Chiropractic Tips for Managing Travel
By Sara Butler
Your chiropractor isn’t just concerned with the health of your spine, he's also concerned with your overall health and well-being. A part of your chiropractic care is understanding the importance of sleep and the role it plays in your overall health. After all, if you’re not getting enough sleep at night it will eventually have an impact on your health -- and may even increase the occurrence of back and neck pain! When you throw in traveling across time zones and experiencing jet lag, it becomes even more important to take care of your body. Here are some tips your chiropractor wants you to know about traveling that will help keep you healthy.
The Problem with Travel
Traveling overseas or over long distance is exciting for sure, but it’s really difficult for your body and disruptive to your body’s inner clock. Your sleep cycle is rooted in something called a circadian rhythm, and that rhythm is accustomed to the time zone in which you live. While all travel over several time zones can be disruptive to your body, traveling from east to west is even more disruptive. But don’t worry, there are ways you can combat this disruption in order to protect your health!
Be Prepared
Take a page out of the Boy Scout handbook because one of the best things you can do to protect your health when traveling is to be prepared. As soon as your travel plans have been made, see your chiropractor and discuss your upcoming plans. Your doctor of chiropractic will continue with your regular adjustments, but may have some nutritional advice or exercises they can offer in order to help you combat the impact of travel on your body. You should also ask your chiropractor about any chiropractors they may be able to recommend at your travel destination – you never know! Plus, The Joint Chiropractic has locations all over, so the chances you can pop into The Joint in another city are pretty good!
Combat Jet Lag
You can minimize the impact of jet lag by:
- Drinking plenty of fluids – Air travel is dehydrating, and combining that with drinking coffee or soft drinks during flight may dehydrate you even more. Try to drink extra water before, during and after the flight.
- Think of your comfort – Planes aren’t exactly roomy, so developing back, neck or leg pain is common. Make sure you are getting up from your seat frequently, at least once an hour, and moving around a little bit. You can also do some exercises from your seat that focus on your neck, arms, legs and hands.
- Sleep – If your flight is long you should try to get a nap. This will help you to feel more refreshed and may help you to catch up on your time zones a little better. Expect jet lag to last about a day, however.
If you have any other questions about how you can help combat sleep disruptions during travel and care for your body, discuss it with your chiropractor!