Jarvis Jones & Spinal Stenosis 101
Background:
Back in 2009, when Jarvis Jones was with USC he suffered a stinger, and was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis by the USC medical staff. After getting a second opinion, he transferred over to Georgia, sat out his 2010 season, and went on to finish his final 2 years. As you all know, he's entered the 2013 draft and is considered one of the top prospects this year. However, there are a lot of questions surrounding his injury.
Spinal Stenosis:
The simplest way to explain Spinal Stenosis is as the narrowing of spinal cannal.
As stated in the article above, the compression can be found in the lower back or the neck. The neck (Cervical Spinal Stenosis) is definitely the more threatening of the two, as it can cause paralysis from the neck down in extreme cases. However, this slippage is rare and most people can expect remain active and sometimes undergo surgeries to relieve the stress from the condition.
Spinal Stenosis & Athletes
Things can be a little different for pro athletes, though. These guys are undergoing a lot more stress and are much more prone to trauma than your average Joe. That's where the question marks come in, because athletes will begin to question their quality of life in the future, especially after their first contract is over.
A lot of analysts keep bringing up Marcus McNeill. He was an OT drafted by the Chargers in the 2nd Round of 2006 with the same condition. He went on to starting 82 games for the Chargers before being released last season after suffering a neck injury the previous season. McNeill eventually retired, and it's easy to speculate that his stenosis contributed to his short career.
One thing I'd like to point out is the fact that McNeill was 330lbs. Weight can be a huge factor in the amount of pain that will occur for a person with this condition. Jarvis Jones is 100lbs lighter, which is VERY significant.
Another thing to note is that McNeill was never known as a lifter. Lifting programs (the right ones for his condition) can help strengthen, maintain bone density, and enhance the core in efforts to support the spine much more effectively.
In essence, this is more or less a degenerative condition. The question isn't really on if his condition will affect his play on the field, it's on how long he will want to be on the field before he begins to gain a better understanding of what quality of life to expect after football.
It will be in the hands of our medical staff to determine the severity of his condition, and, if we draft him, put him in the best position to maintain his condition.
I have to say that I remain optimistic. Jones seems determined not to let his condition be a factor as he enters the pros, and it's worth noting that he has not had a single neck injury since his stinger back in 2009.
This kid has already overcome so much adversity, and I have faith that he will continue to do so.
Background:
Back in 2009, when Jarvis Jones was with USC he suffered a stinger, and was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis by the USC medical staff. After getting a second opinion, he transferred over to Georgia, sat out his 2010 season, and went on to finish his final 2 years. As you all know, he's entered the 2013 draft and is considered one of the top prospects this year. However, there are a lot of questions surrounding his injury.
Spinal Stenosis:
The simplest way to explain Spinal Stenosis is as the narrowing of spinal cannal.
As stated in the article above, the compression can be found in the lower back or the neck. The neck (Cervical Spinal Stenosis) is definitely the more threatening of the two, as it can cause paralysis from the neck down in extreme cases. However, this slippage is rare and most people can expect remain active and sometimes undergo surgeries to relieve the stress from the condition.
Spinal Stenosis & Athletes
Things can be a little different for pro athletes, though. These guys are undergoing a lot more stress and are much more prone to trauma than your average Joe. That's where the question marks come in, because athletes will begin to question their quality of life in the future, especially after their first contract is over.
A lot of analysts keep bringing up Marcus McNeill. He was an OT drafted by the Chargers in the 2nd Round of 2006 with the same condition. He went on to starting 82 games for the Chargers before being released last season after suffering a neck injury the previous season. McNeill eventually retired, and it's easy to speculate that his stenosis contributed to his short career.
One thing I'd like to point out is the fact that McNeill was 330lbs. Weight can be a huge factor in the amount of pain that will occur for a person with this condition. Jarvis Jones is 100lbs lighter, which is VERY significant.
Another thing to note is that McNeill was never known as a lifter. Lifting programs (the right ones for his condition) can help strengthen, maintain bone density, and enhance the core in efforts to support the spine much more effectively.
In essence, this is more or less a degenerative condition. The question isn't really on if his condition will affect his play on the field, it's on how long he will want to be on the field before he begins to gain a better understanding of what quality of life to expect after football.
It will be in the hands of our medical staff to determine the severity of his condition, and, if we draft him, put him in the best position to maintain his condition.
I have to say that I remain optimistic. Jones seems determined not to let his condition be a factor as he enters the pros, and it's worth noting that he has not had a single neck injury since his stinger back in 2009.
This kid has already overcome so much adversity, and I have faith that he will continue to do so.