title: Cervical spine injuries and the return to football.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The literature dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine injuries is considerable. Absent, however, are comprehensive criteria or guidelines for permitting or prohibiting return to collusion activities such as tackle football.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this report is to describe developmental and posttraumatic conditions of the cervical spine as presenting (1) no contraindication, (2) relative contraindication, or (3) an absolute contraindication to continued participation in tackle football and other contact activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data compiled from more than 1200 cervical spine injuries documented by the National Football Head and Neck Registry, in addition to a review of the limited published literature, plus an understanding of the recognized axial load injury mechanism and extensive anecdotal experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The one overriding principle regarding the return to football or, for that matter, any collusion activity is that the individual be asymptomatic, pain-free, and neurologically intact and have full strength and full range of cervical motion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Torg