Feature

17 April 2007

Take 3 minutes to Straighten Up UK!

Chiropractic Awareness Week has rolled round again and this year the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is launching a fantastic campaign called Straighten Up UK.

New research (1) by the BCA reveals that nearly half of people in the South East are currently suffering from back pain, a figure which has risen dramatically in just the last three years. Are you one of the third of people in the South East with a poor posture? To combat our rapid slide into a nation of couch potatoes, the Straighten Up UK campaign includes a three minute programme for all ages, designed to help strengthen the spine and improve posture.

Bad posture has a lot to answer for - not only can it have a negative affect on your health but it affects the way other people view you. The BCA’s research showed that nearly 60 per cent of people in this region cited that bad posture was off putting in a job interview situation – this figure is higher than any other region.

The research also proves that posture is associated with confidence and capability. Over a third of people in the South East said that poor posture makes people seem unapproachable and lacking in confidence, a further 13 per cent associate bad posture with laziness, while nearly one in four said that it displayed a lack of care about appearance.

Our children are particularly at risk. The survey found that over half of 16-24 year olds have already been warned that they have bad posture. So what’s the answer? As always prevention is better than cure. The nation’s chiropractors would like to see every child (and teenager and adult!) incorporate a three minute exercise routine into their day. There is a leaflet and electronic version which I recommend displaying somewhere you and your family can see it (eg on the fridge). If this can become a daily habit, like brushing your teeth, then as a society we can reduce the number of back pain sufferers and all feel more confident about our posture when first impressions count.

(1) Research carried out online by Tickbox.net between 21 / 02 / 2007 – 08 /03 / 2007, sample 1562 adults aged 16+.

Straighten Up UK for kids is a simple, three minute posture care programme designed to help children look and feel their best. The programme is divided into three quick sessions:

1) Stars (warm up)

2) Flying Friends (posture care)

3) Core Balance (to finish off the session).

Through the help of the Straighten Up kids, Abby and Jake, children can learn these daily exercises to help improve their posture and spinal health. By promoting balance, strength and flexibility in the spine, the risk of getting problems with your child’s back, now and in the future, can be substantially reduced.

Click here to download and print the routine OR click here to view the exercises online

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