Behavior of the Upper Cervical Spine in Rugby Players

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Rugby players are often exposed to destabilisation of the upper cervical spine.This kind of trauma may lead to dramatic injuries, due to lesion of spinal cord. CerviStab© is a device which evaluate the bio-mechanical and neuromuscular behavior of the upper cervical spine in rugby situation. The aim of this study, is to evaluate the dynamic stabilization of the upper cervical spine in reaction to unexpected impact.

Official Title
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Dynamic Stabilization of the Upper Cervical Spine in a Cohort of Rugby's Players Via Ergometer (Cervistab©)

Conditions
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Cervical Spine Destabilization

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Destabilization of the upper cervical spine by Cervistab


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Rugby players at least since 5 years Amateurs or professionals players Able to play in rugby competition Exclusion Criteria: Medical history of cervical spine injury requiring surgical intervention Active cervical symptomatology Medical history of migraine or epilepsy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Rugby players<br>Destabilization of the upper cervical spine with Cervistab | Other: Destabilization of the upper cervical spine by Cervistab<br>* Simulate a situation of destabilization of the cervical spine with Cervistab<br>|
| Other: Healthy non rugby players<br>Destabilization of the upper cervical spine with Cervistab | Other: Destabilization of the upper cervical spine by Cervistab<br>* Simulate a situation of destabilization of the cervical spine with Cervistab<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reproducibility of head movement amplitude measurements on healthy volunteers | Measurement in millimetres by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Reproducibility of the measurement of mechanical resistance strength intensity produced by upper cervical spine muscles responding to destabilization on healthy volunteers | Measurement in decanewtons by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Reproducibility of time until appearance of mechanical resistance strength produced by upper cervical spine muscles responding to destabilization on healthy volunteers | Measurement in milliseconds by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Reproducibility of the time of response of upper cervical spine extensor muscles responding to destabilization on healthy volunteers | Measurement in milliseconds by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Reproducibility of the amplitude of the response of upper cervical spine extensor muscles responding to destabilization on healthy volunteers | Measurement in decanewtons by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Comparison of biomechanical behaviour of upper cervical spine dynamic stabilization capacities between healthy volunteers and rugby players | Measurement by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Comparison of neuromuscular behaviour of upper cervical spine dynamic stabilization capacities between healthy volunteers and rugby players | Measurement by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Comparison of biomechanical behaviour of upper cervical spine dynamic stabilization capacities between resting and acute fatigue situations in rugby players subjects | Measurement by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Comparison of neuromuscular behaviour of upper cervical spine dynamic stabilization capacities between resting and acute fatigue situations in rugby players subjects | Measurement by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Comparison of biomechanical behaviour of upper cervical spine dynamic stabilization capacities between male rugby players and female rugby players | Measurement by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 | 
| Comparison of neuromuscular behaviour of upper cervical spine dynamic stabilization capacities between male rugby players and female rugby players | Measurement by Cervistab ergometer | Week 1 |