July 2005

Straighten‑Up America program shares broad vision of goals

by Dr. Ron Kirk, Facilitator, Straighten Up America, Life University and Dr. Stephen Simonetti, President, Congress of Chiropractic State Associations

At this time, the chiropractic profession in collaboration with a broad range of other health promotion experts is taking a bold new step forward to empower the American people toward improving their quality of life. This step is the innovative and enjoyable spinal health program called "Straighten Up America."

The vision driving "Straighten Up America" is very simple. We envision a time when every American will take two or three minutes each day to care for their spinal health, just as they care for their dental health. As you are aware, the need for spinal health promotion is very great as evidenced by the many billions of dollars spent each year related to spinal disabilities. Yet, up to this time, a short, simple spinal exercise program designed to promote the public's spinal health was not available.

To address this problem, a five‑person expert seed panel and a diversely comprised Delphi review panel began, in the summer of 2004, shaping a spinal health program called "Straighten Up America." The Delphi panel now includes approximately 50 state, national and international chiropractic organization leaders, 17 chiropractic college presidents and program heads, 23 college clinic directors, numerous health promotion and fitness experts, and officials and researchers from the World Health Organization.

A free public service program, "Straighten Up" is packed into three minutes of fun, engaging, easy‑to‑perform healthful activities. Equally useful as an ergonomic break, exercise warm‑up or cool‑down, "Straighten Up" is designed to get people of all ages and ethnicity up and moving, while they improve their posture and spinal health. The program also includes a short cutting edge set of healthy lifestyle recommendations congruent with the goals and objectives of Healthy People 2010, America on the Move, Steps to a Healthier US and the 5‑A‑Day programs.

Though still in its infancy as a health initiative, "Straighten Up" has garnered an array of accolades from health and fitness leaders including Lee Haney, past chairman of the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Haney describes the program as "awesome" with "vision and much promise." In January 2005, Tommy Thompson, then Secretary of Health and Human Services, "commended" the individuals who developed "Straighten Up America" for their "leadership in the field of spinal health."

Our hope is that this simple public service program will empower many millions of Americans to improve their spinal health. Fulfilling this vision will take hard work and an extensive cooperative effort, but we are committed to the task.

When we tested the program last summer, the results were very promising. After five weeks of daily practice of "Straighten Up" exercises, 83% of study participants reported that they had improved their posture; 78% reported that they had strengthened their core muscles; 80% reported that they sit and stand more uprightly and that their backs were more comfortable. Participants in our initial assessments ranged from college students to individuals in their eighties. We have also taught "Straighten Up" to young children, who are practicing the enjoyable activities enthusiastically. We hope that beneficial spinal health habits will be learned and practiced by America's children and children around the world. Dr. Jose Carlos Martines, the Director of the Child and Adolescent Health and Development Cluster of the World Health Organization, shares this hope and helped to shape the program as a Delphi panel member.

An exciting horizon is opening for the chiropractic profession, in which we emphasize educating the public in health promotion and wellness practices. The implementation of "Straighten Up America" will reposition our identity with the public for decades to come. We are currently preparing to launch "Straighten Up America" as a national health initiative, and with your help, we will succeed. In March 2005, an influential, well‑connected advocacy group named Valis Associates contacted us to assist in launching "Straighten Up" through obtaining Congressional appropriations funding. Valis Associates is positioned to educate the White House, Congress and federal agencies and to work to obtain federal funding, support and recognition of "Straighten Up America." Among their advocacy efforts and activities, Valis Associates will conduct an intense, multifaceted fundraising campaign, organize a Congressional "Straighten Up America" Day and arrange demonstrations of the program to members of Congress and staff. Valis will also organize and conduct a Congressional information drop ‑‑ delivering information packets to all House and Senate offices. This six month advocacy program to obtain Congressional endorsement of "Straighten Up America" will cost $60,000.00.

To successfully seek appropriations for the current session of Congress, advocacy must begin very soon. We need your help to receive Congressional approval and funding in order to propel the profession of chiropractic forward and position doctors of chiropractic as leaders in spinal health and wellness. We are asking larger chiropractic organizations for a donation of at least $5,000.00. Any amount is welcomed from smaller organizations and individual doctors. Checks can be made payable to Life University‑Straighten Up America or COCSA‑Straighten Up America and mailed to the appropriate address below. You may also contribute via VISA, Master Card or American Express.

This is the chiropractic profession's time to rise together in public service. In our cooperative efforts, Life University will continue to facilitate the Seed and Delphi panels for "Straighten Up America" and serve as the Coordinating Center for the chiropractic academic community. The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations will serve as the Coordinating Center for chiropractic state organizations as together we reach out to educate and serve the public in this bold and innovative initiative. Both organizations will work cooperatively with chiropractic's national organizations so that "Straighten Up America" will be taught to all chiropractic college students and to all practitioners. The profession will then educate the public and especially our children in developing and habituating excellent spinal health habits.

A new day of service and health promotion is dawning for the chiropractic profession through this unique opportunity. Your support is absolutely vital to assure success for all of us. Together we can and will make a difference.

For more information, you may call or e-mail: Ron Kirk DC, Facilitator of the Seed and Delphi Panels, at 770‑426‑2709 or rkirk@life.edu; Jeffrey S. Fedorko DC, Vice‑President of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations, at 330‑494‑0422 or VP101@aol.com; or Janet Jordan, CAE, Executive Director of the Congress, at 803‑356‑6809 or cocsa@sc.rr.com.