Fractures. Minor fractures are the most common type of lumbar spine fracture seen in athletes and are due to repetitive activity or low-energy impact.

Treatment might include surgery, medicine , and other treatments as needed. Some people might recover some function over time, but others might continue to have long-term problems. Physical and occupational therapy can help you adapt to new ways of doing things.

The higher up on the spinal cord an injury occurs, more of the body is affected. An injury higher on the spinal cord can cause paralysis in most of the body and affect all limbs (tetraplegia or quadriplegia). An injury that occurs lower down the spinal cord may only affect a person's lower body and legs (paraplegia).