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Health & Fitness

We've Got Your Back Draws Hundreds for Spine Health

Virginia Spine Institute started the Spinal Research Foundation to promote awareness of treatment options for back and neck injury. www.srf.org

Spinal Research Foundation Race a Hit

I used the “Coach Potato to 5K” app on my I-phone to train for the “We’ve Got Your Back” 5K held last weekend in Reston.  It’s an intervals training application for middle-aged folks to get back in shape with intermittent walking and increasingly more distant running. It worked. The race for spinal health was my first three mile plus race in over 35 years!


While not a stellar outing (my time was almost twice the winner’s mark), I did finish 21st in my category of folks in their 50s. I no longer have to admit “I used to be a runner” when I was a Langley High School cross country guy.  After losing 30 pounds over the past 18 months, I was ready to move again. And to save stress on my back, I used an indoor track with a synthetic surface at Worldgate Sport & Health in Herndon for a good part of the training.

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Research stats show over 65 million people suffer or have chronic back pain and it’s one of the most cited reasons for doctor’s visits. Another 90,000 have back or spine traumatic injury every year.  

Dr. Thomas Schuler and Dr. Brian Subach along with Dr. Michael Hasz and other associates at the Virginia Spine Institute have started something they hope will go national. The Spinal Research Foundation collaborates with other practices and researchers on health education and patient information including a Journal.

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“We’re up to eight states now,” said Dr. Schuler. The race including fundraising supports research into spinal injury and both operative and non-operative treatments: http://www.spinerf.org/learn/research

The National’s own mascot “George Washington” – he with the large head – led the crowd of perhaps 300 plus runners and family walkers who did a one mile walk/run course. Four Redskins or former players including Reed Doughty, Lorenzo Alexander, Roy Helu and Josh Leribeus served as honorary chairs along with volleyball star Danielle Mancuso.

See also the Friday Washington Post story on football players and their chronic back pain and other spinal injury: “NFL Players Endure a Lifetime of Hurt” http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/05/16/do-no-harm-retired-nfl-players-endure-a-lifetime-of-hurt/


Mike Smith is CEO of MSBD, Inc. a Reston-based business development company. He "used to run" track and cross country in our area. www.msbdinc.com

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