Wrestling is second only to football when it comes to injuries per season, according to HealthNewsDigest.com. Most of these injuries are isolated to the head, resulting in some minor scrapes, bruises and concussions. But with the noggin so prone to trauma, it should come as no surprise that the neck is also quite susceptible to injury. As with any injury, consult a doctor to determine the best course of care.
Spondylolisthesis
Just watching a match should give you some idea of how an injury to the neck could occur. Certain holds, throws and takedowns can all force your neck into awkward positions, putting stress on one or more of the vertebrae in your cervical spine. If the stress is severe, it could cause one of the vertebrae to slip forward onto the one below it, resulting in cervical spondylolisthesis.
Spondylolysis
The same can also be said for continually hyperextending the neck, which can cause trauma to the — a thin bone connecting the facet joints in your cervical spine. Perpetual trauma can eventually weaken the pars, as it’s sometimes called. Weakness in this connective bone is known as cervical spondylolysis, which puts you at a greater risk of spondylolisthesis.
Symptoms
Neck pain is probably the most common symptom of cervical spondylolisthesis. This pain is often accompanied by some stiffness along the neck. But not everyone experiences these symptoms. In fact, some athletes never know they’ve developed the condition. If the slipped vertebra isn’t placing any pressure on a nerve, you won’t likely notice any pain at all.
Treating Spondylolisthesis
When spondylolisthesis is detected or severe, immobilizing the neck is almost always necessary, so don’t be surprised if you need to wear a neck brace — at least right after the injury. Doing so better supports your neck, helping to prevent further damage to the cervical spine. You’ll also need to sit on the bench for a match or two as well as some practices to allow the area to heal. Your doctor may also recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to reduce any swelling and alleviate your pain.
Rehabilitating Spondylolisthesis
After immediate treatment, your doctor will likely suggest physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of your neck, helping stabilize your spine and keeping the vertebra from moving even further out of place. As therapy progresses, you can also expect improved flexibility of your neck muscles, which can reduce the chances of reinjury. Your physical therapist can establish a series of exercises to best suit your needs.
Correcting Spondylolisthesis
Not everyone responds well to these conservative measures, and you may require more intensive care. This is especially true if the vertebra continues to slip out of place. In this situation, you may need a surgical procedure. Depending on the severity of the slippage, your surgeon may remove a piece of the affected bone, which can relieve a lot of the pressure placed on the nerve. This often leaves you pain-free but with an unstable cervical spine, so your wrestling career is likely over. The other option — which is much more stable for your spine — is spinal fusion, where your surgeon transplants a piece of bone between the two vertebrae associated with the condition.
References
- American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine: Preventing Wrestling Injuries
- HealthNewsDigest.com: Wrestling Season Has Begun — How to Avoid Injuries
- Cleveland Clinic: Spondylolisthesis
- Cleveland Clinic: Spondylolysis
- Laser Spine Institute: Cervical Spondylolisthesis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sports-related Injuries Among High School Athletes – United States, 2005-06 School Year
