Getting Back on Track through Movement

2020 has certainly proved to be the year of Challenges, not just locally, or even nationally, but on a global scale. In what seemed like overnight, our perceived ‘normal’ way of life, our jobs, education, entire industries, basic living practices and routines we all became accustomed to and dare I say, took for granted, changed and we as a global society had to adapt to a new way of living in ways we wouldn’t have conceived as possible. It has taken time, however as the dust starts to settle and we begin the baby steps of recovery and understanding what our new ‘normal’ is, we can start to appreciate just how adaptable we are.  

This incredible ability to adapt to new circumstances doesn’t just apply to our way of living, the human body itself has been created with the same unique and innate ability to readily change and adapt to its environment, quicker than our ability to consciously be aware of such changes.  

“Neuroplasticity research showed that the brain changes its very structure with each different activity it performs, perfecting its circuits so it is better suited to the task at hand – Naveen Jain” 

The lockdown’s and restrictions seen as a result of coronavirus, has seen drastic impacts on our ability to remain active and mobile. More of us are now working from home, the opportunities and capacity to move (travelling to and from work, gym, running/exercise classes) initially (still for some) have reduced and we are spending more time in a sedentary environment.  This change in routine alone has seen an increase in musculoskeletal complaints.[1] 

Interestingly, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010, Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability WORLDWIDE! This is incredible. In Australian alone, it is estimated that 4 million people have back problems and that a staggering 90% of Australians will experience back pain at least once in their lives. [2]

These statistics alone highlight why it is imperative that we as a society understand the importance of exercise, posture and movement as well as self-care activities that help promote good spinal health.

Today we celebrate World Spine Day and their Back on Track campaign, which celebrates people being able to reactivate and revitalize their bodies by getting out and focusing on effective spine care.  

Good spinal health is something we here at Your Body Works proudly promote all year round, however today we are challenging our families to get creative and find new and fun ways to reactive and revitalize their bodies, to get “Back on Track” and focus on effective spinal health. 

References 

1.        Hoy D, March L, Brooks P, Blyth F, Woolf A, Bain C, et al. The global burden of low back pain : estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. 2014;968–74.

2.        Welfare AI of H and. Back problems What are back problems ? 2020;5(August).