AN EVALUATION OF CERVICAL ORTHOSES IN LIMITING HYPEREXTENSION AND LATERAL FLEXION IN FOOTBALL

Three cervical orthoses often used in football to prophylactically lim it motion and prevent the nerve injury known as ''burners'' were evalu ated to determine their performance in limiting both hyperextension an d lateral bending of the cervical spine. These orthoses have been used almost entirely on an empiric basis with little objective data to eva luate performance. A rope and pulley mechanism was used to pull the ne ck into hyperextension and lateral motion, with the only restraint bei ng the various products tested. These trials were videotaped and the r estriction provided by the collars was calculated from goniometric ana lysis of the projected images. These tests were performed to determine which products limit the mechanisms of the ''burner'' injury and ther eby assess which braces might reduce or prevent the occurrence of thes e injuries. The results of the investigation indicate that all braces studied provided some degree of limitation in one of the mechanisms of injury, hyperextension. One brace performed superiorly in this respec t. However, the other mechanism of injury, lateral bending, is inconsi stently limited.