were also reported. Participants also frequently received reports of multi-site musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders are common among recreational cricket players and the most likely affected areas involve the lumbar spine and lower limb. Such findings emphasize the importance of targeted injury prevention strategies comprising physiotherapy-based screening, biomechanical assessment, and tailored conditioning programs that reduce musculoskeletal disorders burden in recreational cricket populations.
Keywords	Prevalence, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Cricket, Sports, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Low Back Pain
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-21
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72137

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Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Amongst Recreational Cricket Players

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