Distraction injuries of the spine are MOST commonly the result of:

Distraction injuries of the spine occur when a significant tensile force pulls the spine apart, leading to injuries such as ligamentous tears or vertebral fractures. Among the options provided, hangings represent the most common source of distraction injuries because they specifically involve a mechanism where the body is forcibly pulled by a noose or similar object, creating tension in the spinal column and potentially causing severe damage to the ligaments and structures of the cervical spine. This type of injury is particularly severe and can lead to significant neurological impairment due to disruption in spinal alignment and blood supply.

In contrast, while falls and diving can result in serious spinal injuries, they typically lead to compression or flexion-extension injuries rather than the distraction that hangings specifically cause. Compression injuries involve forces pressing down on the spine, leading to vertebral body fractures, while diving can cause flexion forces that lead to different types of spinal injuries. Thus, the mechanism of hangings best exemplifies a distraction injury due to the nature of the force applied.