Football Injury News Archive

James Anderson Back Injury Explained

Thursday 4th May 2006

England cricketer James Anderson has been ruled out of the upcoming test series against Sri Lanka after it was revealed that he has a stress fracture in his lower back. He is one of four injured England players who will not be available for the first test match at Lords next week. Captain Michael Vaughan is still struggling with a knee injury, seam bowler Simon Jones also has a knee injury, while pace bowler Steve Harmison is out with a shin problem.

After confirming his back injury with a scan, the England medical team have advised Anderson to rest for 6 to 8 weeks to allow the problem to settle. The player himself is aiming to be fit enough to return for the test series against Pakistan in mid July.

Anderson’s Lancashire coach, Mike Watkinson said, "It is a huge blow to Jimmy. He has worked hard and patiently at his cricket to get back into the Test and one-day environment and obviously was hoping to be involved with England right through this summer. But he is a fighter and he will get all the help possible at Old Trafford to overcome this setback."

Lower back problems are particularly common in younger fast bowlers. Previous research has reported that these injuries occur in up to 60\% of cricket players. The reason for such a high incidence of back injury has been attributed to a combination of factors. These include inadequate physical and physiological preparation, relatively reduced bone density following a ‘growth spurt', postural defects, biomechanical aspects of the bowling technique, rapid escalation in training frequency, long duration of bowling spells in matches and the repetitive nature of movements.

A stress fracture of the lumbar spine is a common injury in young fast bowlers. Fast bowling in cricket requires a combination of spinal hyperextension (bending back) together with rotation and side flexion of the trunk. This puts a lot of stress on an area of the vertebra called the ‘Pars Interarticularis' and this is where stress fractures develop.

Lower back stress fractures are usually characterised by an ache in the lower back which is exacerbated by sporting activities and eased by rest, although a small percentage of people with a stress fracture can be pain free. Typically it is sore when the patient bends backwards, particularly if standing on one leg. If a lower back stress fracture is suspected, a doctor may decide to refer the patient for a scan to confirm the diagnosis.

In most cases, complete rest from sport is the treatment of choice. This would usually be for a period of 6 weeks to allow the bone to heal. During this period a progressive exercise program may commence, under the supervision of a chartered physiotherapist. This usually starts with exercises to increase the muscular stability in the lower back. Research has shown that a lack of muscular stability in the lumbar and pelvic regions can lead to low back pain and stress fractures.

Research has shown that specific ‘core stability’ exercises can be effective in relieving back pain and restoring normal function. As well as the treatment of low back stress fractures, these exercises are very effective for what is called 'mechanical low back pain', where the problem is caused by poor postural habits and the pain resulting from disc problems. Once the correct technique has been mastered, these exercises are very easy to do. They are not too vigorous and they can be done by people of all ages. The principle behind the ‘core stability’ exercises is that if certain specific muscles can be recruited or contracted, the spine will have much better support. This prevents postural faults which can predispose a person to back pain.

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