Musculoskeletal Problems in Cricket Players in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Background: Cricket involves repetitive high-intensity actions that impose significant musculoskeletal (MSK) demands on athletes. These movements predispose players to injuries affecting the shoulder, spine, and upper extremities. While studies in Pakistan have reported injury prevalence in Lahore and Sindh, epidemiological data from Rawalpindi and Islamabad remain scarce despite their vibrant cricketing academies. Objective: To determine the frequency and distribution of musculoskeletal problems among cricket players in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between June 2024 and January 2025 among 278 male cricket players aged 18–32 years with at least one year of playing experience. Participants were recruited from clubs and academies through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed in SPSS v25. Frequencies, percentages, 95% confidence intervals, and chi-square tests were reported. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Results: The shoulder was the most frequently affected region, reported by 32.4% of players over the past 12 months, followed by lower back (23.4%) and wrist/hand (20.9%). In the past 7 days, both shoulder and lower back problems were reported by 6.5% of players. Shoulder injuries accounted for the highest rates of activity limitation (20.9%) and physician visits (15.8%). Conclusion: Shoulder and lower back problems represent the greatest MSK burden among Rawalpindi and Islamabad cricketers. These findings highlight the need for preventive physiotherapy, structured conditioning, and workload monitoring strategies to safeguard player health.