Don't let back pain hijack your holiday

/ Riverside Chiropractic/

Every year I go away for a girls' weekend with my friends from high school. It is definitely a highlight on our calendars. We hire a pimping Airbnb so we can spend time catching up without being interrupted by our offspring, go for a nice bushwalk, eat out and lots of lazing around. This time one of my friends, had a sore neck and shoulder so, of course, I couldn't help myself but give her an adjustment. She felt much better after it. 

Now, not all of us go away with a chiropractor, so what can you do to help reduce the chance of back or neck pain making your holiday less enjoyable, cause let's face it, you've earnt your holiday.

  • Regular breaks - "stop, revive & survive" actually move around, don't just get out of your car and sit somewhere else. If you are on a plane, walk around the cabin or the airport terminal.

  • Stretching - I walk up to the back of the plane and spend time stretching there. I don't care what other people think, I want to feel good. My favourite stretches are chest, front of thigh, glutes and neck. If you would like a stretch handout, you can find it on my here, scroll down to find upper and lower body stretches.

  • Use a small pillow or roll up your jumper and place it in the small of your back to support your posture.

  • Take your pillow as hotel pillows are often the wrong size

  • Use a U-shaped pillow on long trips to support your neck whilst sleeping

  • Take a small massage ball away with you to work into those knots

  • Come in and get adjusted before you leave, even if you are feeling fine as spinal problems can appear seemingly out of no where

If you would like a chiropractic session or massage before you leave for your holiday, please schedule an appointment. Have a fun and safe trip.

Your Guide to Pain-Free Holiday Travel

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Bottom Line:

Holiday travel can be brutal on your body. Long hours spent jammed into a small seat on an airplane has the potential to cause a flare up of pain in your low back or neck. Even if you are traveling by car, be careful when lifting suitcases that are stuffed with an entire closet worth of clothes and gifts.  Proper spinal alignment can help your body function at it’s the highest level and keep the holiday back pain at bay!

Why it Matters:

Your spine performs at its best when it has a balance of strength and flexibility. Chiropractic adjustments help your spine move comfortably through its entire range of motion. What’s more, when your spine is in alignment and balanced, your muscles perform better. Lifting too much weight at awkward angles can put a tremendous amount of stress on your spine and cause injuries, and after a few hours of sitting still in a plane or a car, your body isn't prepared to immediately start lifting 50 lb. suitcases. Be prepared and take a few moments during your travel to stretch, move your body, and warm up before doing any heavy lifting.

 - Stop in and get adjusted before you leave on vacation to improve how you feel and function.

- If your flight is more than an hour, be sure to get up and stretch your legs.

- Be cautious and lift with your legs when moving suitcases and gifts.

Next Steps:

A lot of patients have told us that getting that adjustment before leaving for their vacation helped them avoid having a relapse of pain. Give your back a gift and consider coming in to get an adjustment before leaving on your vacation, and from our family to yours, happy holidays!

Science Source:

The effect of spinal manipulative therapy on spinal range of motion: a systematic literature review. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2012