Straighten Up America was presented to members of the U.S. Congress at the House of Representatives Wellness Center and to researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the United States Bone and Joint Decade (USBJD) meeting on Oct.
Dr. Fedorko's presentation at NIH stirred a great deal of interest among U.S. Bone and Joint Decade researchers. After the presentation, Dr. Steven Katz, director of the National Institutes of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders, vowed to begin regular practice of the activities. To date, every presentation of Straighten Up has drawn rave reviews at national and international venues.
"This was a unique opportunity to educate both members of the U.S. Congress and leaders of the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade and National Institutes of Health about Straighten Up America," said Dr. Kirk. "It was also an ideal time to develop relationships with our country's legislative and health research decision-makers simultaneously. Everyone involved genuinely enjoyed learning about these simple invigorating ways to promote health and prevent spinal disability. We believe this marks the early unfolding of a worldwide health promotion initiative."
Straighten Up began in the summer of 2004, when a five-person expert panel and a Delphi review panel began shaping the spinal health program. The Delphi panel now includes approximately 50 state, national and international chiropractic organization leaders, 22 chiropractic college presidents and program heads, 23 college clinic directors, numerous health promotion and fitness experts, and researchers and officials from the World Health Organization. The Honorable Tommy Thompson, while serving as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, commended the developers of Straighten Up America in January 2005 for "leadership in the field of spinal health."
User feedback studies have been conducted since the inception of Straighten Up. Approximately 85 percent (90 percent in the latest study) of study participants reported postural improvement, and approximately 80 percent reported that their backs are more comfortable and that they have better core stability after practicing the activities for several weeks.
Notes
- For additional background on the Straighten Up America initiative, please read "Beginning to Straighten Up America" (Jan. 29, 2005 issue www.chiroweb.com/archives/23/03/03.html) and "Straightening Up America (July 2, 2005 issue; www.chiroweb.com/archives/23/14/19.html).
- The complete Straighten Up America program is available online at www.life.edu/Chiropractic_and_Wellness/pdf/
Straighten_Up_America.pdf
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