Don't Let Pain Be a Roadblock to Your Vacation
By Sara Butler
It’s that time of year again – time to pack up the family roadster and go on vacation! Yes, for many families an essential part of summer is hitting the road and going on an adventure. Unfortunately, joint and muscle pain don’t take a vacation and they can quickly turn an exciting getaway into a painful slice of paradise. Having fun should be your priority, so here’s how to maximize enjoyment and minimize pain this summer as you hit the highway!
Sitting: Bad for Your Body
Sitting for long periods of time has the potential to be incredibly harmful to the health of your whole body, including your spine. Even in the most coasting-on-a-cream-puff-like-comfort of cars with luxurious interiors, forces and pressures from sitting can cause a restricted flow of blood.
The good news is that you can increase your chance of partaking on a pain-free trip to paradise by:
- Choosing good luggage – Always go for suitcase or bag with wheels. This can help to lighten your load. Also, quality backpacks are a great investment since they distribute weight more evenly over your whole body.
- Seeking comfort – Adjustment of your seat is crucial for pain avoidance on a road trip. Make sure you have adjusted the seat to fit your correctly and comfortably. If you need more support, roll up a towel or shirt and place it between your lower back and the seat.
- Having ice on hand – A cooler filled with ice packs will be your best friend on a road trip. If you need it, you’ll have it on hand to apply to areas causing you pain or discomfort. Just limit the icing sessions to 15 minutes.
- Stopping a lot – Yes, it can be tempting to just get there, but you’ll do it at the expense of your health if you don’t try to take frequent breaks to stretch and move around. These frequent breaks will help to relieve tension and help you stay healthy.
Your summer vacation can quickly go from a dream vacation to a nightmare, so head the problems off at the pass. You may not be able to keep the family meltdowns from happening or make the sun shine, but you can take hold of the factors you can control in order to help you and your family have the best vacation ever. And don't forget -- The Joint has more than 370 clinics nationwide to serve you should you run into back trouble!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.