World Spine Day is a great opportunity to shine light on spinal disorders and encourage you to take steps to better health. This year the theme is ‘Your Back in Action’, emphasising the importance of healthy spinal posture and activity which promotes body awareness and minimises the day-to-day wear and tear on the spine.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from spinal disorders which include low back pain, scoliosis and disc disease, to name a few. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that 1 in 6 Australians are suffering from back problems, and that these often lead to poorer quality of life, psychological distress and disability.
Improving your posture and exercising regularly can help improve and maintain spinal health. Exercises can be undertaken by Australians of all ages with a special program tailored for children.
Exercises can be completed at any time of day but are most beneficial when they form part of a daily routine. It’s hoped that over time all Australians will take a few minutes every day to care for their spinal health, just as they do for their dental health.
Studies conducted overseas indicate that 90% of people who adopted the exercises as part of their daily routine reported a postural improvement. Approximately 80% reported that their backs are more comfortable and that they have better core stability after practicing the activities for several weeks.
Also, did you know that that chiropractic adjustments work best and are most effective when done in conjunction with exercise. Treatments that require the patient to perform specific home exercises between adjustments not only restore function quicker, but more importantly, help the patient be less afraid of activity, gain confidence that they will be okay, and in the end improve the quality of daily life much sooner than with chiropractic adjustments alone.
Chiropractic care with the correct exercise program helps patients play an active role in their treatment program and allows for a renewed sense of self-reliance, and an ability to perform activities of daily living without undue fear or risk of injury. Ask your chiropractor which exercise program is right for you, and your family.
It seems nowadays everyone thinks they are an exercise expert, Chiropractors know the best exercises would be those that, correct dysfunction, imbalance and asymmetries in mobility and stability and then build overall, dynamic movement and strength.
Chiropractors can assess your functional movement and recommend stretches and exercises that correct those dysfunctions, restore proper function and help you build from there.