Free spinal checks to mark Back Care Week

Oct 7 2008 by Jenny Wood, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

IT is hands on to prevent the misery of back pain and mark national back care awareness week.

Back Care Awareness Week is an annual national campaign running until October 10, which aims to highlight the importance of back care and, as part of the health drive, Perth osteopath David McCabe is offering free spinal checks to help locals lead a life free of pain.

A survey by Backcare, the charity for healthier backs, found 45% of people with bad backs missed school or work as a result of pain.

But according to David, it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Our work is not just about helping ease back pain, it is also about preventing it in the first place,” he explained, inviting the PA along to find out more about spinal checks.

Reporter Jenny Wood headed along with her seemingly healthy spine to find out what back news David had in store for her.

“Like most people I get the odd ache sitting in front of the computer and lift things the wrong way, but never really give my back much thought,” she admitted.

“Just by standing in front of David, from my back he knew I was right handed and could tell I was twisting ever so slightly to compensate for knee surgery I had on a sports injury as a teenager,” Jenny said.

A tiny bit of treatment, a big “crack” from her back, and some tips to keep her spine in top shape and, luckily with little to worry about, Jenny trotted back to the PA office.

But many are not so fortunate. Charity Backcare’s vice patron Dame Carol Black, the UK’s national director for health and work, described the extent of the problem in the UK.

“Musculo-skeletal disorders, of which back pain is the most common, have accounted for around one in eight of all sick notes issued in recent years.

“It’s a huge problem, which we have to tackle now for the good of the workforce both today and tomorrow,” she said.

“Early intervention is key to achieving a quick and sustained recovery and avoiding long-term ill-health.

“Being able to continue working in a supportive and healthy environment is also important.

“But having an employer who recognises and understands the issues before acting quickly to remedy them is also vital,” stressed Dame Carol.

Free spinal checks are available on Friday from noon at the South Inch Osteopaths clinic at 1 Marshall Place in Perth.