Get “Back on Track” this World Spine Day

By Dr Mike Edgley - chiropractor at Docklands Health

It’s World Spine Day and time for everyone to get “Back on Track” and reactivate and revitalise their bodies by getting out and focusing on effective spine care.

On October 16, the Docklands Health team will be celebrating World Spine Day 2020 – an annual health initiative by the World Federation of Chiropractic, aiming to encourage good spinal health habits.

World Spine Day is a timely reminder for Docklands residents to reactivate, revitalise and refocus on their spinal health and wellbeing.

New research has revealed the impact that poor spinal posture and pain can have on quality of life, and the need for effective spinal care to mitigate the risk of long-term health impacts.

Poor spinal health is overwhelmingly common, yet people are not seeking help: Two thirds (63.6 per cent) of people experience lower-back pain in their lifetime, yet one in five (20 per cent) are not seeking professional support.

Pain can manifest itself physically and mentally, impacting on quality of life: A third (33.9 per cent) admit their pain causes physical exhaustion, over half (50.9 per cent) have lost sleep due to their pain and over a quarter (26.9%) reveal it has caused them mental exhaustion.

While the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic have helped to protect communities here and around the world, they have also had a significant impact on people’s ability to stay active and keep themselves mobile. In a recent survey conducted during the pandemic, a staggering three-quarters (72.7 per cent) of Australians admitted to suffering from posture related pains as a result of COVID-19 restrictions forcing millions to work from home.

Of the estimated 8.7 million Australians working from home, around a third reported suffering from back pain (40.1 per cent), neck pain (39.8 per cent) and tension headaches (30.9 per cent).

Maryam Dadvar, a physiotherapist at Docklands Health, said this pain could significantly impact on quality of life.

“Pain can manifest itself physically and mentally and place a huge strain on mental health, relationships, work and a person’s overall wellbeing,” she said.

In the recent consumer survey, a third of Australians (32.6 per cent) admitted that their pain made them less mobile and even impacted their ability to perform everyday tasks.

Pain can cause loss of sleep, mental exhaustion and impact heavily on concentration levels. However, it can also have a detrimental impact on a person’s mental health with research revealing one in five (20.7 per cent) Australians have struggled with depression and anxiety as a direct result of their pain.

We know not everyone has the luxury of being outside with varying levels of restrictions still in place, however being mindful of diet, getting enough sleep and at least stretching every day will go a long way to safeguarding the health of your spine and in turn have a positive impact on quality of life.

Finding time to consciously observe your body and any aches and pains you may be experiencing will also help to understand if you need support from a healthcare professional like a chiropractor or physiotherapist. We here at Docklands Health are trained to provide tailored lifestyle care and advice to help you maintain both your spinal health, and overall health and wellbeing.

If you are concerned about your spinal health following months of restrictions and disrupted routine, consider visiting your local physiotherapist and chiropractor and get “Back on Track” to help live a healthy and fulfilling life •