Shoulder strength and range of motion in elite female cricket fast bowlers with and without a history of shoulder pain

SummaryThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of shoulder pain in female cricket fast bowlers and compare the shoulder rotation range of motion and strength of those bowlers with and without a history of shoulder pain. The active range of motion and isokinetic strength of the shoulder internal and external rotators was assessed in the bowling and non-bowling shoulders of 26 elite Australian female fast bowlers. Twelve bowlers had a history of shoulder pain. There were significant bilateral differences in external rotation range of motion for those bowlers without a history of shoulder pain (p < 0.05), and in internal rotation range of motion for both the total cohort and those bowlers with a history of shoulder pain (p < 0.05). There were no bilateral differences in average torques or average torque ratios, nor were there any differences in rotation range of motion, torques or torque ratios in the bowling shoulder between bowlers with and without a history of shoulder pain. There was an association between concentric internal rotation torque for the bowling shoulder and years of fast bowling (rs = 0.45). Given the relatively small number of elite female cricketers, future research in this field will need to recruit fast bowlers from other cricket playing nations to increase the power of studies and provide more confidence in the statistical outcomes.