Advance in Return to Play after Spine and Spinal Cord Injury for Athletes (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Spinal injuries caused by competitive sports are common. Spinal diseases are important issues that needs to be solved urgently in the fields of sports injury. Return to play recommendations are complicated due to a mix of medical factors, social pressures, and limited outcome data. This article reviewed the current situation of athletes return to play after spine and spinal cord injury based on disease classification, including cervical spine (cervical soft tissue injuries, cervical fracture and dislocation, cervical stenosis, cervical disk herniation, stingers and burners), thoracic spine (thoracic fracture), lumbar spine (lumbar strain, lumbar stenosis spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, lumbar disk herniation), and spinal cord concussion and spinal cord injury. This article also analyzed the criteria for athletes to return to play after spine and spinal cord injuries. It may provide references for future clinical management and consensus/guidelines.