Neck trauma can be caused by various factors, including lifting heavy objects, sports injuries, and vehicular accidents. The cervical spine, which connects the skull to the shoulders, is particularly vulnerable. Neck injuries can cause pain, discomfort, and even paralysis or death in severe cases. Conditioning and warm-up routines can help prevent injuries during physical activity. Improper handling of patients is a leading cause of neck injuries in the nursing and care professions.
Neck trauma is damage caused to the cervical area of the neck or spine, or to the cervix, which is a narrow area of the body such as the neck of a tooth or the cervix. The term “neck trauma,” however, most commonly refers to injuries to the neck and spine. Cervical injuries related to the back and neck have a wide variety of causes. The most common forms of cervical trauma are trauma sustained during childbirth and trauma from sexual activity.
The human spine has 24 vertebrae, divided into three sections. The cervical spine contains seven vertebrae and is the section of the spine that connects the base of the skull to the trunk and shoulders, or thoracic area. The neck muscles and other soft tissues support and give this part of the body mobility and flexibility.
Inappropriate methods of moving and lifting objects are among the most common causes of neck and back injuries. Lifting or attempting to move objects that are too heavy or awkwardly shaped can cause instant pain and discomfort. This often leads to restricted and painful movements, usually due to muscle or ligament strains.
Improper moving and handling of any object, of any size or weight, for extended periods of time can result in serious neck injury. The muscles and discs of the cervical region experience small increments of damage over a long period, with the person very often not noticing any discomfort or stiffness for many years. Neck pain and injuries due to work-related trauma are the leading cause of unhealthy absence within the nursing and care professions. In many cases, the period of absence exceeds six months. These injuries are due to staff members improperly lifting and supporting patients, often due to a lack of lifting equipment and mobility aids.
Various injuries related to cervical trauma are observed in athletes. The most frequent sport-related neck injuries are neck strains and sprains. A cervical sprain is damage caused to the ligament and capsule structures that connect the cervical facet joints and vertebrae. With neck sprain injuries, pain is a very common symptom, with patients experiencing pain and discomfort in their back muscles.
Neck strains are muscle injuries. They occur when the muscle or muscle tendon is overloaded or stretched beyond capacity. Minimizing the risks of both strain and sprain injuries, especially when related to physical activity, involves conditioning and preparing the body with a warm-up routine before engaging in vigorous physical activity.
Accidents, especially vehicular accidents, cause a condition commonly known as whiplash, which is a form of neck injury. Whiplash is an acute neck sprain. It involves throwing the head back or forward violently.
One of the most serious cases of neck trauma is a fracture or break in the cervical spine. Fractures or ruptures of the cervical spine can cause partial or total paralysis or even death. A person with a neck injury should never be moved except by trained professionals, because improperly moving a person with a cervical spine fracture can make the injury worse. Cervical fractures are often caused by an act that forces or compresses the cervical spine in the shoulders. Aside from vehicular accidents, one of the most common causes of cervical fractures is an improper American football tackling technique known as spearing, which involves a player leaning forward to use the top of his helmet to ram an opponent.
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