Effects of Ballistic Six Exercises With and Without Blood Flow Restriction in Cricket Players

Cricket is not only a widely played team sport, but it also involves intricate skills that are honed over time, especially in bowling. One of the key concerns for bowlers is the risk of developing shoulder injuries due to imbalances between the agonist and antagonist muscle groups. To address this, the Ballistic Six program focuses on functional exercises that replicate the movements and forces involved in the overhead throwing motion, helping to enhance strength, power, proprioception, kinesthesia, and endurance in the rotator cuff muscles. By incorporating plyometric training in a ballistic, high-velocity manner, the program aims to take advantage of the stretch reflex and reduce the amortization phase of the stretch shortening cycle. Additionally, blood flow restriction (BFR) training has shown promising results in promoting muscle growth and strength. By applying a tourniquet to the arm during intra-set rests, BFR induces muscle hypoxia while restricting venous return, leading to increased lean mass, isometric strength, and muscular endurance in the shoulder and arm. These training methods can contribute to the overall performance and injury prevention of medium pace cricket bowlers.

In addition to being a popular team activity, cricket requires complex abilities that are developed through time, particularly in bowling. The possibility of shoulder injuries resulting from imbalances between the agonist and antagonist muscle groups is one of the main worries for bowlers. The Ballistic Six program aims to improve the rotator cuff muscles' strength, power, proprioception, kinesthesia, and endurance by using functional exercises that mimic the motions and pressures involved in the overhead throwing action. The program's goal is to minimize the stretch shortening cycle's amortization phase and maximize the stretch reflex by combining plyometric training in a ballistic, high-velocity way. Furthermore, training with blood flow restriction (BFR) has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in enhancing muscle mass and power. Lean mass, isometric strength, and muscular endurance in the shoulder and arm are enhanced by BFR, which produces muscle hypoxia while limiting venous return by placing a tourniquet to the arm during intra-set rests. Medium-pace cricket bowlers can benefit from these training techniques in terms of both overall performance and injury prevention.

To maintain fairness in this Randomized Controlled Trial, volunteers will be chosen at random. The 18-25-year-old cricket players will be split into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Ballistic Six upper extremity plyometric training will be administered to the control group, while Ballistic Six training combined with blood flow restriction treatment will be administered to the experimental group. The course of therapy will last for eight weeks, with monthly progress reports. There will be three weekly recovery sessions, each lasting 20 to 30 minutes. Tests such as the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow Score, the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test, and the Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test will be used to assess patients both at the start and finish of their therapy.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male players
* Age 18-25 years
* Active recreational players
* Minimum score on Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow Score questionnaire should be above 60.
* In Closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test rest interval should be from 40-45 seconds.
* Athletes playing cricket with minimum 1 year experience

Exclusion Criteria:

* Players not actively involved in training and competition
* History of systemic disease
* Prior surgery history
* Ligamentous and GHJ injury
* Bone deformity
* Fractures of upper limb
* Vestibular and visual disorder
* Pre-existing shoulder pathologies or injuries