Sports Medicine

A spinal fracture is a complete or partial break in a vertebral bone, i.e., the bones making up the spinal column. When a vertebral bone breaks, the bone spurs can pinch or damage the surrounding nerves, leading to sharp and painful sensations. As such, spinal fractures necessitate immediate treatment to protect the spinal cord from damage or inflammation.

Spinal fractures can happen due to sudden impact or severe falls during sports. The symptoms include numbness, weakness, pain, tingling sensations, temporary paralysis of the arms and limbs, loss of mobility, and limited sensation. The therapy or treatment depends on the extent of the fracture or injury, with severe injuries necessitating surgeries.

Vertebral fractures don’t occur simply because of impact or fall but also because of excessive weight or stress. Excessive pressure can cause tiny cracks to form on the spine, which, over time, can widen and lead to severe fractures, necessitating immediate spinal treatment. The symptoms include bruising, pain, and swelling.

A vertebral stress fracture can happen due to weightlifting, gymnastics, and other activities that involve sustained stress on the lower back. The injuries should be treated immediately because the cracks if left untreated, will widen and cause severe complications. Stress fractures are common amongst children and adolescents.

Intervertebral discs are the soft cushions between the vertebrae. They absorb the shock of movements, allowing the vertebrae to move effectively without friction. Their anatomy consists of a hard outer shell with soft inner components. However, constant twisting and turning actions during sports, such as tennis, can damage the intervertebral discs.

A herniated disc occurs when excessive pressure and stress make the soft inner components (nucleus) push through the cracks on the hard shell (annulus). The nucleus may eventually pinch or compress the surrounding nerves, leading to nerve compression and inflammation, which sends sharp pain signals to the brain. It necessitates immediate attention.

Burners and stingers are neck injuries caused by an impact to the head, wherein the head moves in one direction while the shoulder moves in the other direction. This makes the cervical nerves stretch beyond their usual capacity, leading to sharp radiating pains in the arms. The symptoms include shock-like sensations that come and go, lasting several seconds or minutes.

Burners and stingers are common amongst athletes engaging in contact sports, such as wrestling and football. In fact, wrestling takedowns and football tackles are the most common causes of burners. If the athlete experiences an electric shock sensation, they need immediate attention. Conservative care is usually enough to treat burners.