The World Spine Day, observed every year on 16th October, brings together not just medical professionals, but also individuals from the health and fitness industry, schools, and private and public sector organisations. The day was instituted by the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) on 16th October 2008 to recognise, support and promote chiropractors and the chiropractic profession. With World Spine Day, the organisation aims to highlight issues revolving around spinal pain and disability.
Each year, the WFC has a theme for World Spine Day to focus on one single issue. The theme for 2024 is “ Support your Spine” to focus on raising awareness of steps that individuals can take to maintain a healthy spine and the global burden of spinal pain and disability. The initiative promotes proactive measures like maintaining good posture, engaging in regular physical activity, and educating people about preventing and managing spine-related issues. This year’s theme highlights how simple changes, such as staying mobile and avoiding overloading the spine, can significantly improve spinal health?.
Lower back pain (LBP) can start at any age and most people are afflicted by it at least once in their life. Here are some key statistics on the issue.
As per studies in 2020, LBP affects 619 million people globally and it is estimated that the number of cases will rise to 843 million by 2050.
LBP is one of the leading causes of disability internationally.
The highest number of LBP cases occurs among persons in the age group of 50-55 years.
Women are affected more than men.
About 90% of cases are of non-specific LBP.
Some of the common spine-related conditions that are globally prevalent are -
Osteoarthritis - it is a type of degenerative condition in which the patient suffers from stiffness of joints that impact the knees and hips.
Cervical spondylosis - it is a type of age-related degenerative disorder that occurs due to wear and tear in the spinal discs. While most people with the condition do not experience any symptoms, common symptoms are stiffness and pain in the neck.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) - is an age-related condition that occurs when the spinal discs wear down over time. This condition reduces the spines’ cushioning ability which reduces their motion and causes pain and nerve compression. DDD can also be caused by accidents.
Spinal stenosis - This is a commonly diagnosed problem in older people when the spaces between the spines become narrow and create pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. It causes pain, numbness and weakness in the arms and legs.
Herniated disc - it is commonly called ‘slipped disc’ and occurs when one of the spinal discs that cushion the vertebrae bulges out and presses nearby nerves. It causes pain, numbness and weakness in the neck, back, hips or limbs.
Scoliosis - in this condition, the spine curves sideways and requires bracing or surgery. It commonly occurs among adolescents and also develops among older people with conditions such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.
2024’s theme, “Support your Spine” is a call to action for individuals to prioritise spinal health at home, in the workplace, and within the community. Everyone must foster healthy habits to support the spine through various stages of their life. For this, they must adopt preventive measures and healthy lifestyle habits such as -
Focusing on a healthy posture while sitting, standing, lying down, lifting something heavy or even walking, exercising or running.
Stay mobile by trying to use as many muscle groups as possible.
Avoid prolonged periods of inactivity or overloading the spines by lifting excessive weight.
Manage one’s body weight to ensure there is less pressure on one’s joints.
Exercise at least 4 days every week and focus on strengthening the core muscle groups, neck, back, and abdominal muscles.
Focus on a healthy diet that is rich in magnesium, calcium and vitamin D to make the bones stronger, improve bone density and support muscle development.
Stay hydrated for the health of the intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers in the spine. One must drink enough water to keep the discs pliable and reduce the risk of spine degeneration.
Wear footwear with a supportive base, arch and cushion to ensure proper alignment of the spine and body.
Going for regular health check-ups and adopting preventive measures will help avoid or postpone spinal weakening with age.
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