Chiropractors back posture care programme

MAKE sure you’re sitting up straight and not slouching when you read this.

The Chiropractic Association of Ireland (CAI) is encouraging Irish adults and children to

‘straighten up’

Straighten Up Ireland is a posture care programme that aims to raise awareness of spinal health and improve posture to help people to look and feel their best.

Last week the fourth annual Straighten Up Ireland Week was held and incorporated World Spine Day on October 16.

According to the annual Straighten Up Ireland survey, 91 per cent of respondents claim to be aware that correct posture improves overall health and wellbeing.

Despite this, over a half (51 per cent) admit they are only conscious of sitting and standing up straight

‘sometimes’, with 8 per cent saying they are not aware of it at all.

38 per cent

‘regularly’ slouch when standing or sitting, with over half (58 per cent), admitting occasional lapses in good posture. Only 4 per cent claim to have perfect posture at all times.

One fifth of those surveyed (21 per cent) experience regular back, neck, and/or shoulder pain, with almost three quarters (72 per cent) occasionally suffering from one or more of these complaints.

As part of Straighten Up Ireland Week and to address these common complaints, the CAI highlighted a series of simple everyday exercises, which take only three minutes to complete and act to improve posture, stabilise core muscles, enhance health and help prevent spinal disability.

The exercises can be undertaken by people of all ages with a special program tailored for children.

Dr Siobhan Guiry, President of the CAI, urged individuals of all ages to invest three minutes a day in their spinal health and wellbeing.

“We are emphasising the importance of good posture and its related health benefits, as well as educating everyone about the potential short and long term implications of poor posture,

? said Dr Guiry.

The Straighten-Up campaign originated from a chiropractic university in America.

It was designed in collaboration with a team of leading health experts and is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Bone and Joint Decade.

Visit www.chiropractic.ie for more information on the Chiropractic Association of Ireland and Straighten Up Ireland Week. Information leaflets advising how to do the exercises are also available for download.