On Monday, October 16, the chiropractic profession celebrated World Spine Day with the launch of Straighten Up America, a health education program designed to promote the public's spinal fitness.
World Spine Day was initiated in 2002 by the International Bone and Joint Decade to call attention to the heavy burden of spinal disability on individuals and on the health care system. This year World Spine Day in America featured a "Straighten Up America" theme.
"Straighten Up America is very simple," explained Dr. Ron Kirk, Life University faculty member and facilitator of the multidisciplinary Seed and Delphi panels, which created Straighten Up. "We envision a time when every American will take two or three minutes every day to care for their spinal health, just as they care for their dental health. The need for spinal health promotion is very great as evidenced by the billions of dollars spent each year related to spinal disabilities. Yet before now, there had not been a short, simple spinal exercise program designed to promote the public's spinal health."
On October 16, in Washington, DC, 29 fourth and fifth graders from Stoddert Elementary School received an introduction to the Straighten Up program, learning a number of quick exercises for improved posture and spinal health.
Presenters for the occasion included Dr. Kirk; Armin Kuder of the Bone and Joint Decade's International Steering Committee; Melissa Johnson, Executive Director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; Jacqueline Burroughs, Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Wellness Center; Beth Scott, a 10-time gold medalist Paralympic swimmer; Anthony Rankin, MD, Second Vice President of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; Kimberly Templeton, MD, Kansas University Medical Center, who worked with Dr. Kirk to develop the program; Stephen Simonetti, DC, President of Congress of Chiropractic Associations; Kevin Corcoran, Executive Director, American Chiropractic Association; and Toby King, Executive Director, U.S. Bone and Joint Decade.
Armin Kuder taught Stoddard students all about the importance of the Bone and Joint Decade. Jacqueline Burroughs emphasized the importance of positive self-esteem, while Melissa Johnson highlighted the importance of strengthening our bones through regular weight-bearing exercise and maintaining good posture.
To complete the celebration, Dr. Kirk guided everyone through Straighten Up America, inviting two students up to the front to lead the program, and encouraging all students to teach their parents the exercises at home.
"All-in-all, the national launch was a great success," reported Dr. Kirk. "Everyone involved had a wonderful time learning about and practicing positive habits for spinal health."
Through World Spine Day, Straighten Up America, and the Bone and Joint Decade, the chiropractic profession is leading the global community in spinal health promotion. For more information about partnering organizations and the public, visit www.straightenupamerica.org. Straighten Up tool kits created by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations and Life University are available at www.chirotoolbox.straightenupamerica.org.
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