Vacation Ahead: Is Your Back Ready?

By Virginia Laird

With vacation season around the corner it is time to start considering how to help your back cope with whatever long trip you may have planned. Planning for vacation can be stressful, without the added strain of the travel itself. There are things you can do to prepare your back (and body) for the strain of travel as well as the stress of sleeping in a bed that is not yours.

Visit Your Chiropractor

There is one sure way to help the back get rid of aches and pain before traveling. A couple of weeks (or if you have time a couple of months) before the scheduled trip visit your chiropractor. Making sure the back is in its least restrictive position can banish the pain.

Pack Light

Chiropractors recommend the use of smaller bags. This helps to keep the weight lighter on the things you may be carrying from place to place. Even when carried a few short steps, the weight of heavy bags can put stress and strain on the spine, causing the spine to shift and ultimately cause pain. Smaller bags may require more trips to the car, but less weight on the back can help keep pain away.

Get Some Rest

Have you ever gone an entire night without any sleep at all? Although this may have been the status quo as a younger adult, the older you get the more this can take its toll on the body. Making certain to always get rest can help keep back pain away. Chiropractors recommend adults get at least six hours of sleep each night to help ensure a healthy back and spine.

Dress Comfortably

Dressing comfortably on vacation is important. More often than not, the family may be exploring places they have not been. Wearing comfortable clothes allows the body to be relaxed and more natural. Make certain, while packing your suitcases, you choose clothes that do not restrict movement. The same goes for shoes. Choose shoes that do not interfere with the natural movement. Make sure your shoes offer a great deal of support. Flip-flops are nice but offer little in the way of actual foot and arch support. A good pain of tennis shoes goes a long way.

Here's to hoping your vacation is not only fun, but pain free!

To learn more about your health and wellness, visit your local The Joint Chiropractic.

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