Back Boot Camp: Basic Training for your Spine will be open to anyone interested in learning more about back problems, how to prevent them and how to treat them.

The class will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va., on the second floor of the heart center, room 205. It will be the thrid Monday in each month.

Randall H. James, D.O., Penny Arthur, CNRN, and Rick Stocker, PTA, comprise the team heading up the class.

“What we have is an educational class for the public to teach about anatomy and types of back injuries, hip pain and leg pain, causes, signs and symptoms, kinds of injuries that cause back pain and how doctors treat it,” James said.

“We will educate so they will know if they need to go to the doctor, and if the doctor gives them answers, they can understand,” he added.

The class is free and registration isn’t required, but appreciated so they can have adequate supplies.

“We will have lots of information and we’re there to answer questions,” he said.

James said one of the biggest disability claims is because of back problems. He added that the less mobile a person is, the more likely they are to have back problems, and the more severe the back problems, the less mobile they will be.

“It’s a vicious cycle,” he said.

James said one of the most important things a person can do is to know his own body. If a person has aches and pains, James said not to discount that, but to get it checked out promptly.

“A lot of people think nothing can be done or they self-diagnose. If we can catch it early, we can help and cure spine fractures,” James said. “We want to educate the public to know when to go to the doctors.”

It’s a misconception for people to think that nothing can be done to help back pain.

“There are a lot of things we can do,” he said. “It depends on diagnosis and severity. Ninety percent can be treated. Not all can be cured, but some can.”

He said things ranging from a change in lifestyle to injections or surgeries can make a big difference. He added that less than 2 percent of back pain requires surgery.

“There are things that can be done and that’s what we want to let people know,” he said.

For more information or to register for the class, call 304-526-1469.