Cervical Spine Assessment Techniques and Neck Strength Profiles of Elite Rugby Union Players Using an Innovative Measurement Approach

ObjectivesNeck injuries and concussion commonly occur in the sport of Rugby Union. This study analyses the current practices of medical staff in assessment of the neck and proposes a new position-specific method using a commercially available setup for the assessment of neck strength. MethodsA survey was employed and distributed to 40 Premiership and Championship Rugby Union clubs. Thirty-eight University students (18 males and 20 females) were tested on two occasions at least 72hrs apart to determine reliability and 131 elite Rugby Union players (forwards n = 82, backs n = 49) were tested on a single occasion. Isometric neck strength was measured using a commercially available rig and digital load cell, for flexion (Flex), extension (Ext), left side flexion (LSF) and right-side flexion (RSF). Peak of three trials for each position was used for statistical analysis. ResultsSurvey findings indicated no standard practice used in the assessment of the neck across the professional teams. Intra-rater reliability interclass correlation values > 0.924 when using peak neck strength across all directions, thus indicating excellent reliability. Forwards recorded significantly greater absolute values for cervical spine strength across all directions (p < 0.01) however, relative values showed no significant difference between players (p > 0.05) ConclusionThe results show that the commercially available rig and digital load cell are a reliable tool for the assessment of isometric strength of the cervical spine and provide reference values for healthy males as well as elite Rugby Union forwards and backs.