Lacrosse equipment and cervical spinal cord space during immobilization: preliminary analysis.
BACKGROUND
Removal of the lacrosse helmet to achieve airway access has been discouraged based only on research in which cervical alignment was examined. No researchers have examined the effect of lacrosse equipment on the cervical space available for the spinal cord (SAC).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of lacrosse equipment on the cervical SAC and cervical-thoracic angle (CTA) in the immobilized athlete.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Outpatient imaging center.


METHODS
Ten volunteer lacrosse athletes (age = 20.7 +/- 1.87 years, height = 180.3 +/- 8.3 cm, mass = 91 +/- 12.8 kg) with no history of cervical spine injury or disease and no contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
The lacrosse players were positioned supine on a spine board for all test conditions. An MRI scan was completed for each condition.


METHODS
The independent variables were condition (no equipment, shoulder pads only [SP], and full gear that included helmet and shoulder pads [FG]), and cervical spine level (C3-C7). The dependent variables were the SAC and CTA. The MRI scans were evaluated midsagittally. The average of 3 measures was used as the criterion variable. The SAC data were analyzed using a 3 x 5 analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. The CTA data were analyzed with a 1-way repeated-measures ANOVA.


RESULTS
We found no equipment x level interaction effect (F(3.7,72) = 1.34, P = .279) or equipment main effect (F(2,18) = 1.20, P = .325) for the SAC (no equipment = 5.04 +/- 1.44 mm, SP = 4.69 +/- 1.36 mm, FG = 4.62 +/- 1.38 mm). The CTA was greater (ie, more extension; critical P = .0167) during the SP (32.64 degrees +/- 3.9 degrees) condition than during the no-equipment (25.34 degrees +/- 2.3 degrees ; t(9) = 7.67, P = .001) or FG (26.81 degrees +/- 5.1 degrees; t(9) = 4.80, P = .001) condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Immobilizing healthy lacrosse athletes with shoulder pads and no helmets affected cervical spine alignment but did not affect SAC. Further research is needed to determine and identify appropriate care of the lacrosse athlete with a spine injury.
Higgins
Michael
M
Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA. mhiggins@towson.edu
Tierney
Ryan T
RT
Driban
Jeffrey B
JB
Edell
Steven
S
Watkins
Randall
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D015865:Racquet Sports / Q000293:injuries*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013178:Sports Medicine; D055815:Young Adult