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Quick Spine Facts
 -The Spine
-Back Pain
-Spinal Cord Injury
-Chiropractic Care
-Neurosurgical Care
The Spine
The dynamics and supportive properties of the human spine are provided by:
| an intricate network of blood vessels | countless specialized nerve endings
hundreds of small nerve fibers which connect to structures of
the spine | | more than 220 specialized ligaments | | greater than 120 individual muscles | | over 100 intricate joints | | 34 vertebrae | | 24 presacral vertebrae -----movable | | 5 sacral and 3-5 coccygeal vertebrae------non-moveable | | 31 pairs of spinal nerves | | 23 intervertebral discs |
The human spinal column provides flexibility for movement, support for weight bearing and protection of nerve fibers. The spinal column surrounds and protects the spinal cord, which is the main pathway of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal column also protects the nerve roots and part of the autonomic nervous system.
The spine has three major types of joints:
-synarthroses
-diarthroses
-amphiarthroses
The vertebral column consists of 24 presacral (moveable) vertebrae
7 cervical vertebrae
12 thoracic vertebrae
5 lumbar vertebrae
The sacrum and coccyx are composed of fused vertebrae and are also considered part of the spinal column.
The cervical vertebrae are the most mobile of the 24 presacral spinal vertebrae.
The 12 thoracic vertebrae articulate with 12 pair of ribs. The thoracic spine is designed for a minimum of movement, thus providing protection for the internal organs.
The large stocky lumbar vertebrae are designed to support the weight of the body.Back Pain
-Four out of five adults will experience low back pain sometime during their lifetime
-After the common cold problems related to the low back are the most frequent cause of
lost workdays in individual over 45 years of age
-Back pain ranks second to headaches as the most frequent location for pain
-Greater than 65 million Americans experience back pain every year
-Back injuries are one of the most common causes for disability
-The annual costs associated with back pain runs into the tens of billions of dollars
considering lost productivity, medical expenses and worker's compensation benefitsSpinal Cord Injury
United States Statistics
Approximately 250,000 Americans have spinal cord injuries
Approximately 11,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the USA each year
Approximately one half of all spinal cord injuries in the USA result in quadriplegia
The average age of individuals with spinal cord injury is 31
Spinal cord injuries are most commonly causes by:
Vehicular accidents 35-40%
Violence 25-30%
Falls 20-25%
Sports-related activities 5-10%
Other 5-10%Chiropractic/Chiropractic Care
The profession of chiropractic was founded over 100 hundred years ago in 1895.
There are more than 10,000 students currently enrolled in chiropractic educational programs accredited by the CCE, a federally recognized accrediting body.
There are approximately 65,000 chiropractic physicians practicing in the United States.
There are approximately 85,000 chiropractic physicians worldwide.
Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed in all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Doctors of chiropractic are known to provide effective, low-cost conservative treatment for a wide range of spinal conditions.
Tens of millions of Americans routinely seek healthcare services from chiropractic physicians and this number is rapidly growing.
Chiropractic is the fastest growing and second largest primary health care profession.
Neurosurgeon/Neurosurgical Care
Neurological surgery in the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, nervous system and peripheral nerves
Neurosurgeons are the only physicians qualified to diagnose, treat and operate on the entire nervous system composed of the brain, spinal cord and spinal column as well as the nerves that travel through all parts of the body.
Neurosurgeons treat patients for much more than brain tumors.
Over 60 percent of neurosurgical procedures perfomed in the United States each year are spine related according to a recent report from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
In 1999 the four top surgical procedures performed by neurosurgeons were for spinal disorders with surgery for brain tumors being listed 5th .
Founded in 1931 s the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a as scientific and educational association with nearly 5,500 members worldwide.
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Inform a Colleague
Expand and Educate Your Spinecare Network
 Welcome to the Inform a Colleague area of the Academy Website. The American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP) strives to implement new and more efficient methods for members to communicate with other healthcare professionals. One of the most effective tools is the online "Inform a Colleague" function. This function can be used to expand and educate your spinecare referral network. It also represents a resource to conveniently inform others about trends in spinecare and about offers of organizations such as the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP), the International Spine Association (ISA). The link library also contains an application for membership with the AASP.
The online "Inform a Colleague" feature provides an invaluable time-saving service for keeping spinecare professionalsup-to-date, expanding the spinecare network, stimulating interdisciplinary referrals and for inviting colleagues to join the AASP. The library of links is always being updated with useful information and resources. The linked messages can be used to
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***Edit and/or add text where appropriate** (Inform one or more colleagues)
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Join / Renew
Member:
This level of membership is for physicians (MD, DC, DO) whose practice/interest includes patients with spinal disorders. ($295)
Affiliate Member:
This level of membership is for allied healthcare professionals involved in spinecare and/or spine research. This includes physical therapists, massage therapists, exercise physiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician's assistants, diagnostic technicians, surgical technicians, exercise instructors, personal trainers and individuals who hold a PhD and work in the field of spinecare. ($150)
Candidate Member:
This level of membership is for residents, fellows and students who have an interest in spinecare. ($35)
Membership Renewal
Membership will automatically renew each calendar year starting from the date of membership renewal or membership acceptance unless the AASP is specifically notified in writing by the member at least 30 days prior to their renewal date. Please address all correspondence to the AASP Office of Member Services.
Review the accuracy of your contact information and practice profile information including your email address. To update your profile online go to www.spinephysicians.net and login using your unique member ID and PIN as noted below.
Please notify the AASP if you no longer meet membership criteria.
This includes maintaining an active license to practice.
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American Academy of Spine Physicians
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