Gene's parachute did not open when he jumped out of the airplane. He injured his back in the thoracic and lumbar regions, damaging the autonomic ganglia found close to his spinal cord. What neurons did he likely damage?

sympathetic preganglionic neurons

Explanation:

Sympathetic preganglionic neurons  are present in close proximity to the spinal cord and are located within the CNS. The origination starts from 12 thoracic and first 2-3 lumbar segments of the spinal cord.

Therefore if Gene injured his back in the thoracic and lumber region than sympathetic preganglionic neurons are the neuron that must be damaged in his body. Sympathetic preganglionic neurons are shorter than parasympathetic preganglionic fibers as they are present in proximity to the spinal cord. So the correct answer is sympathetic preganglionic neurons.

take a break move to stretching and slowly work back into physically exercising if the problem continues go to a doctor or physical therapist

no, because those are both different running competitions. while distance runners train their legs and their lungs to run long amounts of time, the sprinters are training their legs and their lungs to give all they have in the little amount of area they need to cover. the brain also plays a huge part in all of this.

the brain is the only thing in your body that sends messages to your body telling you to run. if you are a long distance runner and you have the mind set of a sprinter, you will not get anywhere. if you have a long distance mind set and you have to run 200m in 20 seconds then you will not make it in time.