Combined Effect of Core and Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Position of Scapula and Bowling Speed among Cricket Bowlers with Scapular Dyskinesis: A Pilot Study

Background and objective. Scapular dyskinesis refers to the deviation in the normal positioning of the scapula. Its prevalence among cricket fast bowlers is estimated to be around 10%. The relationship between scapular and core stability is crucial, as weakness of scapular muscles which is the main cause for scapular dyskinesis, subsequently reduces core strength. This not only impacts bowling performance but is often overlooked in the management of scapular dyskinesis. So, the objective of this study is to investigate how a combination of core and scapular stabilization exercises influences both scapular position and bowling speed in cricket fast bowlers with scapular dyskinesis. Methods. Twenty asymptomatic professional cricket fast bowlers with scapular dyskinesis, aged 18-25 years, volunteered to take part in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: GROUP A (Experimental Group) received a combination of core stability exercises and scapular stabilizing exercises, while GROUP B (Control Group) underwent scapular stabilizing exercises only. Bowling speed was quantified using a Radar Gun, and the scapular position was evaluated using the Lateral Scapular Slide test pre-treatment, 6th-week post-treatment, and follow-up at 10th week. Results and conclusions. Cricket fast Bowlers who received combined core and scapu-lar stability Exercises demonstrated significant improvement in Bowling speed (P-value < 0.001) and Lateral scapular slide test (p < 0.001) compared to the cricket fast bowlers who received only scapular stability exercises.