Spinal Health Week

Spinal Health Week

Date

20-26 May 2024

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to access free resources

Spinal Health for EveryBODY

National Spinal Health Week is an initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA). It is Australia’s longest-running national health awareness campaign dedicated to improving the spinal health of Australians of all ages.

Annually, Spinal Health Week focusses on a specific spinal health issue while promoting the importance of maintaining good spinal health to improve overall wellbeing. In 2024, the campaign focusses on the causes of back pain and the negative effects back problems are having on Australians and the economy.

If you’re among the 4 out of 5 Australians who experience back pain,1 you’re not alone. Back pain is the single leading cause of disability globally and can often lead to poorer quality of life, psychological distress or bodily pain. If left untreated, back pain can sometimes lead to disability.

In 2020-21, an estimated $3.4 billion was spent on the treatment and management of back problems in Australia.2

Chiropractic healthcare is for everyBODY, providing effective, drug-free treatment for back pain for all Australians regardless of your age, profession or lifestyle.

If you or someone you know suffers from back problems and you’re tired of pain holding you back, consult an ACA chiropractor to regain control of your life!

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Supporters Registration Page

National Spinal Health Week (20-26 May 2024) is an initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) to educate Australians about spinal health for EveryBODY.

Spinal Health Week is Australia’s longest running (over 25-years), award-winning national health awareness campaign dedicated to improving the spinal health of Australians of all ages. Each year, the campaign focusses on a specific spinal health issue that impacts individuals and the workforce while promoting the importance of maintaining overall good spinal health to improve EveryBODY’s health and wellbeing.

With low back pain currently the leading cause of disability world-wide and considered a global public health issue by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2024, National Spinal Health Week will increase awareness of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) specifically Low Back Pain (LBP) that currently costs the Australian economy over $55.1 billion annually. However, the real cost to more than 6.1 million Australians who suffer from MSDs is immeasurable.

With prevention the best protection, individuals and organisations can join the National Spinal Health Week ‘Movement’ to help prevent musculoskeletal injuries that cause back pain.

By registering your participation today, you’ll receive a digital Spinal Health Week Tool Kit with a range of free resources to help educate Australians about positive spinal health and well-being. By working together this Spinal Health Week, we can help Australian’s take back control from the debilitating effects back pain.

SHW 2024 Register Now

Seniors

As we age, our bodies undergo various changes, and for many older Australians, one of the most common challenges is low back pain. Low back pain (LBP) is the most common health problem faced among older adults that can result in debilitating pain and disability.

Older adults aged 65 years or above are more likely to develop chronic LBP that lasts for more than three months3 and whether it’s experienced alone or accompanied by other health challenges such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis, the impact on daily activities can be profound.

Studies reveal that older adults grappling with low back pain can face twice the difficulty in performing essential tasks like lifting, walking, or even bathing.4

Diminished mobility, a hallmark of back pain and other musculoskeletal issues, sets off a domino effect, curtailing social engagement and fostering feelings of isolation. The inability to partake in routine activities like doing housework, climbing stairs, or walking freely adds layers of frustration and helplessness.5

An ACA Chiropractor Can Help
Chiropractic healthcare is a drug-free and effective option for older Australians experiencing back pain. ACA chiropractors provide gentle adjustments to help manage chronic pain, improve joint mobility, reduce stiffness and enhance overall spinal health and wellbeing.

Download our free ‘Back Pain and Seniors’ flyer to take back control of your spinal health.

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Find a Chiropractor

Physical Workers

Back-related issues in Australian workplaces contribute to over one-third of workers’ compensation claims, with body stressing accounting for 37% of all serious claims in 2020-2021.6

Physical workers are often engaged in strenuous tasks that exert significant pressure on the spine, such as lifting heavy objects, operating machinery, and performing repetitive movements like bending or squatting. Occupations with the highest injury rates in 2020-2021 included labourers, community and personal service workers, and machinery operators and drivers.7

The repetitive nature of physical work, along with heavy lifting and prolonged periods of activity, puts physical workers at a heightened risk of musculoskeletal injuries, including back pain.

An ACA Chiropractor Can Help
ACA chiropractors specialise in assessing postural imbalances, identifying areas of weakness or strain, and providing guidance on effective strategies to help prevent injuries. By providing targeted and low impact adjustments, ACA chiropractors can treat the cause of back pain, not just the symptoms.

Download our free ‘Back Pain and Physical Workers’ flyer to take back control of your spinal health.

View full references

Find a Chiropractor

Inactive Australians

56% of Australians aren’t getting enough physical activity.8 This sedentary lifestyle can lead to a host of health issues, with back pain being a significant concern.

