Prevalence of Hamstring Strain and Association with Fatigue among Domestic Cricketers in Lahore Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Hamstring strains are a common injury among athletes, particularly affecting those involved in sports requiring high-speed running and abrupt movements, such as cricket. The association between these injuries and factors like fatigue has been of particular interest within the sports medicine community, aiming to enhance injury prevention and management strategies. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hamstring strains and their association with fatigue among domestic cricketers in Lahore, Pakistan, providing insights into effective strategies for injury prevention and management in this athletic population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 among 82 domestic cricketers in Lahore, using non-probability convenient sampling. Participants underwent assessments including the Functional Assessment Scale for Acute Hamstring Injuries (FASH) and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), alongside demographic and physical fitness data collection. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25, with the chi-square test applied to evaluate the association between hamstring strain and fatigue. Results: The average age of participants was 26.68±1.395 years, with the majority (81.7%) having a normal BMI. About 28.0% of the athletes reported hamstring strains, with varying degrees of pain from mild to severe. The chi-square test indicated a significant association between hamstring strains and fatigue (p<0.001), highlighting fatigue as a key factor in the occurrence of hamstring injuries among cricketers. Conclusion: The study underscores the significant prevalence of hamstring strains among domestic cricketers in Lahore and their association with fatigue. These findings emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions focusing on fatigue management to mitigate the risk of such injuries, thereby enhancing athlete health and performance sustainability.