Family Chiropractic Centre

Spinal Health Week ~ May 1-7

May 1st - 7th has historically been designated by the Ontario Chiropractic Association as "Spinal Health Week". It is a time to emphasize the importance of overall spinal health, and its effect on an individual's general health and lifestyle.

The spine is a structure consisting of 24 moveable vertebrae connecting the skull to the pelvis. It must function to protect the sensitive spinal cord within it, yet must also provide mobility and stability to the musculoskeletal system - no easy task!

When one of the bones of the spine develops a mechanical problem, such as an abnormal motion or position, the functions of the spine become compromised -- the spine can irritate rather than protect the spinal cord, and the mobility of the spine can become restricted. The most common symptom that thus develops is pain, although numbness and tingling, as well as seemingly unrelated disorders can also develop.

Maintaining spinal health goes a long way to preventing spine related disorders before they occur. This is especially important since statistics show that once an individual has experienced back pain, he/she is 3-5 times more likely to suffer from another episode. Couple that fact to other statistics reporting that 80 percent of the North American population will experience back pain at least once in their lives, and that 20-30 percent of the population is experiencing back pain at any one time, and a little prevention can make a big difference!

Chiropractors have specialized in spinal health for over a hundred years.

An independent study, The Manga Report, was commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Health in 1993. The authors indicate (among other things) that based on the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical studies, spinal manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than alternative treatments for low back pain (including more traditional, medical based treatments).

They also concluded that patients are very satisfied with chiropractic management of low back pain, and that the constellation of evidence offers an overwhelming case in favor of much greater use of chiropractic services in the management of low back pain.

Chiropractors have been specifically trained in the subtleties of spinal health and mobility, and their expertise is in correcting subtle mechanical problems which can have profound health and lifestyle implications.

Spinal Health Week is a public service week set aside to increase awareness in spinal health and its implications to health and wellness. How healthy is your spine? Do you have any subtle spinal imbalances that are symptomatic -- or asymptomatic? Your chiropractor can help answer these questions!