Give a Squat 4 Pain campaign

Don't just sit there, September is pain awareness month. The American Chronic Pain Association's (ACPA) Give a Squat 4 Pain campaign will raise funds for education and support programmes that help those living with chronic pain live more fully. Anyone can participate either individually or as a group by finding a wall or any vertical surface and: assuming the squat position and holding it for as long as you can, longer than your friends. You'll start to feel the burn, but that's the point. While your legs still hurt, visit theacpa.org and make a donation. Lastly, challenge others to complete a wall squat by sharing yours on social media including the #GiveASquat4Pain.

 

Background

In early 2001, the American Chronic Pain Association established a Pain Awareness Campaign. This undertaking pulled together many organizations across the country whose missions complement the ACPA’s under the umbrella of Partners for Understanding Pain. A key element of the effort was to establish September as Pain Awareness Month. This coalition was committed to raising awareness through mass media, public forums, and other sources so that chronic pain may be more readily recognized, better understood without the traditional stigma attached, and more fittingly treated and managed. The partnership, spearheaded by the American Chronic Pain Association, strived to create greater understanding among health care professionals, individuals and families who are struggling with pain management, the business community, legislators, and the public that pain is a serious public health issue. Through its members, each of whom brought its own perspective to the dialogue, Partners for Understanding Pain represents a comprehensive network of resources and knowledge about issues in pain management. Partners for Understanding Pain is dedicated to building the understanding and support that can help people with chronic, acute, and cancer pain lead better lives.

The common theme throughout the campaign has been a need for increased understanding, communication, education and access to care. As we move forward into 2017 and expand our reach around the globe, our plan is to have Partners for Understanding Pain come together with the International Alliance of Patient Organizations and International Pain Management Network to learn about key challenges faced in pain management today and to help formulate strategies to push pain to the top of the international healthcare agenda.  Some of the key issues that we want to explore in the past include:

• Build synergies and share information and resources;
• Create opportunities to work together on problems critical to each group’s mission;
• Build alliances and set strategies to increase understanding of issues faced when living with pain. 
• Ensure a balanced approach to helping individuals manage pain so they can live fuller, more active lives. 

The partnership strives to create greater understanding among health care professionals, individuals and families who are struggling with pain management, the business community, legislators, and the public that pain is a serious public health issue. Through its members, each of whom brings its own perspective to the dialogue, Partners for Understanding Pain represents a comprehensive network of resources and knowledge about issues in pain management. For more information visit the ACPA website.

The 2017 Pain Awareness Month Tool Kit with resources to help you plan your activities is now available. Regardless of your priorities, the campaign can be easily adapted for use in your local and national activities. Through a global effort we can together achieve increased awareness among relevant stakeholders so that chronic pain can be recognised, effectively treated and managed.

2017 Pain Toolkit