A compression fracture of a vertebra is usually stable, and not life-threatening, but it can cause a tremendous amount of pain and disability.
Compression fractures can happen from serious trauma, such as car accidents or sports injuries. However, more often than not compression fractures happen with increased frequency as we age.
In combination with low bone density, a light slip, or even a sneeze can cause a compression fracture.
The area of the spine that is commonly affected is the thoracic spine. In the picture below this is the area between the two red lines.
The thoracic spine is where you have the most “hunch” in your back. When your posture is poor and you are hunched forward it causes the hunch to be more pronounced and leads to more compression on the front edge of the vertebrae.
When you combine this increased pressure with poor bone density you are at risk for a compression fracture in your spine.
The picture below shows the inside of a vertebra. The red arrow is pointing to the cortical bone which is the hard outer shell. The blue arrow is pointing to the trabecular bone which gives your bone structural integrity.
When the compression on the front of the vertebra is greater than the amount of force that the internal bone can take, you will get a compression fracture.
The typical shape of a compression fracture is a wedge, with the front of the bone collapsing while the back portion stays intact. This further creates more postural deformity and will lead to a more exaggerated “hunch back”.
This is why it is so important to develop and maintain good posture while you are young to help prevent painful conditions like compression fractures.
Two main things you can do to help reduce the stress to this part of your spine.
Set a proper foundation in your low back.
Less anterior head carriage (forward head).