World Spine Day is recognized annually on October 16 as a way to raise awareness about disorders of the spine and spine health. The spine is a very important part of your body. Learn more about your spine with the following facts.

10 Facts About Your Spine

1. Back and neck pain is one of the most common reasons for workplace sick leave.
2. Your spine is made up of small bones, called vertebrae, which are stacked on top of one another. Your spine also includes various muscles, ligaments and nerves.
3. There are seven vertebral bodies in your cervical spine, twelve in your thoracic spine and five vertebral bodies in your lumbar spine.
4. Half of the working population will experience back or neck pain symptoms at least one time per year.
5. In a recent study, low back pain ranked as one of the most “disabling” conditions and sixth in terms of usage of health funding.
6. One in three Americans (33 percent) older than age 18 required medical care for a musculoskeletal condition for each year from 2009 to 2011. This represents a 90% increase from the previous decade.
7. When somebody has a disc herniation, most of their pain is typically down one or both legs with only some of the pain in the low back or buttock area.
8. Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine or spinal stenosis typically causes pain that is localized in the low back area and it does not radiate down the legs.
9. Degenerative disc disease happens when the intervertebral disc begins to wear down. These discs will become smaller in size and provide less cushion between the bones in the back. It can cause the back bones to rub together which leads to stiffness and pain.
10. Physical therapy and conditioning can significantly help people with low back pain.

If you would like to learn even more information about your spine, including rehabilitation exercises, Dr. Grossfeld recommends going to www.orthoinfo.aaos.org. Click on “Rehabilitation Exercise and Conditioning Handouts” and then click on “Spine Conditioning Program.”