Spear Tackler’s Spine

An axial-load injury to the cervical spine, caused by a diving tackle in American football in players who habitually use their head as the initial point of contact
Imaging Plain radiographs—cervical stenosis, posttraumatic changes, loss of normal cervical lordosis, caused by repeated axial loading and microtrauma to spinal structures. It is usually irreversible; a straightened cervical spine is at risk of permanent neurologic injury with further axial loading—the combination of STS and head-first tackling is extremely dangerous; this type of injury is an absolute contraindication to further participation in contact sports