Efficacy of Cervical Spine Muscle Strength Training in the Prevention of Cervical Spine Injuries in Hockey Players: A Critically Appraised Topic

Limited review of cervical spine injuries within the sport of ice hockey exist in the published world. Therefore, this paper sets out to locate, define, and critically appraise the topic to determine the frequency, severity, and possible interventions for the prevention and rehabilitation of cervical spine injuries in ice hockey. A call to action is advised to accurately track these injuries in order to better assist with the creation of a standardized protocol for treatment and reconditioning designed to assist strength and conditioning professionals in the reconditioning of athletes. Sufficient evidence supported the prevalence of cervical spine injuries in the sport of hockey. muscle strength and rigidity had little to no effect on the resistance of head impact acceleration.4 Regardless of linear velocity and peak angular velocity changes amongst individuals with varying isometric muscle strength of the cervical muscle, cervical spine injuries appear to be unrelated.8 The continued documentation of cervical spine injuries in hockey is necessary to gain a clearer understanding of the current prevalence of this specific injury. It appears that cervical spine injuries are less prevalent at the professional and international levels. This could potentially be attributed to a greater respect for athletic competition, as well as significant improvements of motor function and control exhibited by professional hockey players. Improving physiological performance appears to have little to no effect on cervical spine injuries.7,8,9 Unfortunately, little to no evidence currently exists, regarding the optimization of kinetic and kinematic actions within the cervical spine structure by way of improving muscle function, hypertrophy, or neuromuscular efficiency. Keywords: cervical spine injuries in hockey, neck injuries in the hockey, non-concussion-based spine injuries in hockey, neck strength, neck muscle activation, head kinematics

COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF CERVICAL TRACTION AND CERVICAL MOBILIZATION IN THE TREATMENT OF CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to ferret out the immediate results of traction or mobilization in neck pain patients and to determine which one is more effective. STUDY DESIGN An Experimental study. STUDY SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS The study was conducted in outpatient departments of tertiary care hospitals and clinics having well developed physiotherapy center. The participants include individuals having upper extremity pain and numbness and have three out of four cervical nerve compression test positive. INTERVENTIONS Treatment was given for three days in a week for a consecutive period of two weeks which includes traction and cervical mobilization techniques of Mulligan. OUTCOME MEASURES The outcome was measure using VAS and Neck Disability index scale. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20 RESULTS Patients (N=50) were screened out of which 30 were found eligible. The effect of traction and mobilization in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy patient was same. Both the interventions were found to be equally effective in reducing the disability and pain of the patient. CONCLUSIONS This study has concluded that the effects of traction and mobilization in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy patient were same. Both the interventions were found to be equally effective in reducing the disability and pain of the patient. Keywords: Cervical Spine, Neck Disability Index, NDI, Visual Analog Scale, Natural Apophyseal Glides, NAGS, Sustained Natural Epiphyseal, Manual Traction