Important Message from The Joint Chiropractic regarding COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) - Read More

Keeping Summer Fun: Reunions, Road Trips, and Recovery

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By: Martha Michael

Keeping Summer Fun: Reunions, Road Trips, and Recovery

Water parks, air travel, picnics, and barbecues—families wait all year to trade jackets for swimsuits and soak up some sun. Whether your summer fun involves road trips or relatives, you’ll enjoy it more if you’re in tip-top shape and physically well. Best practices to protect your overall health can lead to a summer to remember.

What are common summer activities that can impact physical health?

Getting physical this summer can tick off a lot of boxes. Getting in shape—check! Communing with nature—check! Bonding with family or friends—check, check! An active summer can also include the threat of injuries and illnesses.

According to the American Heart Association, people tend to be more active when they spend time outdoors. Leisure time is an excellent opportunity for those who have neglected exercise to boost their fitness levels.

Benefits of an active summer include:

  • Better sleep
  • Greater strength
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Body weight maintenance
  • Lower risk of diabetes
  • Lower rate of cancers

Being physically active offers a boost to your mental health also. It can lower stress and reduce rates of depression. Experts recommend at least two-and-a-half hours per week of regular exercise.

Activities that bring people together can also lead to the spread of germs that cause colds and flu. Hotel stays, long flights, and close proximity at family reunions are common breeding grounds for sharing germs. Getting outdoors has its benefits, such as extra Vitamin D and fresh air, but it also comes with risks like snake and insect bites, sunburns, and skin irritation.

Depending on what you like to do, plans for an active summer can lead to injuries if you’re not prepared for them. If you plan to go hiking and biking or participate in sack races and pickleball tournaments, you set yourself up for sports injuries if you don’t build up to that level of physical preparedness for the accompanying physicality.

How can families minimize the risk of injury during summer activities?

People from across the country end up in emergency rooms every summer for accidents, falls, and muscle strain during travel and sporting activities. You can minimize risks for the most common summer injuries by taking precautions.

Playgrounds

You may be a young parent who already thinks the local playground is your second home. It tends to be more crowded during the summer months, so you may have to navigate it differently, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. More than 220,000 kids aged 14 and under end up in emergency departments every year, sometimes for preventable accidents.

While kids gain coordination and physical strength when they play on playgrounds, they can also get bumps and bruises. There are steps you can take to be sure they don’t become seriously injured.

  • Don’t carry a baby in your lap and go down the slide
  • Guide your kids to equipment that’s appropriate for their age
  • Provide guidelines for safe practices when using the playground
  • Supervise the kids at all times
  • Remove hazards on playground equipment

Familiarize yourself with the playground before your little one darts straight to the swings or climbs to the top of the highest set of monkey bars.

Trampolines

MedStar Health has recommendations to reduce the chance of injuries when using a trampoline. Stress on knees and ankles are only part of the risk involved when kids or adults jump on trampolines. Falling is often part of the fun, but when groups jump together, you can end up with collisions that cause bumps, bruises, bloody noses, and even concussions. Organize jumpers so the groups are smaller and more similar in size to one another. Attaching a net on the perimeter greatly reduces the chance you have a serious injury to the head or neck from falling off the platform.

Water play

Respecting lakes, rivers, oceans, and pools means enjoying their beauty and the opportunity for water sports, but be careful to keep everyone safe. Someone should be the sober, designated supervisor, keeping an eye on kids so you don’t witness the tragedy of an accidental drowning. If you’re boating this summer, make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket, and no one who’s been drinking alcohol is at the helm.

How can chiropractic care help you prepare for and recover from summer activities?

Seeking chiropractic care isn't just for injury recovery—chiropractic adjustments are also beneficial for prevention. Regular chiropractic adjustments improve spinal alignment, which enhances nervous system function and reduces the risk of joint pain and injuries. A well-aligned spine can better absorb the pressures of physical activity, helping you stay active and healthy.

Beyond pain relief, chiropractic care offers numerous benefits. It can improve your posture, boost your immune system, and increase your overall flexibility and mobility. By maintaining spinal health, you can enhance your body’s performance and overall well-being.

If you develop pain after activities like camping, golfing, or even a competitive game of horseshoes, visit The Joint Chiropractic near you. With numerous locations nationwide, even if you're out of town, you'll likely find a clinic nearby. Soft tissue manipulation at The Joint contributes to faster recovery times, ensuring you don't miss out on precious summer fun with your family.

Tips for staying hydrated during summer outings

Your body is made up of approximately 60 percent water, so when summer heat causes you to lose more water than usual, you must replenish your body's hydration, says an article by the University of Nebraska Health Center. You need water for several reasons, including:

  • Lubricating joints
  • Regulating your body temperature
  • Flushing out waste
  • Producing saliva
  • Metabolizing food

It can be challenging to maintain proper hydration when you’re out of your routine and losing a lot of water through sweat due to heat and activity levels. If you pay attention to your body’s signals, you can successfully keep yourself adequately hydrated.

Begin the day with water

Kickstart your day by drinking water to stimulate your metabolism and boost your energy levels. Proper hydration in the morning sets a positive tone for the day, ensuring your body functions optimally. By hydrating early, you can gradually reduce your intake throughout the day, avoiding excessive drinking before bedtime. This simple habit not only promotes better digestion and nutrient absorption but also helps you stay alert and refreshed. Make morning hydration a routine for a healthier, more energized start to your day.

Make water less boring

Sometimes, an attractive container gives you an incentive to drink water more often. You can add flavoring to it or choose vitamin water for added benefits. You can also improve the taste by infusing it with fruits.

Inspect your urine

If you’re getting proper water intake, your urine should be light yellow. If it’s dark, it may mean you’re dehydrated, so pick up a sports drink, refill your water bottle, or try coconut water to replenish your electrolytes.

What is proper travel posture?

If you’re joining the millions of Americans taking a trip this summer, there’s another category of health risks you may be facing: damaging posture. Traveling by air, land, or sea can mean long periods sustained in challenging positions that can compromise your musculoskeletal system.

In addition to ensuring proper alignment with a chiropractic visit, follow these tips to stay healthy during a hectic travel schedule.

  • Stretch - Give yourself time to stretch before, during, and after a long ride. It will give your neck and back some relief and keep your soft tissue supple.
  • Sit up straight - Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or not, refrain from slouching or straining your neck while riding in the car.
  • Put your feet down - It’s not a good idea to raise your legs or hang them out the window while riding in a car. It causes misalignment in your back and it’s dangerous.

Whether by planes, trains, or automobiles, traveling is a physical challenge no matter where you go or how you get there. Sitting in front of screens all summer will keep you safe from the kinds of injuries that come from adventures, but it won’t benefit you much physically, mentally, or socially. Take proper precautions, and your body will be ready so you can get out and make memories with your loved ones this year.

Download your offer today and save!

Offer valued at $45. Valid for new patients only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary.