Straighten up on world spine day

The Whitchurch Clinic is urging people to pay attention to their posture and straighten up this World Spine Day (October 16^th) by following a few simple steps.

Recent research from the British Chiropractic Association found that over half of people in Wales (54%) who have suffered from back or neck pain believe poor posture triggers it. However, having and maintaining a good posture can help to keep back pain at bay.

Many people don’t realise that a straight spine is more achievable than they think, and incorporating just a few small changes into our daily routines can make a huge difference to back health. 

The research was carried out between 27/01/2016 and 02/02/2016 on a sample of 2,066 UK adults aged 18 + on behalf of the British Chiropractic Association. 

The Whitchurch Clinic has compiled a number of simple tips to improve posture and protect against back pain.

• Get up, stand up. Inactivity is a leading cause of back pain. If you spend most of your day sitting, make sure that you take regular breaks, ideally every 20-30 minutes. Stand up to stretch, change position and walk around a little.
• Stretch it out. If you struggle to get away from your seat at work, simple activities such as stretching and shoulder shrugging and even simply fidgeting in your seat can all help to keep your back in line.
• Keep moving. Exercise is key to a healthy back, however you don’t need to embark on any extreme fitness regimes. Adding just a few extra minutes of walking a day can have a huge impact on your posture.
• Straighten Up. Try incorporating some simple exercises into your daily routine. The BCA has developed - Straighten Up UK - a series of simple exercises designed to improve posture and help prevent back pain by promoting balance, strength and flexibility in the spine. You can find these via the BCA website on www.chiropractic-uk.co.u
• Spot your side profile. Paying closer attention to your body’s side profile can help you recognise back or neck pain triggers. People who want to improve their posture should try imagining they have a plumb line hanging straight from their ears to ankles - with everything in the middle sitting on the same line. One way to do this is to try standing in a relaxed way and then gently contracting the abdominal muscles

BCA chiropractor Sarah Beer comments: “As modern lifestyles put increasing amounts of strain on our backs and necks it’s becoming even more important for people to take proactive measures to protect their back health.

“Prevention is always better than cure, so this World Spine Day we want to encourage people to straighten up, and incorporate simple steps into their daily routine to maintain a healthy posture. For example, people are often surprised at the positive impact that simply ensuring you take regular breaks when sitting for long periods of time, or walking regularly can have on your back.” 

For more information on how to maintain a healthy posture and avoid triggering neck and back pain, visit the BCA website at www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk.