Are roller coasters bad for your spine?

Roller coasters and amusement parks are some of the most frequent causes of neck and spine injuries. The jerking, sudden movements, and intense increases of speed strain the neck muscles and can even result in further injury of the spinal cord.



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People with high blood pressure and/or heart conditions are warned not to ride roller coasters because of the way they tax the cardiovascular system.

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These jerking motions can leave some riders with whiplash. In rare instances, neck movements can lead to cervicocephalic arterial dissection and then stroke. This particular type of stroke is hard to diagnose because the main complaints ? headache and neckache ? are associated with many other conditions.

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Common Injuries Lacerations, bruises, broken bones, torn ligaments. Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries.

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Risk to Those With Cardiovascular Issues The adrenaline rush that roller coasters give you causes a rapid spike in your heart rate and blood pressure. Those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart rhythm disorder (atrial fibrillation) are already at risk for stroke.

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“As far as an age limit, though, if you are physically healthy and up for the thrill, there is likely no greater risk for someone who is 60 than there is for someone who is 20.” The largest concern for those who indulge in roller coasters is the after effects.

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As people age, they may feel the bumps and drops of a roller coaster more strongly or take longer to recover from dizziness after having been spun at high speeds. They may just not enjoy the thrill as much as they did as a kid.

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Roller coasters are good for stress relief, fighting phobias, and clearing your sinuses.

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“As we get older, the vestibular system gets less efficient, meaning it doesn't respond as easily to motion of the head or to movement around us. Normally the inner ear responds to movement automatically, so we aren't aware that it is working until the movement is too much for our vestibular system to handle.

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There's the nervousness while you wait in line, the excitement as you buckle yourself in and the thrill as come speeding down that first drop. But as you age, you may be wondering if it's even still safe to ride a roller coaster. The short answer is, probably yes.

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Unfortunately, visitors who ride roller coasters can walk away from these rides dizzy, nauseous, and possibly even severely injured. Some riders experience headaches and brain injuries from banging their head backwards or side to side on over the shoulder restraints.

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Our fight or flight response is activated which signals the rush of adrenaline. Those who are in favor of roller coasters tend to experience joy, happiness, excitement and satisfaction as this is what they wanted to feel. Therefore the psychological effect is positive.

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14 Fun Facts About Roller Coasters
  • The American roller coaster was invented to save America from Satan. ...
  • One of the earliest coasters in America carried coal before it carried thrill seekers. ...
  • “Russian mountains” predated roller coasters—and Catherine the Great improved them. ...
  • Roller coaster loops are never circular.


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You Can Burn Calories Because they're so big, a lot of walking is needed to explore the entirety of these attractions. That's not all: according to a study conducted by the Thrill Laboratory shows that UK theme parks helped their rollercoaster-riders burn around something around 40 and 70 calories per ride!

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According to a website for family edutainment, Kidadl, the brain can be filled with adrenaline during an event such as this, known as vasovagal syncope. Some people may faint whilst on a roller coaster as their heart rate slows down causing their blood pressure to drop.

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The Most Common Roller Coaster Injuries Head injuries, such as concussions and traumatic brain injury. Neck and back injuries, including whiplash and sprains. Spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Broken bones.

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