The Effect of Football Shoulder Pad Removal Technique and Equipment Removal Training on Cervical Spine Motion, Time to Task Completion, and Perceived Task Difficulty

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Lenhardt, Catherine Shawn
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Abstract

Current recommendations for management of cervical spine injury suggest leaving football equipment in place unless otherwise indicated by the NATA position statement. We investigated the effect of three shoulder pad removal techniques and the effect of reinforced training on cervical spine motion, time, and difficulty. The RipKord shoulder pads were faster than both traditional shoulder pad removal techniques (P<0.001) and easier (P<0.05) than the flat torso to remove. Less cervical spine range of motion with the flat torso technique was observed in the sagittal and frontal planes (P<0.05) during Testing Session II in the reinforced training group. Both traditional shoulder pad removal techniques were faster during Session II [flat (P=0.001); elevated (P<0.001)]. The RipKord shoulder pads provided a method for removal with superior measure of time and difficulty compared with traditional removal techniques. With reinforced training, cervical spine motion improved with the flat torso technique.

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