Non-dominant leading wrist injuries in Indian professional cricketers

Abstract

Cricket is a popular sport played worldwide, immensely popular in India, with a high prevalence of wrist and hand injuries varying from 11% to 13%. Among batsmen, the injury rates are higher in the non-dominant leading wrist. These injuries affect the ligaments, bones, triangular fibrocartilage complex, tendons, and neurovascular structures predominantly on the palmar and ulnar aspect of the wrist and occur due to the force vectors transmitted to the wrist during the bat swing. Specific injuries can be explained by the biomechanics of this double grip sport, and its force vector knowledge of these injuries can enable the sports physician to diagnose early and effectively treat the athlete, improving their performance and outcome. The main intent of this article is to review the biomechanics and clinical presentation of the most common injuries in the non-dominant or leading wrist of cricketers.