Catastrophic Neck Injuries From Football in Western Pennsylvania

In brief: In an effort to determine common factors that may have contributed to spinal cord injuries in football players, the author reviewed medical records and newspaper articles. He also interviewed players who had sustained catastrophic neck injuries and talked to their families and coaches. The study showed that lightweight defensive players are at the greatest risk of suffering catastrophic neck injuries, which are most often due to improper use of the head and neck during tackling. Coaches, trainers, and team physicians should institute proper conditioning and development programs and teach correct blocking and tackling techniques to prevent these injuries.