What are compression fractures?
The spinal column (or vertebral column) extends from the skull to the pelvis and is made up of 33 individual bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other with shock-absorbing discs in between them. This is what gives the spine its flexibility. Because vertebrae are made up of softer bone tissue than other harder bones in the body, they are particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis. Compression fractures occur when the vertebrae collapse, decreasing the space between them by 15-20%. This compression causes chronic back pain, loss of height (this is why many older people seem to shrink as they age), deformity (called kyphosis but often called a “dowager’s hump” or “humpback”), and, in severe cases, neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness. If there are multiple compression fractures along the vertebral column (as is common) difficulty walking and a loss of balance is common. This leaves people with an increased risk of falling and breaking oth
