A compression fracture of the lumbar spine is also known as a wedge fracture. The lumbar area of the spine contains five vertebrae known as L1 through L5, situated between the thoracic or chest area and the buttocks. The lowest lumbar vertebra is...
Fractures of the lumbar spine, five vertebrae found at the lower end of the back, can have serious long-term consequences. The vertebrae surround and protect the spinal cord, so damage to the vertebrae can also damage the spinal cord. Fractures of...
Compression fractures, also called "wedge fractures," of the spine occur when one or more vertebra collapse. This may be caused by extreme vertical trauma, osteogenesis imperfecta--brittle bone disease--or osteoporosis. Most compression...
A spine LC, or lumbar compression fracture, occurs when the vertebra, or backbones, collapse. According to Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health, osteoporosis is the most common cause of a lumbar compression fracture. Osteoporosis is...
Numerous conditions can cause lower right-side back pain. According to MedlinePlus from the National Institutes of Health, back pain affects about 80 percent of people at some point in their lives. Structures in the lower right side of the back...
Your lumbar vertebrae is the third section of your spinal vertebrae, located in the lower back. While the lumbar vertebrae are some of the largest vertebra, they are subject to great pressure. Whether due to injury or degeneration over time,...
Back pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint. According to the American Chiropractic Association, Americans spend about $50 billion each year on back pain treatments, and up to 80 percent of Americans will experience a back problem at some...
Sports injuries in children are prevalent, with approximately 30 million kids playing in organized sports, states Jacel C. Brooks, M.D., at SportsMD.com. Children are getting involved in organized athletics at earlier ages, which, due to a lack...
Compression fractures of the thoracic spine can occur due to osteoporosis or trauma and result in decreased vertebral height. Some compression fractures occur because the vertebrae are weakened due to the presence of a tumor. Osteoporosis is a...
A spinal fracture is a serious condition that most often occurs after trauma or as a result of osteoporosis. Affecting your spinal cord, it can be a debilitating injury depending on where the fracture occurs and what part of your back is affected....
Osteoporosis is characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality, which results in a fragile skeletal structure and an increased risk for bone fracture. Exercise programming should be presented to optimize bone health and to...
Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease typically found in older adults, especially women, which is characterized by low bone density. Having osteoporosis increases your risk of falling and fractures. According to the American Council on...
The calcaneus is the heel bone. It is a thick bone to which the Achilles tendon attaches. To break this bone requires a lot of energy. Therefore, these fractures typically occur from motor-vehicle accidents or falls from a certain height (off a...
The human spinal column is made up of a number of bones called vertebrae. These contain nerves that help carry and receive signals throughout the body. If the spinal cord is injured due to fracture, the vertebrae sustain a small crack, which can...
Back pain is one of the most common ailments patients complain of, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most common sources of discogenic back pain are lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), disc herniation, spinal stenosis, muscle strain and...
Seven vertebrae of the spinal column are considered part of the neck; these are called the cervical vertebrae. Fractures to these vertebrae range from minor hairline fractures to fatal broken necks. Rehabilitation from a broken vertebra in the...
Figure skating offers many opportunities to overuse the back muscles, spine and connective tissue or subject them to traumatic blows. Injury scenarios range from simple muscle strains and tears to vertebral fractures and spinal cord nerve...
A fractured vertebra is a serious injury that can result in severe pain in the back, numbness, weakness, tingling and even bladder or bowel dysfunction. This type of injury is typically caused by a high-velocity injury such as a fall, sports...
The thoracic spine extends from the shoulders to the upper abdomen and articulates with the ribs and shoulders. It consists of 12 vertebrae separated by cartilaginous discs that serve as shock absorbers and facilitate movement between the...
Coccydynia, or tailbone pain, is pain that occurs at the very base of the spine and often is exacerbated by sitting for long periods. Tennis players with this pain may experience noticeable discomfort as they alternate between bending and standing...
Strontium ranelate, which is marketed under the name Protelos, is a non-hormonal medication used to treat osteoporosis in post menopausal females. Protelos is a unique medication because it serves a dual function. This medication decreases bone...
The primary function of your thoracic spine is to protect the organs of your chest by providing an attachment point for the bones of your ribcage. Thoracic spine therapy reduces the effect of injury and strengthens the thoracic spine and its...
Aerobic dance is an increasingly popular exercise program that combines aerobic exercise movements with popular dance moves from styles ranging from ballet to hip-hop. A large portion of aerobic dance's appeal is the fact that you can have fun...
A compression fracture is the collapse of the vertebral spine usually caused by trauma to the spine, osteoporosis or tumors on the spine. They are most often found in the elderly with osteoporosis. Most mild to moderate compression fractures are...
The thoracolumbar portion of your spinal column runs from 11th vertebrae in your mid-back area, known as the thoracic region, to the third vertebrae in your lower back, or lumbar, area. In other words, your thoracolumbar region connects your...
For patients with low back pain that does not respond to conservative treatment, low back or lumbar spinal surgery is an option. Lumbar spinal surgery is also done for vertebral fractures and spinal tumors. According to the American Academy of...
A stress fracture occurs when a bone or bones in the lower back slip out of place -- a condition known as spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis. If the fracture progresses too far out of place, the bone can press on surrounding nerves, which causes...
Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. Spine-Health.com states that your sciatic nerve travels from each side of your lower lumbar spine through your gluteal region and the back of your thighs to your foot, connecting your spinal...
About 27 percent of Americans over age 50 have low bone mass in the lumbar spine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fractures caused by osteoporosis in this area can cause significant pain and disability as you age....
