Falling as a part of recreational activities can cause<unk> es.<unk> es are most often caused by physical trauma. Forces involved can be hyperflexion (forward movement of the head); hyperextension (backward movement); lateral stress (sideways movement); rotation (twisting of the head); compression (force along the axis of the spine downward from the head or upward from the pelvis); or distraction (pulling apart of the vertebrae). Traumatic<unk>  can result in contusion, compression, or stretch<unk> . It is a major risk of many types of vertebral fracture. Pre-existing asymptomatic congenital anomalies can cause major neurological deficits, such as hemiparesis, to result from otherwise minor trauma. In the US, Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of<unk> s; second are falls, then violence such as gunshot wounds, then sports<unk> es. In some countries falls are more common, even surpassing vehicle crashes as the leading cause of<unk> . The rates of violence-related<unk>  depend heavily on place and time. Of all sports-related<unk> s, shallow water dives are the most common cause; winter sports and water sports have been increasing as causes while association football and trampoline<unk> es have been declining. Hanging can cause<unk>  to the cervical spine, as may occur in attempted suicide. Military conflicts are another cause, and when they occur they are associated with increased rates of<unk> . Another potential cause of<unk>  is iatrogenic<unk> , caused by an improperly done medical procedure such as an injection into the spinal column.<unk>  can also be of a nontraumatic origin. Nontraumatic lesions cause anywhere from 30 to 80% of all<unk> ; the percentage varies by locale, influenced by efforts to prevent trauma. Developed countries have higher percentages of<unk>  due to degenerative conditions and tumors than developing countries. In developed countries, the most common cause of nontraumatic<unk>  is degenerative diseases, followed by tumors; in many developing countries the leading cause is infection such as HIV and tuberculosis.<unk>  may occur in intervertebral disc disease, and spinal cord vascular disease. Spontaneous bleeding can occur within or outside of the protective membranes that line the cord, and intervertebral disks can herniate. Damage can result from dysfunction of the blood vessels, as in arteriovenous malformation, or when a blood clot becomes lodged in a blood vessel and cuts off blood supply to the cord. When systemic blood pressure drops, blood flow to the spinal cord may be reduced, potentially causing a loss of sensation and voluntary movement in the areas supplied by the affected level of the spinal cord. Congenital conditions and tumors that compress the cord can also cause<unk> , as can vertebral spondylosis and ischemia. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that can damage the spinal cord, as can infectious or inflammatory conditions such as tuberculosis, herpes zoster or herpes simplex, meningitis, myelitis, and syphilis.
Spinal cord injury
Spinal tumor
Vascular myelopathy
Posterior cord syndrome
Basal ganglia disease
Spinal disease
Syringomyelia
Central cord syndrome