What is the Spinosaurus Program?
Spinosaurus is a spinal health education program for children of primary school age. It aims to teach about the structure and the function of the spine and emphasises the importance of healthy posture, exercises and injury prevention in the care of the spine.

Why Early Intervention?
Our main focus as an early intervention program is to help young people understand more about the spine - how it works and how to look after it - as they grow into adult life. We hope to help stem the growing epidemic of back pain in our world- wide community. It has been estimated that up to 30% of children and 80% of adults experience back problems at some point in their lives(1). Studies show that certain factors such as good posture, proper regular exercise, avoiding prolonged sitting and taking care to avoid injuries may prevent certain back problems from developing later in life(2). Research indicates that childhood is a time when attitudes to health are being shaped and hence a valuable opportunity to instill health promoting behaviours for the years ahead(3).

Who is behind the Spinosaurus Program ?
The Spinosaurus program is is being developed by an independent, multidisciplinary team of health and education professionals with an interest in promoting spinal health.
It began in 1990 and resources have been trialed in schools throughout NSW (Australia) and South Australia. It has the endorsement of the World Federation of Chiropractic, the Chiropractors' Association of Australia, The Life Education Centres (Australia) and the Australian Spinal Research Foundation.

The program has been formulated in accordance with the Health Promoting Schools approach to education which is drawn from the World Health Organisation (1997).
Spinosaurus is a community-based health education program about the spine.

The Spinosaurus web site is a community service initiative of the Chiropractors Association of Australia (National) Limited.

Funding
The Spinosaurus program has received funding and support from a range of organisations.

Resources are developed and published as funding becomes available.
The program welcomes further support.

Resources
A range of resources have been developed for the Spinosaurus Program. These are detailed on the Resources page.

Child Safe Site
This site's content has been developed for children and exclusively concerns spinal health.
The only external links are to the reputable organisations listed in the "Contact" section.

Contact
Dein Vindigni.
Fax: 03 94659988

References

Following the sentence "Studies show that certain factors..." Add (2-11)
Following the last sentence "Research indicates that childhood..." add (12)

1. Dwyer AP. Backache and its prevention. Clinic. Orthop 222:35-43, 1987 12:53-59, 1980.
2. Mierau D Cassidy JD, Yong-Hing, K. Low back pain and straight leg raising in children and adolescents. Spine 14:526-528, 1989.
3. Salminen J. The adolescent back: a field survey of 370 Finnish schoolchildren Acta Paediatr Suppli 315:8-122, 1984.
4. Salminen J. Low back pain and disability in 14-year-old school children. Abstracts of the Third International Congress. Scandinavia.
5. Tertti M, Saminen J, Paajanen HEK, Terho PH, Kormano J. Low-back pain and disk degeneration in children: a case-control Mr imaging study. Radiology 180:503-507, 1991
6. Van der Linden, Sm, Fahrer H. Occurrence of spinal pain syndromes in a group apparently health and physically fit sportsmen (orienteers). Scand J Rheumatol 17:475-481, 1988.
7. Wespi H Haltungsstorungen, Scheuermannsche Krankheit und Scularzt. Sox Preaventivmed 14:137-145, 1969. (translated)
8. Cockburn J, Hennrikus D, Scott R., Sanson-Fisher RW. Adolescent use of sun-protection measures: Med Aust 151: 136-140, 1989