It's rare to have the opportunity to spearhead a breakthrough affecting the lives of a billion people.
This historic breakthrough was made possible by a donation from the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC). Straighten Up India: Bangalore culminates a series of Straighten Up successes conducted in collaboration with the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations and funded by donations from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the American Chiropractic Association.
Working in concert with the Occupational Health Cluster of the World Health Organization, the Regional Occupational Health Centre (South) of India, the Child and Adolescent Health and Development Cluster of WHO, the International Labor Organization of the United Nations, the Commonwealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities, and the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps, Life University and Straighten Up are facilitating the development of a model National Health Plan for India and a Worker's Health Profile for Indian workers. India, the world's largest democracy, currently does not have an occupational health plan. Remarkably, after the chiropractic profession's participation in the meetings and workshop in Bangalore, implementing Straighten Up exercises has been prioritized as the first strategic component for India's inaugural occupational health plan.
On Monday, Feb. 19, 2007 in Bangalore, Dr. Ron Kirk, a Life University professor and facilitator of the seed and delphi panels for Straighten Up America, keynoted the CAMHADD/Global Partners Workshop to Promote Occupational Health, Spinal and Scoliosis Screening. Dr. Kirk's presentation focused on recent research findings from the UCLA School of Medicine's (Geriatric Division) Rancho Bernardo studies. These studies demonstrate the association of stooped forward-head posture with increased mortality, functional disabilities and proneness to fractures in a geriatric population. Dr. Kirk also led all participants in an entertaining interactive demonstration of the Straighten Up "Posture Pod" exercises, designed to prevent stooped forward-head posture.
After Dr. Kirk's keynote presentation, a number of provincial and regional health care, governmental, corporate and industrial leaders made presentations on key elements of the occupational health needs of Indian workers. Dr. A.K. Sengupta, National Professional Officer, Sustainable Development and Environmental Health, World Health Organization Representative for India, overviewed the varied health challenges of workers in India. Dr. H. R. Rajmohan, Officer-in-Charge, Regional Occupational Health Center (South), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Government of India, concluded presentations with a draft Plan for Occupational Health in India.
Dr. Rajmohan, who chaired the workshop, called for the implementation of Straighten Up India to be the initial priority for improving the musculoskeletal health of workers across the nation. Though workers face multiple occupational health hazards, including air and water pollution, and diverse mental and physical stressors, the workshop participants decided to address the musculoskeletal and postural issues that affect all occupational sectors as the top priority. Dr. Michel Tetrault, executive director of the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps, delivered a summary of all presentations to conclude the workshop. And Dr. Vasu Pandurangi, a renowned health care humanitarian, facilitated the history-making activities, which initiated Straighten Up India: Bangalore.
In addition to participating in the workshop, Drs. Kirk and Tetrault met with municipal, provincial, national and regional leaders in round-table discussions designed to elucidate the health challenges of workers in Bangalore - Asia's fastest growing major city with a population of 7.5 million people. It serves as the hub for India's rapidly growing computer/software/IT industry.
Before participation in the occupational health meetings and workshop, Dr. Kirk delivered donated Foot Levelers and SAM postural assessment equipment to facilitate biomechanical studies on forward-head posture. These studies are being conducted in collaboration with the Occupational Health Cluster of the World Health Organization and multiple local and regional partners. While in Bangalore, Drs. Kirk and Tetrault also led Straighten Up educational outreaches at local schools. The schoolchildren, teachers and administrators loved the Straighten Up Posture Pod exercises. These are very exciting times for the chiropractic profession. The ACC presidents continue to show strong support for Straighten Up, having commended Life University and partners for spearheading the Straighten Up initiative in the U.S. and around the world. The presidents also passed a resolution at the March 2007 ACC/RAC Conference calling on North American chiropractic colleges to promote celebration of World Spine Day on Oct. 16, in association with Straighten Up and the Bone and Joint Decade. You can begin to plan to celebrate World Spine Day with Straighten Up outreaches or open houses now. Below is a link with multiple cost-free Straighten Up digital tools to empower you, your family, your patients and your community in better health. This site was developed in collaboration with the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations. The link is www.chirotoolbox.straightenupamerica.org.
Article submitted by Ron Kirk, MA, DC. For background information on the Straighten Up campaign to promote spinal health, read "Going Global With Spinal Health" in the July 30, 2006 print issue of DC or online at www.chiroweb.com/archives/24/16/10.html.
Dr. Ron Kirk is a professor at Life University and the seed and Delphi panel facilitator for Just Start Walking. He serves in a similar capacity for the Straighten Up spinal health initiative. Contact Dr. Kirk with questions regarding the Just Start Walking program at
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