Look well to the spine for causes of disease…
With the recent commemoration of World Spine Day, Dr Praveena Maharaj – highly experienced in treating spinal disorders in all age groups – shares her thoughts and insights on spinal health matters
HIPPOCRATES, the Father of Medicine, once said: “Look well to the spine for the causes of disease.”
What this means is that misaligned (subluxed) bones in the spine can cause organs not to function optimally, which leads to a disease.
When the spine is properly aligned with its natural curvature and the entire body – from the ears to the shoulders to the hips, knees and down to the ankles and feet – is in balance, we maximise spine health and avoid poor posture-related pain and dysfunction.
Ideal posture creates ideal balance; it also optimises breathing and circulation.
Only a chiropractor can determine if your sickness is due to a subluxed vertebra in your spine and this is done by conducting various physical tests and, in some cases, with the use of spinal X-rays.
Medical and chiropractic literature over the last 30 years supports the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in terms of saving money and patient satisfaction.
Your spine runs from the top of your neck to your tailbone, it protects the spinal cord and 32 pairs of spinal nerves.
With an estimated one billion people worldwide suffering from back pain, it affects all age groups, from children to the elderly.
It is the biggest single cause of disability on the planet, with one in four adults estimated to suffer from back pain during their lives.
THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF SPINAL DISORDERS:
● Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010.
● Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
● Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives.
● Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic – meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
October 16 marked the seventh official World Spine Day, aimed at raising awareness of back pain and other spinal issues. Health professionals, exercise and rehabilitation experts, public health advocates, schoolchildren and patients all participating, the #LoveYourSpine campaign was celebrated on every continent. Prevention is therefore key and this year’s World Spine Day encouraged people to take steps to be kind to their spines.
#LoveYourSpine! highlighted the importance of spinal health and wellbeing; promotion of physical activity, good posture, responsible lifting and healthy working conditions will all feature as people are encouraged to look after their spines and stay active.
● Maharaj is a chiropractor in private practice at the Reservoir Hills and Mandini Chiropractic Clinics. She featured as Mail & Guardian’s top 200 Young South Africans of 2012 and has been on SABC’s Mela Show. She is also a Master’s level research supervisor and clinical instructor at the Durban University of Technology.