Leading back surgeons have revealed the common habits that could cause serious injury – or even prove deadly in some cases.
Orthopedic Specialists, a practice in Palm Harbor, Florida, interviewed several of its staff, asking the doctors things they would never do as orthopedic spine surgeons.
One advised against cracking your neck to relieve tension because it could lead to a stroke, while another cautioned against deep squats, which could irritate cartilage.
About 65 million Americans suffer neck and back pain, and eight percent of adults experience persistent or chronic back pain. So, they may be tempted to roll their neck or twist their back to get the kinks out.
But Dr Taylor Beatty reveals this is one thing he would never do, saying it could prove fatal if done forcefully or incorrectly.
‘Well, if you crack your own neck, you have an artery that runs through there called the vertebral artery which puts it at risk of damage [and this] can lead to a stroke,’ he explains to viewers in a TikTok.
Your vertebral artery runs along the back of the neck and supplies the brain and spine with oxygen-rich blood.
If this becomes damaged or torn, it could lead to blood clots and cause a stroke, which can be deadly.
A group of leading back surgeons have revealed the common habits that could cause serious damage – or even prove deadly in some cases
In 2019, a 23-year-old paramedic suffered a stroke after she cracked her neck, rupturing the major artery.
She was watching a movie in bed with a friend when she stretched her neck and heard a loud ‘crack,’ but didn’t think much of it.
When Ms Kunicki got up for the bathroom 15 minutes later, she collapsed to the floor, unable to move her left leg.
She was rushed to the hospital where she was told her vertebral artery had burst. This caused a blood clot to form in her brain and triggered a stroke.
Along with cracking your back, the Cleveland Clinic says other things that could cause a tear in the same artery to form include blowing your nose too hard, sneezing and practicing yoga where your neck is forced beyond its normal range of motion.
Another thing Dr Beatty warns against to reduce the risk of back injury is diving into water.
Diving ranks as one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries globally.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Data Research Center, several thousand diving-related spinal cord injuries occur in the US each year.
A 2021 study found dive-related spinal injuries are associated with neurological deficits and ‘profound morbidity.’
Doctors confirmed Natalie Kunicki’s vertebral artery – a major artery in the neck – had burst after she cracked her neck, causing a blood clot to form in her brain and triggering a stroke. Above she is pictured in the hospital in 2019
Diving accidents are one of the leading causes of ‘devastating trauma’ to the spin.
If water is too shallow and a person dives in or falls in head first, they could hit their head or neck on the bottom of a pool or ocean with great force or at the wrong angle.
The study stated: ‘Shallow-water injuries due to dive or fall into shallow water have catastrophic neurological [consequences] in the younger population, at enormous personal cost.’
Next up, Dr Scott Brotherton reveals he would never do squats past a 90 degree angle because this puts you at high risk of damaging the cartilage – a flexible tissue that protects bones and joints – behind your knees.
Deeps squats put significant pressure on the knee joint and the force can irritate the cartilage within the knees and worsen pain for people with pre-existing conditions.
The New York Sports Medicine Institute notes warming up before squatting can help avoid injury to the knees.
To warm up, it recommends performing movements that ‘mobilize the joints and increase blood flow.’
‘Stretching the legs before and after squatting can also help lower the risk of injury,’ it adds.
Along with deep squats, Dr Brotherton says he would also never get on a motorcycle.
According to Florida-based Spivey Law Firm, 15 percent of motorcycle crash victims suffer neck and back injuries, including spinal cord injuries.
Some of the most common neck, back, and spinal injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents include neck sprains, herniated disks – when the rubbery cushion in the spinal cord ruptures and irritates nearby nerves – and fractured vertebrae.
Dr Taylor Beatty reveals that he would not crack his own neck, a thing people commonly do to relieve tension or pain
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In a warning to parents, Dr Chris James says he would never let his child ride on a lawn mower.
When asked why, he responds: ‘I’ve seen a lot of kids riding on grandpa’s lap thinking it was very innocent and the child falls off and their legs get eaten up by the lawn mower blades.’
Backing up Dr James’ claims, Children’s Mercy hospital in Kansas City reveals every year, between 9,000 and 17,000 children in the US are injured by lawn mowers and approximately 75 people are killed.
The doctor’s other no-no, is not wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle, as this significantly increases the risk of severe spinal injuries in a car accident.
‘Buckle up!’ he advises viewers.
On the subject of driving, Dr Brandon Taylor says he has a Jeep with no doors but he would never drive around with his foot hanging out.
Another thing the surgeon says he would never do is ride his bike and attach his dog’s leash to it, as a sudden pull from the animal could cause you to lose control of the bike and result in an injury to both person and dog.
