Radiographic, magnetic resonance and biomechanic analysis of cervical spine of soccer players

63 8.SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to analyse height, weight, normalized work, normalized power, average cervical moment, cross seetional area of paraspinal neck muscles, angular motion of cervical spine, magnetic resonance imaging of cervical spine and radiological examination of cervical spine among the different age groups. Experimental groups of this study were 15 soccer players under 30 years of age from Middle East Technical University Team and 15 veteran soccer players over 30 years of age. Control groups of this study were 13 sedentary ages under 30 and 13 sedentary ages over 30 years from Middle East Technical University. According to statistical analysis there were significant differences among height F= 5.87; P<0.01, normalized work F =4.04; p<0.01, normalized power F =4.33; at the 0.0 1 significant level for all groups. The greatest average moment of cervical spine was seem in Si group. There were significant differences between spondylotic antreposterior diameter (SAD) F =3.02; P<0.05 and intersegmantel angle of C2-C3 F=3.59 at the 0.05 significant level for all groups. The greatest intersegmental angle of cervical spine to be seem in Cs-Ce. Total range of motion of cervical spine (ROM) measured by Panjabi Method were not significantly different in all groups. Flexion angle of cervical spine was significant F =8.20; at the 0.01 level. But significant difference was not found in extension angle of cervical spine for all groups.64 There was correlation between Laboratories method and Panjabi Method in groups (Si) r= 0.57. No significant differences was identified in cross sectional area of neck muscle (CSA), but CSA was the highest in Si. No significant differences were identified at the end of radiological examinations, but pathological problems were observed in all groups and magnetic resonance imaging examinations were found 33%,30%,%40,40% in Sı,Kı,S2,K2 groups, respectively.