October 16th is observed annually as World Spine Day. It’s a day to raise awareness about the conditions and diseases that can affect a person’s spine. It also aims to highlight the treatments currently available for those with spinal conditions.

It’s estimated that one out of four adults worldwide will have to contend with back pain during their lifetime. It’s also estimated that over a billion people around the world regularly deal with back pain. That’s why it’s important to observe this holiday when it comes around every year.

The History of World Spine Day

In Cornwall, England, in the year 2000, the Bone and Joint Decade was established, consisting of action networks across dozens of countries. The goal of this organization was to improve the quality of life for people with musculoskeletal disorders. In October of 2012, they officially launched World Spine Day to raise awareness about spinal disorders.

This holiday is now part of BJD Action Week — an event that occurs from October 12th through October 20th. World Spine Day is currently sponsored by the World Federation of Chiropractic, with the support of over 500 other organizations.

Incredible Facts About the Human Spine

Despite its problems, the human spine is still a remarkable piece of natural design. The spine is the main structural support for the human body, and as a result, it has to withstand a lot of strain throughout a person’s life.

Most of the time, it does this just fine. Its strength is why we wanted to talk a little more about it today. Let’s take a few moments and check out some of the facts that we’ve learned while researching World Spine Day.

• At birth, a newborn baby has 33 vertebrae. By the time a person reaches 25, it’s normal for them to have only 26 due to some of them fusing together.
• Humans and giraffes each have the same number of bones in their necks, which is seven.
• The average spine contains 100 joints, 120 muscles, and 220 individual ligaments.

Observing World Spine Day

World Spine Day is a holiday observed all across the globe. It’s not only observed in the U.S. and the U.K but also in Canada, Slovenia, Turkey, and parts of Africa. On this day, various organizations take the time to educate the public about spinal conditions, screening options for these conditions, and the treatment options available.

People can spread the word about this day using the hashtag #WorldSpineDay to increase the holiday’s presence on the internet and by donating money to organizations that are working to find new treatments for spinal conditions.