National Back Care Week

Back Care Week 4th - 10th October 2008

BackCare Awareness Week is an annual national health awareness campaign, which aims to highlight the importance of back care.  This year, the campaign will be focussed on the theme of back pain in the work place. You need to think about how you sit at your desk, use your computer, lift and carry things, push or pull heavy loads. And don’t forget to apply these same ideas at home as well as at work. Watch your back when gardening, doing housework, looking after children or shopping. Remember, prevention is always better the cure, more so with respect to your backs. Choosing an ergnomic office chair is as important as your filing. Always adjust your workstation to suit you, whether you're working at home, in the office, or sharing a desk. Even if it is not possible to prevent back pain altogether, there is a lot you can do to prevent the negative consequences of back pain.

BackCare - UK charity promoting BackCare Week

Two out of every five adults will experience back pain sometime in the next 12 months, and it costs the UK £6 billion each year in benefits, treatments and lost production?

The current guidelines on back pain is no longer bed rest. One should get up & get moving as best you can. The movement will help the inflammation to drain away from the area. In truth - osteopaths have always advised this, however there are certain symptoms & clinical signs, that may constitute an emergency.

See articles page for articles on back problems & back pain advice, including low back pain, when to see an osteopath, GP or go straight to Accident & Emergency. Whatever else you do - do not panic! This will only make the pain worse! If need be - take slow deep breaths in through the nose and gently breathe all the way out.

Updated 09 February 2008