RI chiropractors support National Chiropractic Month’s Straighten Up and Move platform

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recognizes October as National Chiropractic Month. The doctors of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island (CSRI), one of the oldest chiropractic associations in the country, recently announced its support of the theme for this year’s NCHM—Straighten Up and Move.

“The biggest challenge to a spine’s alignment is sitting. Many Americans are in a chair the clear majority of the time we are awake and that can have some serious spine and health consequences,” said Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island and chiropractic physician at Aquidneck Chiropractic in Middletown, Rhode Island. “The month-long awareness campaign, in addition to touting the health benefits of chiropractic, is to encourage people to get out their chairs and move around.”

According to the Smithsonian.com, the average office worker spends five hours and forty-one minutes at his or her desk. Research spurred by James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, revealed that reducing the amount of time spent seated can minimize the risk of issues in several major health areas. Tops among the benefits of reduced sitting is obesity. Levine’s research revealed office workers with opportunities to move around were less likely to put on weight than ones that did not.

Type 2 Diabetes and other metabolic problems can also be alleviated as sitting for extended periods of time is correlated with reduced effectiveness in regulating levels of glucose in the bloodstream, part of a condition known as metabolic syndrome that dramatically increases the chance of type 2 diabetes.

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease is another area as scientists have found that adults who spend two or more hours per day sitting have a 125 percent increased risk of health problems related to cardiovascular disease, including chest pain and heart attacks. In addition, studies suggest that extended periods of sitting can be linked with a higher risk of many forms of cancer. Breast and colon cancer appear to be most influenced by physical activity (or lack thereof).

Conversely, reducing seating time subsequently improves the opportunity for a longer life. A 2012 study found that if the average American reduced his or her sitting time to three hours per day, life expectancy would climb by two years.

“The reality is that most people have to work and for many that means sitting at a desk. To minimize the impact to your back and spine, make it a point to get up and stretch at least once an hour or as needed. If you are in your vehicle for long periods at a time, plan a stop to stretch if it’s more than an hour,” said Dr. Gottfried. “Another option if you’re seated at a work station is to see if you’re employer will provide a standing desk. With these desks you can adjust the height so standing at your work stations is an option. This, in addition to regular chiropractic adjustments, can greatly reduce the stress on your spine.”

All natural and without prescription medications, chiropractic has been found to be beneficial for numerous conditions above and beyond neck and back pain. Some of those include: headaches, asthma, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, colic, and stress, just to name a few. For a complete list of conditions treatable with chiropractic, visit www.richiro.org.

For information about National Chiropractic Month, visit www.acatoday.org.

About Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island (CSRI)

Founded in 1918, CSRI is one of the oldest chiropractic associations in the United States and represents more than 25 percent of the chiropractic physicians in the Ocean State. In addition to providing a regional voice for chiropractors in the business and legislative arenas, CSRI also helps educate the general public on the benefits of chiropractic. Those all-natural benefits can include relief from headaches, asthma, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, colic, and stress, just to name a few. The Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island is located at 1272 West Main Road, Building 2, Middletown, RI 02842. For more information, call (401) 207-0700 or visit www.RIchiro.org.

Find us on the map