Back Care Awareness Week is celebrated every year, usually in October. This year, it will be held from October 3 to 7. The week is organized in an attempt to raise awareness about back issues as well as how to manage back pain.
What device are you using to read this? Are you laying in bed with your head on the pillow, browsing mindlessly on your phone? Are you hunched over your computer, barely a few inches from the screen? Did you say yes to either of these questions? Did you make any adjustments to your posture while reading the first few lines? If you did, then Back Care Awareness Week is for you! You can also check out our list of the best laptop stands if you’re looking for something more suitable for your back.
History of Back Care Awareness Week
Back pain has existed since the beginning of time. Almost all of us go through it at some point in our lives. It can range from a mild annoyance to a debilitating condition. This is why it’s extremely important to address how we can better manage this pain and discomfort to lead a better quality of life.
Back Care Awareness Week was established by a British charity called “BackCare,” which provides information and education in an attempt to prevent unnecessary back pain from happening in the first place. Prevention is always better than cure. However, the organization realizes that prevention is not always possible, so it also aims to help those with back problems heal or at least manage their discomfort.
BackCare also aims to provide practical as well as emotional support to people living with back pain whether it’s due to wear and tear, injury, musculoskeletal disorders such as scoliosis, spina bifida, and arthritis, or other serious underlying health conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease or cancer. BackCare was founded by a businessman and philanthropist called Stanley Grundy, who created the charity as a dedication to those living with back pain, regardless of the cause. He also wanted to educate the public on ways of preventing back pain.
Although everyone can benefit from learning how to manage, the week primarily focuses on raising awareness in adults aged 60 years and above as many people suffer age-related lower back pain owing to various physical and psychosocial changes.
Back Care Awareness Week timeline
The earliest surviving surgical text is the incomplete “Edwin Smith Papyrus'' which ends in the middle of a description of an acute back strain.
According to researchers, King Tutankhamun suffers from painful back pain and had a curved spine.
For the first time, a physician from Glasgow Royal Infirmary publishes a study claiming that back discomfort could be caused by the vertebral column and nerve system.
Businessman and philanthropist Stanley Grundy establishes the organization, BackCare.
Back Care Awareness Week FAQs
How do you know if your back pain is serious?
It may be serious if there is a sudden spike in pain or numbness, loss of bladder function, high fever, severe stomach pain, sudden weight loss, or if you have received a blow to your back. You may need to visit the emergency room in this situation.
What is the most common cause of back pain?
Strains and sprains are the most common causes. You can end up injuring muscles, tendons, or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting it safely. Sometimes people can also strain their backs by sneezing, coughing, twisting, or bending over.
How can you fix your back pain?
You can do this by exercising, quitting smoking, sitting upright, moving around more, rubbing medicated creams, trying out over-the-counter medicines, and maintaining a healthy weight. Topically applying ice or heat to the area can also bring a surprising level of pain relief for most types of lower back pain, but remember that each treatment is different and works better under specific situations.
How to Observe Back Care Awareness Week
Improve your posture
Sit up straight and improve your posture. Fixing the way you sit and walk are simple things that can have dramatic effects on your back pain. Also, consider incorporating some lifestyle changes like getting a better chair and desk or even getting a desk where you can stand and work.
Exercise
Get into weightlifting and exercising as these can have huge positive impacts on getting rid of neck and back pain. Some exercises can strengthen your neck and back muscles to help alleviate the pain.
See a professional
Visit a doctor to get checked for any underlying medical issues that may be causing the pain. In some cases, making regular appointments with a chiropractor or a physiotherapist or a massage therapist may also prove helpful.
5 Facts About Your Back That Will Blow Your Mind
Smoking damages your spine
Smoking decreases the blood flow and bone strength that your spine needs to stay strong.
Giraffes and humans have seven neck vertebrae
Given how tall giraffes are, this may come as a surprise, but both species have seven neck vertebrae.
You’re taller in the morning
You may be taller in the morning than you were when you went to bed at night due to gravity.
People get taller in space
Astronauts are taller when they return to Earth from space due to the lack of gravity there.
It’s extremely common
Around 80% of all Americans will have back pain at some point in their lives.
Why Back Care Awareness Week is Important
We’ve all been there
We’re all going to experience back pain at some point in our lives. What’s worse is that because of our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, people are dealing with it at a much younger age than before.
It raises awareness
Back Care Awareness Week creates awareness and provides information on how we can deal with our back pain. It encourages people to learn more about dealing with and overcoming back issues.
Your back pain may require medical attention
Learning more about your back pain may encourage you to visit a doctor. Although most people get some degree of back pain, chronic and debilitating pain may be a sign of a deeper underlying medical issue.
Back Care Awareness Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | October 3 | Monday |
| 2023 | October 2 | Monday |
| 2024 | October 3 | Thursday |
| 2025 | October 3 | Friday |
| 2026 | October 3 | Saturday |
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