For a supine athlete, which technique produces less motion at the head and cervical spine?

For a supine athlete, which technique produces less motion at the head and cervical spine?

• A. Lift-and-slide technique
• B. Log-roll technique
• C. Head-tilt technique
• D. Prone roll method

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to keep the head and cervical spine as still as possible during transfer when a spinal injury is suspected. The lift-and-slide technique accomplishes this by sliding a backboard under the athlete without rolling the body. By lifting only enough to place the board and maintaining the head and neck in a fixed, aligned position, you minimize movement at the neck. In contrast, the log-roll method requires rotating the spine as a unit to reposition the patient onto the board, which inherently introduces more movement to the head and neck—even with stabilization. The head-tilt approach is an airway maneuver that alters head position, not a spinal immobilization move, so it adds movement rather than limiting it. The prone roll method also involves turning the body and changing head position, increasing cervical motion. So, lift-and-slide yields the least motion at the head and cervical spine because it avoids rolling the spine and keeps the head steady relative to the spine.

The main idea is to keep the head and cervical spine as still as possible during transfer when a spinal injury is suspected. The lift-and-slide technique accomplishes this by sliding a backboard under the athlete without rolling the body. By lifting only enough to place the board and maintaining the head and neck in a fixed, aligned position, you minimize movement at the neck.

In contrast, the log-roll method requires rotating the spine as a unit to reposition the patient onto the board, which inherently introduces more movement to the head and neck—even with stabilization. The head-tilt approach is an airway maneuver that alters head position, not a spinal immobilization move, so it adds movement rather than limiting it. The prone roll method also involves turning the body and changing head position, increasing cervical motion.

So, lift-and-slide yields the least motion at the head and cervical spine because it avoids rolling the spine and keeps the head steady relative to the spine.