It's in the backboneOn World Spine Day, the focus will be physical activity to combat spinal pain, one of the most common ailments in the world. Physical activity will keep you from pain On 16 October, it is World Spine Day. It’s an initiative of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health (formerly Bone and Joint Decade) that is coordinated each year by the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC). This year the theme is again “Straighten Up and Move” which accords with evidence supporting optimum care for spinal disorders and the World Health Organisation’s focus on physical activity as a way to combat a range of health disorders including cardiovascular disease, obesity and, of course, musculoskeletal disorders.On this day people from around the world join together to raise awareness about spinal disorders. Millions of people on all continents of the world suffer with spinal disorders. These can include low back pain, neck pain, scoliosis and disc disease, to name but a few. Spinal pain and disability can have a profound effect on a person’s overall health, sometimes preventing them from working or even doing simple daily activities.
Research has demonstrated that poor posture and inactivity are major contributors to the development of back pain and other spinal disorders. According to the World Health Organisation, one in four adults is not active enough and over 80% of the adolescent population is not active enough.
The World Spine Day (WSD) theme of “Straighten Up and Move” wants to highlight the importance of physical activity and improving posture as part of good spinal health and prevention of injury. It emphasises the importance of healthy spinal posture and activity which promotes body awareness and minimizes the day-to-day wear and tear on a person’s spine. The theme of posture and movement supports the Bone & Joint Decade’s Vision of “Keep People Moving”. The intent of WSD is to bring people from all walks of life – patients, health providers, health care organisations, associations and governments to help ease this global burden of spinal disorders.
The “Straighten Up and Move” programme consists of a series of simple exercises and lifestyle recommendations taking just minutes each day to complete, Straighten Up and Move modules promote the improvement of posture and body core stabilisation to help in the prevention of spinal conditions. They are easy and fun and can be completed quickly as a regular day-to-day preventative health practice. The 2-3 minute routines can help improve and prevent poor posture, which is a common trigger for general back and neck pain and can be undertaken by all ages. It is designed to empower people everywhere toward better spinal health and an improved quality of life. It also is meant to serve as an incentive and inspiration to take up a sporting activity like for example yoga, Pilatus or Qi Gong. These are some of the type of exercises that can strengthen your back and make you flexible.
This year the Namibian Chiropractic Association has joined forces with Yoga, Pilatus and Qi Gong teachers to get Namibian’s moving. On Saturday, 15 October 2016 at 09:00 am a free Yoga/Pilatus class combination will be given at The Village in Liliencron Street, Windhoek. The warm-up for the class will be the Straighten Up Namibia exercises and then two experienced Yoga and Pilatus instructors will guide you towards stretching and strengthening the core, back and hips. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to become inspired to do something for your back and health in general.
Visit the following webpages for more information www.namibianchiropractic.org and www.risenamibia.com.na.
You can also look at the Namibian Chiropractic Association and Rise Namibia Facebook pages for more information and to sign up.
In addition we also teamed up with Guenther Maartens, a QiGong instructor who gives regular morning classes at Parliament Gardens. We will be presenting the Straighten Up exercises before each session during next week. Sessions are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 07:45 to 08:30.
If you, your school, club or company are interested in learning more about the Straighten Up exercises, proper posture, work ergonomics and maintaining spinal health, please contact the Namibian Chiropractic Association at elga.drews@iway.na to arrange a presentation by one of our chiropractors.
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