MotoPT: IMPROVE YOUR MOVE

Words: Matt Daugherty

Neck Braces: Are they worth it?

Hello FTR Family,

At the time of this writing, we have just wrapped up a successful FTR round 9 by the Big “O” club at the Big Buck III hare scramble and are heading into the final round of the 22/23 season. Man does time fly. I have been asked to cover a controversial subject this month, but I am happy to do so. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of neck braces this month. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about neck braces in our sport, I hope to provide some fact-based information about the topic.

Let’s start off with the pros for neck braces. There is a large quantity of data that shows us there is a correlation to spinal cord, neck fracture and not wearing a neck brace. A cervical spine injury is 82% more likely and a critical cervical spine injury such as spinal cord pathology is 89% more likely when not wearing a neck brace (Great Lakes EMS, 2018). This means that neck braces are a vital piece of equipment that decreases the occurrence and severity of neck and spine injuries. Further research is needed to strengthen the methodology of these studies and to mitigate some inherent bias due to the funding for these studies. From a quantity of evidence viewpoint, it is hard to argue with the current best evidence. Another pro is that neck brace design and materials have evolved in the last decade and the current models have more adjustability while allowing more range of motion (ROM) and enhanced safety when compared to old brace designs.

The con side of the discussion is mainly about misconceptions sprinkled with a few facts. Some of the most common misconceptions about neck braces are they cause other injuries such as a collarbone fracture, and limit neck ROM too much. Those of us that rode with a first generation Leatt neck brace can attest to the amount of motion they limited and the forces into the spine they created due to how they contacted your collar bones and the neck strut in the back. Neck braces no longer have this design, are much lower profile and allow greater ROM. Additionally, the current best evidence on the topic appears to show us that neck braces increase safety and decrease serious injury rates (Great Lakes EMS, 2018; Sharma et al., 2015; Theile et al. 2015). However, neck braces absolutely limit your neck ROM to a certain degree. They must for effective protection against outside forces during an accident.

Another con for neck braces is that they do not work for all types of body sizes and shapes. Do you have a short neck and wide shoulders? The best option for you might be a neck collar like the Atlas Vision which offers side bending protection (most common force in neck injuries) but does not protect against forward bending and backward bending motion (picture 1). If a neck brace like the Vision does not work for you based on your anatomy, a neck brace might not work for you at all. Neck braces do not work for every body size/ shape and that is perfectly fine. The truth is that most of us hate wearing protective gear, especially the type that might restrict our movement (Gorasso & Petrone,

2013). A recent researcher found that riders complained about a neck brace affecting their “flow “on the bike (Broman, 2022). Flow is that deep state of concentration that you achieve when you feel as if you are riding your bike or ATV well. I think this is the number one reason why we have seen so many pros ditch the neck brace in the last few years. Chase Sexton, Justin Barcia, Jason Anderson, and Marvin Musquin just to name a few.

What is interesting is most riders who were not wearing a neck brace when they broke their neck, start wearing one when they make their return to racing. Steward Baylor and Kyle Peters are a few recent examples. For me this says a lot about the deep-rooted beliefs of most riders: “They work but I don’t want to wear one unless I have to.”

If you want to IMPROVE YOUR MOVE in the off season to get better results next racing sea- son, please let me know. We can develop an individualized performance improvement plan, injury prevention or rehabilitation program to help you meet your goals. I can meet with you via video conferencing, phone calls, email, or text. If you live close to St. Augustine, I can also come to you! Whatever type of training program you need, I can make a customized training program just for you and coach you through the off season. I highly recommend you consult a physical therapist or physician for a general health and physical activity readiness screening. If you are experiencing pain while riding, it is always beneficial to have a complete evaluation by a physical therapist or physician. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at contact@motopt.com, or call 904-395-5379. Let’s IMPROVE YOUR MOVE so you can ride pain-free with MotoPT.

Dr. Matthew Daugherty

PT, DPT, OTR/L, MOT, DBA Associate Professor Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

Manual Therapy Certified

References

Broman, D. N. (2022). A Phenomenological Exploration of Neck Brace Use in Motocross. Sport Journal, N.PAG-N.PAG. https://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&Auth-

Type=ip,shib,url,uid&d

Gorasso, L. & Petrone, N. (2013). On-Track measurements of neck movements and muscle activity during motocross sessions with or without neck brace, Procedia Engineering, 60, pp. 337-342.

Great Lake EMS Inc., (2018). Neck brace effectiveness case study, Great Lakes EMS Inc. Retrived from https://www.actionsportsems.com/case-studyneck-brace

Sharma, V.K., Rango, J., Connaughton, A.J., Lombardo, D.J., & Sabesan, V.J. (2015). The current state of head and neck injuries in extreme sports. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 3(1), 2325967114564358.

Thiele, G., Kafka, P., Litzenberger, S. & Sabo, A. (2015). Neck braces in motocross: Different designs and their effects on muscular activity of the neck. Procedia Engineering, 112, pp. 71-76.

RIDER: JIMMY WALKER

813-592-1228 sclark@mosaicfingroup.com wwwmosaicfingroup.com

Dade City Harescramble is always one of my favorites. Love the course and the weather is usually really nice. This year I have really enjoyed watching my kids race in Peewee Beginner. This weekend they were both in the top 10 which is high stress for me. My son Kai had worked all the way up to 4th and was having his best ride of the season. Then one lap he didn’t come around and I knew something must have happened because he lost several spots. When he came off the track after the race, he was complaining that he hit his face on a tree. He’s only 5 years old so I don’t really know how much of the story is true.

However, later that day, I had two different dads let me know that he smashed an oaktree head on and hit his head pretty hard. They said it was a big hit. I was proud that he kept going even though those trees do jump out at you now and then.

What are the retirement obstacles that you might not be expecting? Did you know that taking distributions from retirement accounts can cause extra taxation on your Social Security? Did you knowthat if you miss a Required Minimum Distribution, there is a 25% excise tax?

We do an educational seminar for our community here in Tampa trying to educate people on taxes in retirement. We encourage people to make sure they have a comprehensive plan. Without a plan, it is easy to miss these tax bombs that could go off. If you want to try to avoid some of these obstacles, it may be helpful to have a conversation. Give my office a call if you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Investment Advisory Services offered through Continuum Advisory, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Mosaic Financial Group and Continuum Advisory, LLC are not affiliated.