On October 16th, IBJI will join in celebrating World Spine Day to raise awareness of spine health, as part of National Bone and Joint Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Straighten Up and Move,” recognizing the importance of proper posture and movement in maintaining good spinal health.
The back is a complex network of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. In some cases, sports injuries or accidents cause back pain and other times even simple motions, like picking something up off the floor, can lead to pain in the back.
Since the back is so intricate, there are many types of spinal disorders. The most common ones include back pain, neck pain, scoliosis and disc disease. Disorders of the spine can affect a person’s overall health, including their ability to work and enjoy normal everyday routines.
Poor posture and inactivity can contribute to the development of back pain and other spinal disorders. Approximately 31 million Americans experience low-back pain and it is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease. Americans spend about $50 billion on products and services to help reduce back pain each year.
In today’s world, with the large amount of time people spend slouched in front of a computer, repeated poor posture can lead to back pain over time. In an effort to prevent back injuries and pain, try to maintain a healthy diet and weight, be physically active – get lots of exercise that strengthens your core, stretch before physical activity, be mindful of standing up straight, use smart lifting techniques and wear comfortable, supportive footwear.
If you do experience back pain, the team of orthopaedic professionals at IBJI are available to help assess your condition and work with you to customize a treatment plan. Spinal health is very important to our entire team – from surgeons and pain management specialists to therapists and physician assistants. We take pride in staying current on the latest developments and technologies in pain treatment and educating our patients on spinal health, injury prevention and treatment options.
So, remember to “Straighten Up and Move” for good spinal health!