Hours spent seated at an office desk followed by extended periods of inactivity, such as watching television, can result in poor posture and weight gain, exacerbating musculoskeletal problems like back pain. Left untreated, this pain can become a chronic health issue.

An ACA Chiropractor Can Help
ACA chiropractors offer comprehensive assessments of your posture and provide targeted adjustments to correct misalignments, alleviate discomfort, and enhance your spinal health. Taking a holistic approach to healthcare, ACA chiropractors can also improve mobility, strengthening your spine and boosting overall health and wellbeing.

Stand corrected with an ACA chiropractor and take proactive steps towards a healthier, pain-free life.

Download our free ‘Back Pain and Inactive Australians’ flyer to take back control of your spinal health.

View full references

Find a Chiropractor

Factsheets

To learn more about back pain and the benefits of chiropractic healthcare, download our free Back Pain Factsheet.

This comprehensive resource provides valuable insights into the impact and causes of back problems and how chiropractic healthcare can help alleviate pain and improve your quality of life. Don’t let back pain hold you back. Consult a chiro today for drug-free pain relief.

Download our free Back Pain Factsheet.

Download other factsheets:

If you frequently sit, stand, or perform lifting and bending tasks for work, explore our range of factsheets designed to support your spinal health and overall wellbeing.

Back Pain Checklist

SHW24-DL-ChecklistCheck out our new back pain checklist flyer, detailing common symptoms to help you identify and manage your condition.

Download the Back Pain Checklist

 

SHW Online Competition

SHW Online Competition

Enter our SHW online competition by simply telling us in 50 words or less ‘how chiropractic has helped alleviate your back pain symptoms’ for your chance to win a Dyson Cyclone V10™ vacuum valued at $1,099.00. As a condition of entry participants must also be following our Consult a Chiro Facebook and Instagram pages.

The competition runs from Monday 8 April 2024 to Monday 27 May 2024 and the winner will be notified on Monday 3 June 2024.

The Spinal Health Week online competition has been won by Caitlin Magagna: – Congratulations Caitlin!

I suffer from Cystic Fibrosis and see a chiropractor once a month to adjust my ribs and back. By doing this, it helps me breathe and open my lungs more. As breathing is an every day difficulty for me, see my Chiro is essential.

Kids Colouring Competition

Kids Colouring Competition

Calling all creative kids! We’re excited to invite your little ones to join our colouring competition for a chance to win fantastic prizes. Children aged 7-12 can compete for a pair of ‘JBL Jr310 Kids On-Ear Headphones’, while those 6 and under could win a ‘Plastic Drink Bottle With Strap 400ml’.

To enter, simply download and print the colouring sheet from the link below. Then, let your child’s imagination run wild and colour it in their own special way.

Download the colouring sheet.

The SHW Kids Colouring Competition is now closed.

Straighten Up App

While your chiropractor can’t be there 24/7 correcting your posture, the Straighten Up app can! Designed to act as ‘Your Pocket Chiropractor’, this app aims to address the growing posture issues and back pain problems faced by Australians.

Some of the features of the app include setting reminders to receive notifications about sitting right, stretching, taking breaks and improving your posture. The app also includes a 3-minute exercise program designed to improve spinal health, stabilise core muscle groups and more. The app also shows a list of local ACA chiropractors to help you find a chiropractor near you.

Download the Straighten Up app today.

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Consult a Chiro

Every week over 400,000 chiropractic consultations are providing Australians with effective pain relief.

Chiropractic care is not a one size fits all healthcare option. Chiropractors carefully assess each patient individually and tailor their care accordingly.

By using a variety of non-surgical techniques, such as specific spinal adjustments, manual therapy and low-force intervention, chiropractors offer a drug-free, hands-on approach to spinal healthcare.

Find your local ACA chiropractor

Media

23 April 2024: Media Alert: Combatting Australia’s Back Pain Epidemic: National Spinal Health Week Champions a Healthier Future for Australia’s 6.1million Back Pain Sufferers

19 May 2024: Media Release: New Data Uncovers Australia’s Back Pain Crisis: Spinal Health Week Champions WHO Guideline for Condition Impacting 8.35M Households

National Spinal Health Week 2024 Journalist Notes

21 May 2024: Media Release: New Data Shows Alarming Impact of Back Pain on Australian Women

23 May 2024: Media Release: Ground-breaking research ‘Unlocks spinal health for older Australians

For interviews with Australian Chiropractors Association representatives and case studies contact:

Media Contact:

Clare Collins | 0414 821 957 | [email protected]

Alice Collins  | 0414 686 091 | [email protected]

Previous Campaign Videos

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018