Question

Which part(s) of the vertebral column will become problematic over time and why is this the case?

Answer 1

The cervical and the lumbar region of spinal cord are most prone to injury.

The cervical region allows for movement and support, it allows for significan amount of motion and also supports the weight of the head and moreover it is less protected than the rest of the spine, for all these reasons, the cervical region  can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict motion. The lumbar spine is more mobile than the thoracic spine and also main weight bearing part of spine, making it the most likely region of the spine to become injured and painful.

A cervical disc is a shock-absorbing, soft pad that lies between vertebrae in the cervical spine, these discs need to be well-hydrated in order to maintain their strength, overtime the cervical discs lose water, stiffen and become less flexible in adjusting to compression. Such degenerative changes may result in a herniated cervical disc,or some times the cervical disc may degenerate as a result of direct trauma or gradual changes. With no blood supply and very few nerve endings, a cervical disc cannot repair itself.