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Cervical Stenosis/Myelopathy, Sports Medicine

Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Defined by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research (NCCSIR) as a congenital or acquired process, which causes narrowing of the cervical spinal canal

  • Functional spi...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • During preparticipation physical examination, determination of any prior history of neurologic events, such as burners/stingers or transient neurologic events, is critical.

  • If the athl...

TREATMENT

Conservative treatment: 
  • Cervical immobilization

  • Restriction of high-risk activities, including avoidance of collision sports and sports with high potential for cervical load

  • Physical therapy f...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Team physicians should be concerned with functional spinal stenosis. If present, and the athlete incurs spinal cord symptoms, the athlete should not continue in c...

REFERENCES

1
Karadimas SK, Erwin WM, Ely CG, et al. Pathophysiology and natural history of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).  2013;38(22 Suppl 1):S21–S36.
2
Nouri A, Tetreault ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • During preparticipation physical examination, it is critical to determine of any prior history of spinal cord–related neurologic events, and consider imaging before allowing the athlet...

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