Editor's Note: This interview originally appeared in our September 2012 issue. To read the rest of the magazine, be sure to subscribe to Black Belt+ and gain access to our entire digital archive!

Martial arts training can lead to a variety of injuries to the cervical spine, including bone fracture and dislocation, ligament injury with instability, disk herniation, spinal-cord injury, pinched nerve, and strains. Three of the most common injuries seen in the dojo are as follows.

Cervical Strain

Also known as whiplash, this is an injury to the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) around the neck. Damage can involve a disk or the joint capsule between two disks. The result is usually pain followed by spasms that discourage even the slightest turn of the head.

Although a strain can stop you from training, it doesn’t involve damage to the stability of the spine or spinal cord, so full recovery can be expected. The timing of that recovery can vary from as little as six weeks to as much as six months. For some, a strain can result in chronic pain. Generally, rest, medication, and rehabilitation are successful in treating this problem.

Transient Quadriparesis

In this condition, sometimes called spinal-cord concussion, the cervical spinal cord becomes contused and the person loses sensation in the arms and legs. Meanwhile, movement, or motor function, may be unaffected. Symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours, but sometimes it takes longer. It’s not clear whether long-term consequences follow this type of injury.

In the dojo, this injury can result from a strike to the face or chin that causes the neck to snap backward. Another mechanism is axial neck compression, which can happen during a fall or tackle in which the person lands on top of the head.

When transient quadriparesis happens, one experiences a variety of symptoms affecting two to four limbs. A common complaint is a burning sensation in the hands, as well as numbness or tingling. Motor symptoms (i.e., problems moving the arms and legs) can vary from none to mild to complete quadriplegia.

Recognizing the severity of one’s inability to move is important because the greater the motor loss, the less likely the injury is transient.

Medical evaluation is warranted to assess the severity of the injury. This usually involves a detailed clinical evaluation with advanced imaging such as a CT scan or MRI. Treatment includes rest and monitoring with sequential clinical examinations.

Stinger

Also known as a burner, this condition is an injury to the peripheral nerves. Usually, it follows a stretch or compressive injury to the nerve root or brachial plexus, which is a group of nerves under the collarbone.

Training note: Neck and shoulder strength is important in preventing this.

The classic symptom is the sudden onset of a piercing, burning pain in one arm. It can last from several seconds to several minutes. The sensory disturbance usually resolves quickly, while the weakness sometimes is more persistent.

With a stinger, it’s uncommon for both arms to be affected; if that happens, spinal-cord injury should be suspected.

With the first occurrence of a stinger, the symptoms resolve rather quickly. When there is a recurrence, each subsequent event can result in more distinct neurologic consequences, including persistent motor weakness.

If this kind of injury is sustained, it’s essential to consult a doctor. If symptoms worsen over a few days or weakness persists for more than 10 to 14 days, additional testing and specialty consultation will be required.

Treatment involves a detailed medical assessment, rest, and monitoring. A CT scan or MRI imaging may be helpful, particularly in patients with persistent symptoms.

Injuries to the Cervical Spine

Injuries to the cervical spine can be complex. Sometimes mild injuries become chronic problems, and underlying anatomical differences can put people at risk for spinal-cord damage. Being aware of this can help you train more safely.

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