The rehabilitation of a professional Rugby Union player following a C7/T1 posterior microdiscectomy

Abstract

Rugby Union is a popular international sport [ Bathgate, A., Best, J., Craig, G., & Jamieson, M. (2002) with a high incidence of cervical injury. A prospective study of injuries to elite Australian rugby union players. British Journal of Sports Medicine 36, 265–269.] with a high incidence of cervical injury. The purpose of this case study was to explore the rehabilitation of a professional rugby union player following a cervical disc injury affecting the C8 nerve root and subsequent microdiscectomy. The isometric strength of the cervical musculature was measured using 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM). A 10-week rehabilitation programme was then commenced whereby the player performed periodised upper limb and Maximal Isometric Voluntary Muscle Contraction (IVMCmax) neck exercises with a graduated return to contact training and playing. Re-tests of the cervical musculature were performed after Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the 10-week rehabilitation programme. The results show a dramatic improvement in the strength of the cervical musculature acting in the four directions of movement tested (cervical flexion, extension and left and right side flexion). The player returned to professional club rugby 16 weeks post-operation and returned to International duty 2 weeks later. At the time of writing this case study, the player had not missed any game time due to cervical symptoms.