Quantifying Elbow Extension and Elbow Hyperextension in Cricket Bowling: A case study of Jenny Gunn

Abstract

Citation: KING, M.A. and YEADON, M.R., 2012. Quantifying elbow extension and elbow hyperextension in cricket bowling: a case study of Jenny Gunn. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30 (9), pp. 937 -947. AbstractIn this study a method for determining elbow extension and elbow abduction for a cricket bowling delivery was developed and assessed for Jenny Gunn who has hypermobility in both elbows and whose bowling action has been repeatedly queried by umpires. Bowling is a dynamic activity which is assessed visually in real time in a cricket match by an umpire. When the legality of a bowler's action is questioned by an umpire a quantitative analysis is undertaken using a marker based motion analysis system. This method of quantifying elbow extension should agree with a visual assessment of when the arm is "straight" and should minimise the effects of marker movement. A set of six markers on the bowling arm were used to calculate elbow angles. Differences of up to 1º for elbow extension and up to 2º for elbow abduction were found when angles calculated from the marker set for static straight arm trials were compared with measurements taken by a chartered sports physiotherapist. In addition comparison of elbow extension angles at ball release calculated from the markers during bowling trials with those measured from high speed video also showed good agreement with mean differences of 0º ± 2º.

The effect of elbow hyperextension on ball speed in cricket fast bowling

“…Elbow extension is usually limited by the tension in the anterior joint capsule and flexor muscles and to some extent in the anterior parts of the collateral ligament (Palastanga et al, 2002). It is speculated that during fast bowling the load on the elbow can cause elbow hyperextension to occur (Ferdinands and Kersting, 2004;Portus et al, 2006) with peak hyperextension angles reported in excess of 20° (King and Yeadon, 2012). The results of these investigations into the effect of elbow extension on ball speed suggest that there appears to be a relationship between elbow extension and ball release speed (Portus et al, 2006;Roca et al, 2006).…”

“…Secondly, to quantify the maximum effect of elbow hyperextension on ball release speed, an optimisation was run where the torsional spring parameters and , were varied using the Simulated Annealing algorithm (Corana et al, 1987) in order to maximise ball release speed. A penalty was imposed if peak elbow hyperextension exceeded an upper bound of 25° based on previous research (King and Yeadon, 2012). Thirdly to investigate the relationship between the magnitude of elbow hyperextension and ball release speed simulations were required with different elbow hyperextension angle-time histories.…”

“…Four maximal ball speed bowling trials of a good length were recorded using an 18 camera (MX13) Vicon Motion Analysis System (OMG Plc, Oxford, UK) operating at 300 Hz on a standard length indoor cricket pitch. Three pairs of 14 mm retro-reflective markers were attached across the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints on the bowling arm such that their mid-points coincided with the joint centres (King and Yeadon, 2012) and a reflective patch (approximately 15 x 15 mm) was attached to the ball to enable ball release velocity and the instant of ball release to be determined.…”

“…During these investigations elbow hyperextension has been witnessed during the bowling action in the joint angle-time history (Ferdinands and Kersting, 2004;Portus et al, 2006;King and Yeadon, 2012). Elbow hyperextension occurs when the joint angle exceeds a straight position (180°) which is considered to be the anatomical range of motion (Alter, 2004).…”

The effect of marker placement around the elbow on calculated elbow extension during bowling in cricket

“…Eftaxiopoulou, Gupte, Dear and Bull (2013) found that a triad close to the elbow produced more repeatable results than a mid-arm marker triad. Alternative marker placements were described by King and Yeadon (2012) in which pairs of markers were positioned across the shoulder, elbow and wrist. These upper arm marker placements were chosen in order to be as far away as possible from the soft tissue movement in the central upper arm.…”