Injuries affecting the spine are very common and can lead to a wide variety of symptoms ranging from mild pain to paralysis and even death. The spine can be seen as the body harness. Carry and protect the spinal cord and allows the brain to communicate with and control the whole body. Serious damage to the vertebrae can lead to compression of the spinal cord, pain or loss of any feeling (eg, hands, arms, chest) and in the worst case the total loss of control in parts of the body.

As a wiring harness in a car, the branches of the spinal cord to the adjacent parts of the body as it descends from the neck to the end of the spine (coccyx). This means that the location of a spinal injury (ie, the vertebrae are damaged) can be determined by identifying which part of the body is showing signs of injury.


The vertebrae are divided into five main groups:
1. The cervical spine (top 7 vertebrae that form the neck)
2. Spine (next 12 vertebrae that form the top)
3. Lumbar spine (next 5 vertebrae that form the lower back)
4. Sacrum (bottom five fused vertebrae between the buttocks)
5. Coccyx (3-4 fused vertebrae at the end of the spine)

When you visit a specialist in injuries that will explain that the injured vertebrae by using a simple code. For example, C3 is the third cervical vertebra from the skull base.

Most of the vertebrae are separated by an articular cartilage and intervertebral disc that allows a certain range of motion of the spine. Each disc contains a gel-like substance to ensure cushioning, lubrication and energy absorption. Anterior (front) and posterior (rear) longitudinal ligaments connecting the vertebrae. In addition, several other ligaments manage how the column is loaded and integrated into different muscle groups during the survey. For example, in the cervical (nuchal ligament) and C2/C3 to L5/S1 (yellow ligaments).

Some of the injuries that can occur to the spine are:

1. Vertebral fractures can be especially dangerous because the spinal cord passes through the vertebrae and the displacement of the walls of the vertebra can put pressure on this delicate structure. Cervical fractures in particular, need immediate medical attention and the immobilization of the neck to avoid serious injury (eg paralysis) and long-term problems (osteoporosis, for example). The most common fractures occur in the lumbar area (eg L5) and the dissemination of these cause low back pain, back and hamstring tightness (which often cause muscle imbalances and postural changes).

2. Vertebral anomalies such as bone spurs (bony projections that form along joints) can cause pain and limit movement of the joints. Symptoms include neck pain, shoulder and arm, loss of balance and even headaches radiating to the back of the head.

3. The spinal cord and damage around the nerve root can occur in whiplash injuries (eg due to a car accident) or nerve stretch injury (eg due to a rugby tackle from behind, which makes the neck bending backward). A pinched nerve refers to a condition in which a cervical disc is pressing on a nerve cord connects to the spinal cord. There is a wide range of symptoms of numbness, tingling and burning skin feeling of muscle weakness, pain and stiffness in the neck and arms of ringing in the ears, blurred vision and even irritability.

4. The disc injuries. The term herniated disc (also known as a herniated disc, ruptured or prolapsed) is used when a disk is divided and the gel as filling leaks due to pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. These injuries usually occur in the lower back. Symptoms may include back and neck pain, tingling in the buttocks, back, legs or feet and even incontinence.

5. Chest muscle strains. The spine can not be considered in isolation from the muscle groups that support the upper body. These muscles can be divided into three main groups: extensors (back muscles and gluteal muscles), flexors (front of the body’s muscles, including abs) or rotors and obliques (the muscles face). They work together to protect and support the spine. However, if for example a true back muscle is strained during the removal of this protection is compromised. The body reacts with the muscle contractions that cause back stiffness and a more limited range of motion.

6. Vertebral ligament sprains. In general, strong ligaments, but relatively inflexible, take longer to recover than muscles due to poorer circulation. This means that more care should be taken to rehabilitate the ligament with a longer period of rest and flexibility rather than strength training.

The main objectives of an exercise routine to retrieve the injury are the range of motion, flexibility and strength of the spine and ligaments that surround and muscles. The first objective is to restore flexibility, stability and range of motion of the spine and this article describes the training routines of an injury to do this. This allows the muscles to relax, the damaged tissue to grow back the right way and a person to restore a normal life faster (for example, absence of pain). These routines should always be followed by whole-body workouts to regain muscle strength and balance throughout the body, such as to restore the correct position (one of the main factors that can contribute to spinal injuries).

Stretching every day can be used to slowly increase the flexibility of the spine and these should be followed by gentle strengthening exercises for the body is ready for the full body exercises. The following is a list of workouts for strengthening and stretching injury of the cervical spine, thoracic and lumbar spine. Hold a stretch for as long as is comfortable and repeating building exercise as often as you can (aim for 5 to 10 repetitions each rep and hold for a few seconds at first).

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