Movement of the Cervical Spine During the Six-Plus Person Lift and the Straddle Lift

Abstract

PURPOSE: The Inter-Association Task Force for the Appropriate Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete recommended transferring a supine athlete to a long backboard by means other than the log-roll. The 6+ person lift (SIX) has been specifically recommended as that transfer method, and the straddle lift (STRD) has more recently been suggested as an alternative. Our purpose was to evaluate head and neck movement during these two lifts. METHODS: Movement of the subjects' cervical spine was evaluated by measuring movement of the head from the torso during both lifting techniques, with (W) and without (NO) the presence of a football helmet and shoulder pads. During each trial the “plus” person stabilized the head, the subject was lifted approximately 4–6 inches to facilitate sliding the board, and an additional person slid the long spine board under the subject. SIX involved six individuals lifting the subject, 3 on either side at the shoulders, hips and legs. STRD involved only 3 individuals, straddled over the subject and lifting at the same anatomical landmarks. Six healthy individuals (mean height 174.84 ± 12.59 cm; mean mass 71.29 ± 7.29 kg) served as subjects. Motion of the head and neck was obtained by an electromagnetic three-dimensional motion analysis system (Polhemus Inc., Colchester, VT). RESULTS: T-tests revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between SIX and STRD in the W and NO conditions for axial rotation, and in the NO condition for lateral flexion. Two of the 6 comparisons between W and NO were significantly different; flexion/extension in the STRD condition, and lateral flexion in the SIX condition. The mean movement data (degrees) (± S.D.) for SIX-W, STRD-W, SIX-NO and STRD-NO respectively, for flexion/extension were; 12.77 (± 5.27), 13.76 (± 3.39), 12.92 (± 5.43), and 8.3 (±2.69). The mean data for axial rotation were; 8.79 (±2.17), 5.72 (± 1.6), 10.18 (±3.02), and 5.48 (± 1.53). The data for lateral flexion were; 6.22 (± 2.19), 4.6 (± 2.43), 8.44 (± 2.35), and 5.24 (± .75). CONCLUSION: These data indicate SIX had more movement than STRD in 5 of the 6 equipment conditions, and that the presence of football equipment appeared to have a stabilizing effect on cervical movement, particularly with the SIX. This differs from our companion study utilizing cadavers.