Can you break your back doing high jump?

While serious injuries are relatively uncommon in high jump, there is always inherent risk in any athletic activity that may result in physical harm. One possible injury that could occur, although rare, is a spinal cord injury including the back area, particularly if an athlete falls badly or lands incorrectly during the descent from the jump. To ensure safety, proper landing mat techniques and safety precautions are taken at high jump events to minimize the likelihood of any injuries, but the possibility, though small, still exists.