Straighten Up Canada
How many hours a day do you spend sitting? Reading, using computers, driving, watching TV —all that sitting adds up and can cause back and neck pain, especially if you have poor posture. Did you know that lower back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions account for one third of missed work in Canada?
It’s time to Straighten Up Canada and improve your spinal health!
Canada’s chiropractors have developed a video series for that. Straighten Up Canada is a free, easy-to-perform posture program that you can use for just three minutes a day.
The Straighten Up Canada program can be practised almost anywhere and is a great warm up, cool down, stand-alone routine or ergonomic break.
Watch the Straighten Up Canada exercise videos online
The development of this video series has been supported by the CCA and all provincial associations including: Council of the Nova Scotia College of Chiropractors, Association des chiropratician du Quebec, Chiropractor’s Association of Saskatchewan, Chiropractic Manitoba, Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors, Newfoundland and Labrador Chiropractic Association, Ontario Chiropractic Association, Prince Edward Island Chiropractic Association, New Brunswick Chiropractors Association.
Straighten Up Canada Support FAQ
How long do these exercises take to perform?
The benefit of this video series is that with some practice these easy-to-perform stretching movements only take three minutes each day.
Is this program actually proven to improve posture?
The Straighten Up program was first launched in the U.S. in 2005. A study in the U.S. found that people who practiced the Straighten Up exercises daily for five consecutive weeks experienced improved posture, stronger core muscles, and felt more comfortable..
are the videos available in any other language than English?
Yes, the videos are currently available in English and French.
Who can I contact if I have a question or recommendation about these videos?
You can email all questions or recommendations to info@chiropractic.ca.
Good posture will help you to:
- Look and feel even better than you already do,
- Prevent back aches and muscle pains,
- Decrease wear and tear on your joints,
- Use less energy for daily tasks, and
- Increase your spine’s flexibility and resilience.
How is my posture affected by daily activities?
Poor posture is caused by:
- Long periods of inactivity
- Being hunched over desks, computers and handheld 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 benefits of stronger posture and improved spinal health?
There are a number of benefits from maintaining good posture:
- Keeps bones and joints in alignment so muscles can be used more efficiently
- Allows body to use less energy for daily tasks
- Helps decrease wear on joints that could otherwise result in arthritis
- Decreases stress on ligaments that hold the joints of the spine together
- Helps prevent back ache and muscular pain
- Increases flexibility and stress tolerance of the spine
- Makes you look great!