Cervical Radiculopathy is characterized by upper extremity sensory, motor, and reflex changes due to cervical nerve root irritation1,3. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) serves as the gold standard surgical intervention for cervical radiculopathy4. Return-to-play rates following this procedure are near 80% for single-level procedures4. However, there remains a lack of consensus on specific return-to-play criteria2, prompting investigation into objective measures such as symmetrical lateral cervical flexion and grip strength to enhance rehabilitation tracking and improve overall safety for athletes returning to contact sports after an ACDF. Purpose: To investigate whether achieving symmetrical lateral cervical flexion and grip strength correlates with the established return-to-play guidelines and functional recovery after single-level ACDF surgery. Hypothesis: Achieving symmetrical lateral cervical flexion and grip strength will correlate with the established return-to-play guidelines