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Sports Related Spine Injuries

Spine injuries in athletes are defined as damage sustained by the spine as a result of physical trauma or overuse in people who are actively involved in sports. Sports activities have long been a source of spinal injuries. About 10 percent of all cases of spinal cord injuries in the United States has been linked to sports activities.

Spine Compression Fractures

A compression fracture of the vertebra occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) collapse. Most commonly, these fractures occur in the thoracic or the middle portion of the spine. A common cause of compression fracture in the spine is osteoporosis. This is a condition that makes the bones weak and unable to sustain normal pressure.

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

A traumatic spinal cord injury is an injury from sudden physical trauma that results in a fracture, dislocation, or compression of one or more spinal vertebrae and the bruising or tearing of any part of the spinal cord or cauda equina, the bundle of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal canal. This type of an injury occurs more commonly in men. Significant trauma is usually needed to cause spinal cord injuries in a young and healthy individual.

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