Web-Based Exercise Program Increases Cervical Strength in Adolescent Athletes.

ABSTRACT: Wilson, JC, Levek, C, Daoud, AK, Brewer, M, Brooks, K, Sochanska, A, Randall, M, and Provance, AJ. Web-based exercise program increases cervical strength in adolescent athletes. J Strength Cond Res 35(4): 1149-1155, 2021-This cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a web-based 6-week cervical strengthening program on cervical strength in adolescent athletes. It was hypothesized that subjects completing the program would demonstrate significant increase in cervical muscle strength compared with baseline strength. Eighty-three high school soccer athlete subjects were recruited from 2 local nationally competitive soccer clubs. Teams were assigned to either control or intervention groups to minimize information crossover. Fifty subjects were recruited to the intervention group (29 male, 21 female; average age 15.1 years). Thirty-three subjects were recruited to the control group (21 male, 12 female; average age 15.1 years). Intervention group subjects completed a web-based progressive cervical strengthening program over 6 weeks. Cervical strength in flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion (LLF) was measured in Newton (N) of force at 3 time points during the competitive season for both control and intervention groups. Intervention group subjects significantly increased cervical strength [mean difference (95% confidence interval)] in LLF [24.1 (15.9-32.4)], extension [27.9 (18.4-37.5)], right lateral flexion [18.8 (11.6-26.1)], and flexion [mean ratio: 1.2 (1.1-1.2)] at follow-up testing; whereas control subjects did not see significant changes in strength. A web-based progressive cervical strengthening program improves cervical muscular strength in a population of adolescent athletes over a period of 6 weeks. Such a program could be used by researchers in future studies evaluating the influence on concussion risk and by practitioners as a means of reducing sport-related head and neck injuries.

Pediatric and adolescent injury in skiing.

This review examines risks that accompany child and adolescent participation in downhill skiing. Falls and non-collision events were the most common mechanism of injury, but significant data implicate head injuries, blunt abdominal trauma, and spinal trauma as the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in this population. School-aged children and youth (7-14 years) are more likely to sustain an injury, compared to children (0-6 years) and older teenagers (15-17 years). Knee injuries were the most common injury, reported as 10.3%-47.7% of all lower limb injuries. The literature supports helmet use as protective against injury with a reduced risk of head, neck, or face injury in children under 13 years. Future studies are necessary to evaluate injury and risks in the backcountry given the rapid increase of adolescents traveling outside ski areas. Research examining risk factors and preventive measures in youth skiing is also warranted.