The Most Common Spinal Injuries & How to Prevent Them

Your spinal cord does a lot more than hold your back together. The series of bones allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body, making way for movement, sensations, and reflexes.

When you injure your spine, all of these functions can suffer. Up to 390,000 Americans currently live with a moderate to severe spinal cord injury. And around 2% of adults experience a milder one at some point.

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill provide advanced and minimally invasive treatments for spine injuries of all kinds. 

Here, we explore some of the most common injuries to affect your spine, including practical ways to prevent them.

What causes spinal injuries

Anything that strains, jolts, or adds pressure to your spine can cause an acute (sudden) or chronic (gradual) injury. About 38% of spinal injuries in the United States stem from motor vehicle accidents, making such crashes the leading cause.

Spine injuries can also stem from falls, violence, sports, and surgeries. While fall-related spine injuries are most common after age 65, spine injuries from sports and car accidents are most common from ages 16-30.

The most common spinal injuries

The most common types of spinal injuries we see in our office include:

• Disc herniation, in which the center of a disc pushes outside through a tear
• Spondylolisthesis, in which a vertebrae slips out of place
• Vertebral fractures, or a broken spinal bone

All of these injuries can range in severity, causing symptoms like back pain, neck pain, tingling, numbness, and mobility challenges.

How to prevent common spinal injuries

There’s no surefire way to avoid all spinal injuries, but you can take steps to lower your odds. Smart practices we recommend include:

• Avoiding inactivity and over-exercise
• Avoiding walking or running on uneven surfaces
• Improving your posture, so your head remains upright
• Lifting objects properly, with your knees bent and back straight
• Reducing slip risks in your home, with things like rugs and nightlights 
• Using proper form during exercise
• Wearing supportive shoes that fit well

Healthy dietary, exercise, and sleep habits may help, too, but it’s important to keep your weight within a healthy range and improve your focus and stability during activity. 

Getting professional support 

If you’re not sure how to best protect your spine or notice spine-related symptoms, our team can provide personalized guidance. In many cases, spinal injuries fare well from conservative treatments, such as activity changes, over-the-counter medication, use of a brace, or physical therapy. 

If your injury is severe or doesn’t respond to conservative care, we may recommend spine surgery.

To learn more about spine injuries or get started with customized support, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.