Spinal disorders encompass a broad range of conditions affecting the spine, which is composed of vertebrae, intervertebral discs, spinal cord, nerves, and supporting ligaments and muscles. These disorders can cause pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness, and other symptoms that can significantly impact a person's quality of life. Spinal disorders can result from various causes, including age-related changes, trauma, degenerative conditions, structural abnormalities, infections, tumors, and inflammatory diseases.

Some common spinal disorders include:

​

1. Degenerative disc disease: This condition involves the breakdown and deterioration of the intervertebral discs, leading to disc dehydration, loss of disc height, and potential compression of adjacent nerves. Degenerative disc disease is a common cause of low back pain and can result in symptoms such as radicular pain (sciatica) and numbness or tingling in the legs.

2. Herniated disc (or slipped disc): A herniated disc occurs when the inner gel-like material of the disc protrudes through the outer layer, pressing on nearby nerves and causing pain, weakness, or numbness in the affected area. Herniated discs most commonly occur in the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) regions of the spine.

3. Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots and cause symptoms such as back pain, leg pain, numbness, or weakness. Spinal stenosis is often age-related and can result from degenerative changes in the spine, such as bone spurs or thickened ligaments.

4. Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebra slips forward or backward relative to the adjacent vertebrae, leading to instability and potential compression of spinal nerves. Spondylolisthesis can cause lower back pain, leg pain, and difficulty walking.

5. Spinal fractures: Fractures of the vertebrae can occur due to trauma, osteoporosis, or other underlying conditions. Fractures may cause pain, deformity, spinal instability, and neurological deficits depending on the severity and location of the injury.

6. Spinal deformities: Conditions such as scoliosis (abnormal lateral curvature of the spine), kyphosis (excessive forward curvature of the spine), and lordosis (excessive inward curvature of the spine) can cause pain, stiffness, and functional impairment.