Massage can help ease back and neck pain (file photo/The Canadian Press)

By Alison Sandstrom

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Sit up straight: notes on World Spine Day

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Chiropractors across the globe have declared today “World Spine Day,” and if you suffer from back pain you’re not alone.

Statistics suggest that eight out of ten people will experience the problem in their lives.

P.A. chiropractor Blaine Broker said for many of his clients, the issue has widespread effects on their life.

“Back pain affects their work, it affects their social life, their family life and their recreation,” he explained to paNOW.

Broker said that over the course of his 31-year career, lower back pain has consistently been the number one problem that brings people to his office. In his estimation, its prevalence has remained unchanged over that time period.

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He attributes the problem to sedentary lifestyles and jobs, recommending that the number one thing people can do to combat it is to exercise regularly. Core strengthening exercises can also be useful.

Local massage therapist Cyndal Halcrow agrees lower back pain is a common problem among her clients. Often it’s caused by stress, which causes muscles to tighten, and poor posture as people spend long hours slumped at their desks.

“Taking care to watch your posture, I know it’s hard but if people can keep it their head ‘okay I need to straighten up I’m sitting at a computer’ that helps,” she said.

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom