Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Your spine helps to support the weight of your head and acts as a key stabilizer for your entire body, so if it becomes unstable, it can have quite the domino effect for other areas of your body. Your spine is naturally very strong and stable, but there are ways that this stability can weaken over time due to preventable and unavoidable factors. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at these factors as we explore some of the common causes of spinal instability.

What Causes A Spine To Become Unstable?

Spinal instability can develop in a few different ways. Sometimes the issue is housed within the spine itself, like with a disc or a vertebra, and this issue compromises the integrity of the spinal column. Other times a problem develops with an area that helps to support your spine, and when these tissues can’t do their job, the spine suffers. Some factors that can contribute to the onset of spinal instability include:

1. Poor Posture Habits– Poor posture is a driving factor in the onset of spinal instability for millions of Americans. We all have poor posture at some point throughout the day, but if you’re constantly hunched over a desk, slouched on the couch or you’re craning your neck forward to scroll on your phone, your spine and its supportive tissues will suffer. Having poor posture won’t leave its impact after one day, but if it goes unchecked for months or years, you may find that your spine becomes a little less stable. Work to have healthy posture positioning with your head positioned directly above your shoulders, and you should be able to prevent posture problems from affecting your spine.
2. Sedentary Life– Another reason that millions of Americans find themselves in a battle with spinal instability is because they live a sedentary life. Without exercise and controlled stress, your spine and its supportive structures can weaken and become less stable. Oftentimes a sedentary life and an unstable spine can play off one another, with a sedentary life leading to spinal instability, and spinal instability causing people to become less active. Make it a point to regularly exercise and consider strengthening the spine with some workouts that target the area.
3. Natural Aging– While there’s nothing you can do to completely stop the effects of Father Time, there are ways you can work to slow the effects of the aging process on your spine. You’ll experience some natural tissue degeneration as you age, but being active, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting repetitive trauma on the spine can help keep it strong and functional long into your golden years.
4. Injury– Injuries are also a driving factor behind the onset of an unstable spine. Spine injuries aren’t completely preventable, but there are things you can do to lower your risk of their onset or improve your recovery after they occur. Stretch before activity and give your body some time to rest and recover after exercise and athletic performance. If an injury strikes, pursue proactive treatments and don’t return to grueling physical activities until you’ve been cleared to do so. If you don’t fully recover after a back injury, your spine may remain compromised, forcing other areas to handle more stress and continue to fuel your risk of instability. Commit to fully treating any neck or spine injuries that occur.
5. Tumors, Cysts And Growths– A final potential cause of spinal instability is the onset of an unexpected growth within the spinal column. Whether this is a non-cancerous cyst or a more concerning tumor, its presence will inherently cause problems for the integrity of your spinal column. The location, size and whether or not the growth is cancerous will dictate your treatment protocol, but maintaining or restoring spinal stability will be of the utmost importance.

Whatever is causing your spine to become unstable, we’re confident that Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute can help you overcome the issue. For more information about spinal instability, or for help treating a related back problem, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi today at (651) 430-3800.

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