The most important water-related cause of spinal injury is associated with recreation, such as diving into water.
 

Deformities of the spine may also occur when water has to be fetched and carried long distances over a considerable period of time.
The spine (vertebral column) - composed of blocks of bone (vertebrae) separated by soft-centred fibrous discs (intervertebral discs), which are bound together by ligaments and muscles - protects the spinal cord of the nervous system. Injuries range from damage to the vertebrae, ligaments and discs, to damage to the spinal cord itself.

The effects depend on the severity and site of the injury; for instance, minor injuries may fracture one or more vertebrae without damaging the nerves or spinal cord. Hyperextension of the spine may occur in diving accidents, car crashes, or falls from a height, with particular risks to the cervical spine in the neck.

Falls may dislodge one or more vertebrae, with consequent damage to the nerves. Severe damage to the cord and nerves emerging from the vertebral column will cause paralysis. The severity of disability depends on the level of the spinal cord where the damage is.
Damage in the lower or upper part of the back may cause some loss of trunk movement and complete or partial loss of leg movement.

This is called paraplegia. Paraplegics also suffer loss of sensation (pain, temperature, vibration and position sense) and sometimes loss of bowel and bladder control. Damage to the spinal cord in the neck will cause some loss of arm movement and complete loss of trunk and leg movement. This is called quadriplegia.