Getting Alberta's student bodies moving for World Spine Day!

Healthier, more active lifestyles help students achieve

EDMONTON, Oct. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - More than 11,000 students from across Alberta will celebrate World Spine Day (October 16) by participating in the launch of a brand new music video that encourages youth to get up and get moving.

Hosted by Ryan Jespersen of Breakfast Television Edmonton, the Straighten Up Alberta (SUA) music video will premiere province-wide through a live YouTube broadcast, allowing schools from across Alberta to be part of the event. In addition to the music video, students will participate in a group stretch and enjoy a live performance of Stretch Lee, the SUA theme song, performed by Alberta youth.

SUA is a public education program from Alberta's chiropractors designed to increase awareness of strong posture and help to strengthen posture to improve spinal health. "As a health profession, we recognize that encouraging students to be more active and lead a healthy lifestyle can enhance their ability to learn and achieve," says Dr. Kelly Fleck, an Edmonton area chiropractor.

"Student lifestyles are increasingly sedentary and the addition of more technology only adds to the problem," says Dr. Fleck. "We're seeing postural issues developing earlier in life, especially with things like text neck (hunching over while texting)."

Bringing SUA to schools and encouraging students to be more active and conscious of their spinal health and posture will have lasting positive effects. Schools can learn more about SUA and the music video premiere at www.straigthenupalberta.com.

The Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors regulates the chiropractic profession in Alberta under the Health Professions Act and is firmly committed to its mandate of protecting the public, ensuring accountability and improving Albertans' health and well-being. www.albertachiro.com

Backgrounder/Fact Sheet

How do day-to-day tasks affect posture?

• many back problems are the product of bad posture resulting from poor body mechanics
• poor posture is caused by:
• long periods of inactivity
• being glued to televisions and computers
• being hunched over desks and electronic devices
• jobs that require repetitive, physically taxing activities (including a lot of bending forward and lifting)

Who is affected by poor posture?

• poor posture can negatively impact anyone, young and old

What are the long-term effects of poor posture?

• chronic headaches
• TMJ dysfunction
• shoulder pain
• hunchback look from tightening and rounding in the muscles that sweep from underarms across the back
• strain and pain in your lower back
• tightening in your legs
• if permitted to develop in younger individuals, poor posture can decrease fitness and activity levels resulting in the potential for increased health problems later in life

What is Straighten Up Alberta?

• a web-based, public education program
• series of easy-to-perform stretching movements, takes only minutes per day
• helps Albertans develop better posture and improve their spinal health
• can be used by anyone as a warm-up, cool down, stand-alone routine or ergonomic break
• can be practiced anytime, anywhere, no equipment required

Why do Straighten Up Alberta?

• Straighten Up Alberta is specifically designed and completely dedicated to improving posture and spinal health
• when evaluated in the US, of the study participants who practiced Straighten Up for five weeks:
• 83% reported improved their posture,
• 78% reported strengthened core muscles, and
• 80% reported their backs were more comfortable from sitting and standing more upright

SOURCE: Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

Media contact:
Tara Madden, Public Relations Coordinator
Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors
780.420.0932 (office) /780.999.8047 (cell)
[email protected]