It's that time of year again! The holiday
travel season is upon us! Will you be joining the millions of Americans lugging
their suitcases through a busy airport or in and out of a car? If so, here are
some tips that may help you avoid back pain during your holiday season!
If you are traveling by car, try these tips to avoid neck and back pain:
1. Use proper body mechanics to lift
your luggage into and out of your vehicle. When you are lifting
your suitcase, remember to bend at the knees, draw it close to you and
then stand up.
2. Support your lower back during your
drive. If your seat does not have adequate lumbar support, a small travel
pillow or rolled up towel will give you added support and comfort.
3. Prolonged sitting while on a long car
trip can aggravate your back pain. Stop every few hours and get out
of the car to stretch and walk around. Bonus: this will help prevent blood
clots too.
4. Take at least one meal break during
your trip. This gives you time to walk around, change positions, and
stretch your back out.
If you are traveling by airplane, here are some tips to help avoid neck and back pain:
1. When you are at the airport, rent a
pull cart for transporting your luggage to help reduce the risk of
injuring your back.
2. Invest in a suitcase with wheels. By pulling the suitcase instead of carrying a
heavy bag through the airport, you may prevent a back injury.
3. Avoid carrying heavy objects, such as
a laptop or duffle bag, by a shoulder strap.
4. If you are flying a long
distance, avoid sitting in your seat for too long. Stand up and
stretch your lower back. Walk around in the airplane every few
hours.
5. Pack light. If your suitcase is
too heavy to lift, you may want to pack a second one and divide heavy
items between the two suitcases.
6. Be careful when lifting your carry-on
luggage into the overhead compartment on the airplane. If
your carry-on is too heavy or too bulky, you can place your neck and lower
back at risk of an injury when lifting it above your head and placing it
into the compartment.
I hope that these tips help you prevent neck
and back pain during the upcoming holiday season. If you experience pain, the staff of
Resurgens Spine Center is here to help you get back to doing what you love. We wish you a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!