Promoting Public Health >>Promoting Public Health among the general public. >> Development of Guides, Manuals and Pamphlets for the Prevention of Back Problems>> Up-to-Date version of the Back Guide of the Kovacs Foundation Spanish Back School (EEDE)

UP-TO-DATE VERSION OF THE BACK GUIDE OF THE KOVACS FOUNDATION SPANISH BACK SCHOOL (EEDE).

Background.

Healthy posture ("postural hygiene") consists of adopting postures and making movements or efforts with the least load on the back possible in order to reduce the risk back pain in healthy people and to improve mobility and autonomy in back pain patients.

In order to apply these norms in daily life, it is useful to have a document that describes them clearly

Objective.

To publish a document which brings together in an understandable and educational manner the norms of healthy posture applicable to daily life.

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Description.

The "Back Guide" includes texts and illustrations on the most appropriate postures and how to carry out the ordinary movements required in daily life. It is divided into an introduction, a general section (with information on the back, its form and function, the muscles that contribute to its functioning, the mechanisms that prompt pain and the treatments that have been shown to be effective) and a section on the prevention of back problems.

While the Guide is centered on healthy posture, in the section on prevention, information and recommendations on general health, physical activity, exercise, and mental attitude are included in addition to the norms of healthy posture. These norms are divided into recommendations for postures when lying down, sitting, standing, bending, getting up and sitting down, when lifting weights, performing household chores, taking care of children and when practicing different sports (jogging, training in the gym, tennis, squash, swimming, cycling, golf, basketball, soccer and others).

The Kovacs Foundation brings this information up to date in each one of its editions of the Guide.

The Guide is included in programs to promote public health when appropriate (for example in the campaigns directed at senior citizens, workers or school children), and is distributed through the entities with which the Foundation carries out such programs (for example, Flex or the Complutense University in Madrid). Additionally, in the health care setting, the Guide is distributed to those patients in the Kovacs Back Unit who wish it.

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Along with the Kovacs Foundation the following participate in this project.

A multidisciplinary team that includes clinical physicians, experts in communication and graphic designers.

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Status.

The latest edition of the Back Guide, published in 2004, is available. Between January 1, 2000 and May 31, 2004, 22,250 copies have been distributed and new editions will be made as necessary.