The fusion of two vertebrae into one piece is a common procedure that can be done anywhere along the spine, including in the neck. Neck fusions are a generally safe procedure, but they can take several months from which to fully recover. Barring...
Spinal fusion is a type of spinal surgery that works to eliminate the space between two vertebrae in the spinal column. It can be used to treat small fractures, diseases of the spinal cord and other spine problems.
A large majority of the population has experienced back pain or problems at some point, according to the National Institute of Health. A long list of factors such as being overweight, poor physical health and getting little to no exercise can all...
The musculoskeletal disease called scoliosis causes the spine or backbone to become curved. While exercise alone cannot straighten out the spine, various forms of exercise can improve general health, reverse the progression of the spinal condition...
The human body has 206 bones ranging in size from the femur, the longest, to the stapes, the smallest. Bones are differentiated as long, short, flat or irregular. Bones are made of layers--the periosteum, or outer surface, and the compact bone...
When you think of scoliosis, you might picture big back braces and people with other disabilities. Although that scenario is true for some, a scoliosis diagnosis does not mean the end of regular physical activity for most. Scoliosis cases vary...
The vertebrae are the bones that make up the spinal column. The 33 vertebrae go from the neck all the way to the pelvis. They give support to the head, chest and abdomen, and completely surround and protect the spinal cord. Vertebral diseases can...
Spinal fusion surgery is called for after more conservative measures of treatment have failed. The procedure fuses one or more vertebrae in your spine after the disks between vertebrae have been injured or deteriorate. Fusion can be done on the...
The cervical spine is made up of seven vertebrae and the discs that serve as the cushion between them. Though the cervical spine naturally enables a wide range of motion, sometimes, surgery is needed to limit that motion in certain segments....
Cervical disc surgery that replaces the damaged neck disc with an artificial disc is a relatively new procedure. It was first approved for use in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004. The goal of artificial disc replacement is...
The spine is one of the most important part of the skeletal system. It is a series of interlocking bones that runs from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It supports the head and upper and lower portions of the body and provides support and...
Lumbar spinal fusion surgery involves fusing spine bones, or vertebrae, together in the area of the spine between the ribs and hipbone, according to the MayoClinic.com. Fusing is a term used to describe two vertebrae bones being permanently placed...
Cardio exercise provides well-documented health benefits to those who invest the time and energy. Your benefits include greater stamina, weight loss, improved mood, enhanced immune system function and reduced risk of many serious health...
The nerves that control the neck, arms and upper body are located in the cervical spine. There are seven cervical vertebrae that make up the spine and include eight pairs of spinal nerves. When a disc protrudes and places pressure on a spinal...
Degenerative disk disease can produce pain and other functional deficits. The disease produces small defects in the outer wall of the intervertebral disk. When the disk is pressurized by the force of the vertebrae, these defects allow softer...
The average adult has about 216 bones forming the support structures of his body. Muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as your nervous system, provide the movement of the skeleton. Among all of these bones, three major bone structures are...
MedlinePlus describes a spinal fusion as a surgery performed to join two bones or vertebrae in the spine. It involves placing an extra bone to fill the space between two spinal vertebrae so that there is no movement between them. It is usually...
The sacroiliac joints are located in the lower spine and are formed by the connection of two bones. The sacrum, which sits below the lumbar region, is a triangular shaped bone with five fused vertebrae. The sacrum is wedged between the two crests...
The connection of two bones in the lower spine forms the sacroiliac joints. The sacrum, which sits beneath the lumbar region, is a triangular-shaped bone with five fused vertebrae. The sacrum is wedged between the two pelvis (iliac) bones. The...
Your sacrum, the triangle-shaped bone on your lower spine, consists of five fused vertebrae and connects to either side either side of your pelvis, or hipbones, via the sacroiliac joint. Often referred to as your SI, the sacroiliac joint is...
Spinal fusion is a procedure in which doctors correct problems in your spinal column by "welding" two of your vertebrae together to form one bone. This procedure often requires a period of bed rest followed by exercises designed to help restore...
The tailbone or coccyx is the lowest segment of the vertebral column and is composed of three to five fused vertebrae. The condition in which you experience pain or discomfort in or around the tailbone is called coccydinia. Tailbone pain can occur...
Ankylosing spondylitis, AS, is a form of spinal arthritis. AS can cause the sacroiliac joint between the spine and hips to fuse. The ribs can also fuse in AS causing breathing difficulty. Although neurological symptoms are rare, notes the...
The complications and outcomes of spinal fusion surgery can vary according to the level of fusion and the surgical approach. Spinal fusion does not usually result in a complete cure or total symptoms alleviation, but it is generally successful...
Due to the large number and variation of yoga poses, there is a yoga for every body and circumstance. Therapeutic yoga teachers can help to develop a series of yoga poses and pose modifications that are appropriate to help rehabilitate the spine...
In order to categorize the spinal nerves, anatomists divide the vertebral column into four distinct areas, referred to as the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. Dr. Ralph Rashburn of Spine-Health states that 31 pairs of...
Although anyone can develop scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, it most commonly affects juveniles and adolescents. The musculoskeletal disease can have multiple causes, including many types that have no known cause. Scoliosis...
The intervertebral discs separate the spine's bones, or vertebrae. The discs facilitate spine flexibility and cushion the vertebrae. Over time, the intervertebral discs stiffen and flatten. Degenerative disc disease describes the condition in...
Back pain is a symptom that can result from a variety of problems. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that "back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States." Your pain can be due to...