Spinal Health Week Raises Awareness of Safety and Injury Prevention

RICHMOND, BC, May 1, 2012 /CNW/ - In addition to spring-cleaning and gardening season, the month of May also ushers in Spinal Health Week, a national spine awareness campaign running from May 1 - 7.  The British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA) would like to take this opportunity to remind the public about the importance of proper spine care and injury prevention throughout all facets of life: Home, work, play and travel.

Work place incidents, car accidents, sports injuries, poor posture, household chores and the stress of daily living all have the potential to cause painful joint and spinal problems, from child to senior.  Even popular springtime activities such as gardening and a round of golf are not without risk. Because many of these tasks are routine, it is easy to understand why back and neck injuries are so commonplace.

Eighty percent of all British Columbians will experience symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, headaches or impaired movement that are related to an underlying spine condition.  Even more startling, at least one in every three medical related visits is for a musculoskeletal issue.  Many, if not most of these visits can be avoided through proper care and attention.  Unfortunately the majority of the population does not give their back a second thought until it is too late and the pain has already set in.

"Every morning when we get up we see our eyes, our teeth and our face in the mirror," says Dr. Don Nixdorf, Executive Director of the BCCA.  "We don't stop to think about how our spine is doing because we simply can't see it."

One of the BCCA's primary goals is to improve the public's understanding of their spines before they experience pain or injury.  With support from partners, the BCCA has developed several successful programs in an effort to engage the public in back health.  Some of these programs include Think Twice, Lift Once for workplace safety, Pack it Light, Wear it Right backpack tips for students and After the Crash for injured motorists.  Information on these and other programs is available through BC's 1100 chiropractic doctors and on the BCCA website: www.bcchiro.com

The 24 vertebrae, multiple bone joints, discs and associated nerves that make up the spine are critical to daily health.  The BCCA encourages all British Columbians to utilize these resources and talk to their family chiropractor to support their wellness and prevent painful injuries.

The British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA) is the voluntary professional organization that represents B.C.'s chiropractic doctors on matters including health policy, public relations, and liaison with health authorities since 1934.

Media Contact:
Dr. Don Nixdorf
Executive Director, BCCA
[email protected]
604-270-1332