The Development of a Cervical Spine Protective Device for Youth Athletes in American Tackle Football

Abstract

The goals of this thesis research were to identify the weak areas of the human neck and to evaluate the preliminary designs of a cervical spine protective device. This was done by measuring isometric muscle strength in terms of head position and by measuring ranges of motion in coupled and uncoupled cervical spine motion. This information was to develop a cervical spine protective device for young athletes (11 to 18 year olds) who play American tackle football. Results from this study showed that that the neck strength depends on the head positions and the directions of muscle contraction. The weaker muscle strengths were produced when the participants’ heads were tested at 40 degrees in extension, coupled 40 degrees in extension and 20 degrees in lateral bending, and coupled 40 degrees in extension 20 degrees in axial rotation. These positions are associated with stinger’s syndrome in football athletes. Evaluation of the cervical spine range of motion in these weaker positions showed that the range of motion in the extension direction decreased as the participants’ heads moved closer to the extreme positions of lateral bending and axial rotation. Football helmets and shoulder pads was not able to provide much restriction in extension and axial rotation motion. A set of cervical spine protective device were created for each participant based on their anthropometric measurements. The cervical spine protective device was able to provide desired restriction in most directions particularly in uncoupled flexion, extension, axial rotation and lateral bending.%%%%M.S., Mechanical Engineering – Drexel University, 2009