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Back Injuries: Common Causes, Types and Prevention Techniques

Back injuries can be caused in a number of mundane and dynamic ways. Factors like poor posture, psychological stress and obesity can also contribute to lumbar pain. However, it's also common for people who lead active lifestyles to incur back injuries while running, lifting weights or participating in a host of recreational activities. And as every weekend warrior knows, it's also not uncommon to come away from a vigorous ball game with a pained middle or lower back.

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Back Injuries and the Fire Fighter

Back problems are among the most expensive of musculoskeletal disorders in industrialized nations, and one of the most common work related ailments affecting adults in the United States. In any given year, 50 percent of the working population will experience back pain, with 80 percent reporting low back pain (LBP) at some time during their lifetime. Although the vast majority of individuals suffering from back pain will fully recover within one month (90 percent), low back pain may also be a cause of chronic pain and long term disability.

Back Injuries and Disorders

It has been estimated that 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives due to back injuries or other disorders. Lower back pain can be the result of numerous problems with spinal nerves, bones, discs, muscles or tendons in the lumbar spine. Many treatments are available, and for most patients the good news is that back problems do not have to result in surgery.

Common Back Injuries

Living with back pain can take a physical and emotional toll on a person’s back. The good news is there are ways to get the pain to go away. But before taking a look at the most common back injuries, it is important to understand how the back works.

Common Back Injuries In Car Accidents

Almost any type of car accident can cause back injuries — even minor collisions. However, back and neck injuries are especially common in rear-end accidents due to the way your body jostles after being hit. Unfortunately, even fender benders can damage your back if you come to a studden stop and your back absorbs the impact.

Common Running Injuries: Back Pain

While runners are less likely to have back pain, muscle strains and spinal injuries are still possible. The repetitive impact of running can worsen an existing back injury or trigger a new one. Recognizing and treating symptoms helps prevent most minor back injuries from becoming serious.

Common Types of Back Injuries

While there are many causes of back pain, and several injuries that can occur to your back, the most common types of back injuries include: Sprains and strains, Herniated or bulging disc, Fractured vertebra.

Guide to Different Types of Back Injuries

Sprains and strains are the most common kind of back injury. These injuries can be sudden or build up over time. Strains happen when you twist and pull a muscle.

Lower Back Injuries

Low back pain is the single most leading cause of disability worldwide. Experts estimate that 80% of us will experience a back problem at some time in our lives. Despite knowing this, we are all guilty of taking our lower back for granted – we continue to lift heavy objects awkwardly, and we sit slouched in front of a computer or when driving for long periods of time. Our lower back, or lumbar spine, is the main load bearing vertebrae in our spine. It consists of 5 large vertebrae, labelled L1-5. The lumbar spine connects the thoracic spine, or mid back, to the pelvis. Between each of these vertebrae is a shock absorbing disc which prevents bone on bone compression. Over time however, with everyday stresses with work, sport and normal daily tasks, coupled with poor posture or lifting technique, and weak core muscles, failure with any of these structures can occur.

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2 Common Back Injuries

Many types of back injury can cause complex pain situations, and it’s essential to distinguish injury from a chronic condition such as spinal osteoarthritis (facet joint pain). Strains are injuries that result from pulling or tearing a muscle or tendon (the elastic tissues that connect muscle to bone). They are common athletic or sports injuries. Symptoms of a strain include pain, swelling, muscle spasms or difficulty moving the muscle...