Spinal injuries can occur in the water, typically when a person’s head has collided with a hard surface (for example, diving into shallow water). Most aquatic spinal injuries occur in
the area of the neck
due to the bending of the neck on impact (flexion).
What part of the spinal column is most susceptible to injury?
Understandably,
the lumbar spine
is the most commonly injured region of the spinal column. The lowest portion of the spine, the part that is connected to the pelvis, is called the sacrum.
Where do most spinal injuries occur at the pool?
Almost all injuries (87%) occurred in
private/residential pools
. Most injuries (57%) occurred when diving into less than 4 feet of water, while an additional 38% occurred at water depths between 4 and 8 feet.
Which region of the spine do spinal injuries primarily occur?
The two areas of the spinal cord most commonly injured are the
cervical spine (C1–C7) and the lumbar spine (L1–L5)
. (The notation C1, C7, L1, L5 refer to the location of a specific vertebra in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar region of the spine.)
Which area of spine is the most susceptible to injury in a shallow diving incident?
[1][2][3] The segment of the spine most susceptible to injury is
the cervical spine
based on its anatomy and flexibility.
Which 2 areas of the spine are most susceptible to injury?
The most vulnerable areas of the spine are
the lumbar (lower back), and the cervical (neck) regions
. They are the most mobile, and susceptible to injury.
What are the 2 main commonly injured areas of the spine?
The most common sites of injury are the
cervical and thoracic areas
. SCI is a common cause of lifelong (permanent) disability and death in children and adults. The spine has 33 vertebrae.
What is it called when the spine is arched forward beyond its normal limit?
Hyperflexion injuries
• Occur when the spine is arched forward beyond its normal limit.
How do you prevent spinal injuries when swimming?
- Swim near a lifeguard.
- Check with lifeguards on current conditions before swimming.
- STOP, watch, and walk into the water.
- DON’T dive headfirst into any unknown water.
- DON’T dive toward the bottom into oncoming waves.
- DON’T stand with your back to the waves.
How do you treat a spinal injury?
- Get help. Call 911 or emergency medical help.
- Keep the person still. Place heavy towels or rolled sheets on both sides of the neck or hold the head and neck to prevent movement.
- Avoid moving the head or neck. …
- Keep helmet on. …
- Don’t roll alone.
What happens if your spinal cord hurts?
Emergency signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury after an accident may include:
Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck
, head or back. Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body. Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes.
What part of the spine controls the heart?
Thoracic
(mid back) – the main function of the thoracic spine is to hold the rib cage and protect the heart and lungs. The twelve thoracic vertebrae are numbered T1 to T12.
What is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries?
The leading causes of spinal cord injury are
road traffic crashes, falls and violence
(including attempted suicide). A significant proportion of traumatic spinal cord injury is due to work or sports-related injuries.
Can the spinal cord repair itself?
Unlike other parts of your body,
the spinal cord does not have the ability to repair itself if it is damaged
. A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord either from trauma, loss of its normal blood supply, or compression from tumor or infection.
How do you know if a back injury is serious?
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- problems with urinating or passing stool (poo)
- numbness or pins and needles to the arms, legs, hands or feet.
- fever.
- paralysis.
- blood in the urine.
Which spinal nerves affect which parts of the body?
The nerves of the
cervical spine go to the upper chest and arms
. The nerves in your thoracic spine go to your chest and abdomen. The nerves of the lumbar spine then reach to your legs, bowel, and bladder. These nerves coordinate and control all the body’s organs and parts, and let you control your muscles.