Its flexibility allows us to bend and twist our torsos and absorb the impact of daily living. But these stressors also make the spine a major target for injury. It is estimated that four out of five adults will experience at least one bout of back or neck pain at some point in their lives.
Back injuries are one of the most common causes of disability in the United States.
Anatomy of the spine. These sections are made up of individual bones called vertebra. The body of the vertebra is the primary area of weight bearing and provides a resting-place for the discs, which act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Each disc is made up of two parts. The lamina covers the back part of the spinal canal, the large hole through which the spinal nerves pass.