People injure their spines in all sorts of ways, but certain types of spine injuries are more common than others. Today, we take a closer look at five common ways in which people injure their spine, and we share some tips from preventing the injuries from happening.
Common Ways People Hurt Their Back
The majority of spine injuries can be grouped into one of these five categories.
1. Falls - People are clumsy from time to time, and all it takes is one missed step or a momentary loss of balance to send you plummeting to the ground. Not all falls can be prevented, but you can decrease your risk of suffering a spine injury during a fall by being aware of your surroundings. Don't have your head buried in your phone while you're walking, and if you're working on a ladder or a roof, make sure you have a harness or a spotter to hold the ladder. Common injuries from falls include fractures and disc injuries.
2. Overstress - Another common way people injure their back is by overstressing it. Many people who work in manual labor trades push their spine to the limit every, and this can lead to problems like bulging or herniated discs. Try to ease off activity if you begin to develop soreness in your back. This is easier done in activities like exercise than it is at the job site, but if you don't listen to the warning signs, you could develop a serious back problem that can leave you unable to work.
3. No Warm Up - We've also seen a lot of spine injuries that develop because the patient did not take ample time to warm their body up prior to activity. Whether it is work, exercise or athletics, always make sure you carve out 5-10 minutes for stretching so that your spine can warm up and your muscles can ease into an active state. When people neglect to warm up, we often see injuries like pulled spinal muscles and strains/sprains.
4. Poor Posture - If you don't have good posture, you're going to feel it in your spine. You need to be cognizant of your spine's position at all times, not just when you're bending, twisting or lifting. If you work in an office, keep your head positioned over your shoulders and avoid slouching. Even though you're inactive, you're still putting a lot of stress on your spine if your neck is out in front of you or you're slouched in your chair. Common injuries that result from poor posture include disc injuries and pain in the cervical portion of the spine.
5. Acute Trauma - Finally, one other common way people injure their back is by acute trauma. Trauma oftentimes occurs during car accidents or athletic activity, and it's not always easy to prevent against these types of injuries. The best you can do is to wear your seat belt, drive with caution, and to wear padding and other safety gear when you're engaged in athletic activity. Acute trauma to the spine can result in spinal fractures or damage to the spinal cord.
About the Author
Dr. David Chang is a Board Certified Neurosurgeon who specializes in treating Minnesotans with spine and brain conditions. After receiving his M.D and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he completed his neurosurgical residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, and his neurosurgical fellowship at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. In 2015, he joined the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, where he continues to provide exceptional neurosurgical care to all of his patients.