Spinal trauma and symptoms in high school football players

Responses from 101 coaches (98%) and 3,063 players (81%) in a retrospective epidemiological study of 103 Minnesota secondary school varsity football teams showed an overall injury rate of 78 injuries per 100 players, which included a high incidence of spinal trauma and spinal trauma symptoms. Recognition of the incidence, severity, and chronicity of spinal trauma requires ongoing assessment of participants in contact activities. Continued use of the illegal techniques of butt-blocking and face-tackling by as many as 40% of the players was found to increase the risk of these symptoms significantly.