Spinal Health week: How often do you think about your spine?

Spinal Health is something we only pay attention to when we are in pain. The spine is a very important part of your body and its health can have a big impact on how well the rest of your body’s functions preform. Spinal health issues, even subtle ones, can affect your general outlook of life and overall wellbeing.

Poor spinal health can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors such as insufficient exercise, sedentary lifestyle, bad posture or poor sleeping habits. Often our daily habits could be blamed for the deteriorating health of our spine.

From standing, to sitting, to lifting, to sleeping – every position you take can have an impact on your spinal health. It’s very common to go about your day and not pay attention to things that may be having a detrimental effect on your spine.

How Big is the problem?

According to the recently published Global Burden of Disease study, musculoskeletal conditions have the fourth greatest impact on the health of the world’s population (1)

Poor spinal health can manifest in various ways such as neck pain, backache and headaches, to name a few. These musculoskeletal conditions are common long-term conditions and they contribute substantially to the disease burden within the Australian population.

• Musculoskeletal conditions are very common, affecting 30% (6.9 million) of all Australians in 2014/15 (this includes 3.7 million people with back problems) (2).
• 12% of the total disease burden in Australia was due to musculoskeletal conditions (2)
• Musculoskeletal conditions have a strong negative impact on a persons quality of life, affecting the ability to participate in self-care, work and social activities.
• In 2015, 31% of people with disability reported having musculoskeletal conditions (2)

The good news is that making small changes in your lifestyle and seeking professional help can make a big difference to your spinal health and overall wellbeing.

Many people don’t think about visiting a chiropractor or being proactive about their spinal health until they are faced with an injury or pain. They typically seek care for existing conditions, and don’t see chiropractic as a preventative healthcare option.

• Murray CJ Vos T, Lozano R, et al. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYSs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions. 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 2012;280:2197-2223
• The burden of musculoskeletal conditions in Australia (2017). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. aihm.gov.au

Chiropractic Association of Australia