[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5787]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 5787]]

                          EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

                          BACK TO HEALTH MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday was the first day of ``Back 
to Health Month,'' a national campaign created to increase awareness of 
back pain as well as possible causes and prevention. Sponsored by the 
North American Spine Society, this month is designed to educate 
Americans about their spine and how they can prevent common back 
injuries.

  The facts of back pain speak for themselves. Did you know that at 
some point in their lives, more than 80 percent of American adults will 
experience back pain? Or, that 1 out of 14 adults will visit a 
physician this year due to back or neck pain, and that back pain is the 
second most common reason people visit a physician? These statistics 
demonstrate how important it is to raise awareness about this health 
problem that affects too many Americans.

  One famous American who suffers from back pain is 1993 Major League 
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Reggie Jackson. Jackson was a two-time 
World Series MVP and Major League Player of the Year in 1973. During 
his legendary career, Jackson was named to the Major League All-Star 
team fourteen times. However, last July, like so many other Americans, 
following a spine injury, Jackson underwent emergency spine surgery and 
has been undergoing spine rehabilitation ever since.

  Another highlight of ``Back to Health Month'' is an event to 
distribute information about back pain. ``Back to Health Day'' on 
Capitol Hill will be held on April 24th, in the Rayburn Gold Room. 
``Back to Health Day'' will provide an array of educational materials, 
including guidelines to a healthy back, exercises to strengthen your 
back, and how to prevent back pain. In addition, representatives from 
the North American Spine Society will be on hand to discuss commonly 
asked questions about back pain, causes and prevention. I encourage my 
colleagues to join us for ``Back to Health Day'' as we learn the most 
effective ways to prevent and alleviate back pain.

  I commend the North American Spine Society for organizing ``Back to 
Health Month'' and for their commitment to ensuring that Americans 
learn to keep their backs healthy.

                          ____________________