Wrestling induced cervical spondylosis

Background: Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative process involving changes in soft tissue and bone of intervertebral discs. Objective: To evaluate wrestling induced cervical spondylosis. Methods: 83 male wrestlers with the age range of 15 to 55 were randomly studied against 79 non-wrestlers of the same age. Clinical and radiological assessments were carried out and recorded in both groups. Wrestlers with clinical signs of CS and confirmed lateral radiograms were subjected to MRI studies to obviate any spinal cord changes. Findings: The findings indicated that wrestling coupled with advancing age can initiate the process of CS. Cervical MRI of some wrestlers with long period of wrestling confirmed the pathologic changes of CS. Conclusion: It seems mandatory to have routine cervical radiographs to gauge the width of spinal canal and rule out stenosis to prevent the development of CS in young wrestlers.