Good Ways to Keep Summer Travel Safe & Easy
Summer travel can be a great time to create some wonderful memories. But it can also be a challenge for the whole family if there is a car trip with everybody packed into a small space, often having completely different schedules.
Best advice – stay cool and calm. Stop frequently for rest and relaxation breaks and allow for lots of time for kids to burn up excess energy.
Take good care of yourself
Driving for long hours can leave you tired, stressed out and stiff and sore. The American Chiropractor Association advises watching out for fixed sitting positions that build up pressure on the blood vessels in the lower legs. Contracting and relaxing those muscles can keep the blood flowing, maintaining healthy circulation.
ACS also advises sitting as close to the steering wheel as comfortably possible. Keep knees slightly higher than hips and consider using a back support to reduce lower back strain. To exercise on the road, tighten and lossen calf, thigh and gluteal muscles and roll shoulders forward and back.
Always stop driving before you become completely exhausted. Also avoid gripping the wheel too tightly. Instead tighten and loosen the grip to reduce muscle fatigue and improve hand circulation.
Safety Guide for Children
Always use car seats when traveling with children who are age four or less and weigh less than 40 pounds. Choose car seats to fit the weight of the child. Infant car seats should always face the rear and be placed in the back seat, ideally in the center. Small children should never be placed in the front seat, where the force of an airbag could kill or injure a small child.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
Before and after the trip your chiropractor can be a great resource as a wellness coach. See your chiropractor for any twinges of pain before you take off, and on your return check in to help smooth out any soreness and stiffness from the trip. Along with trip recovery the chiropractor can provide some helpful relaxation tips, strength exercises, and guidelines for more safe summer activities for the family. As everybody recovers and more trips are planned, the chiropractor can also suggest more ways to keep everybody safe and comfortable.
Initial visits to the chiropractor start with a spinal adjustment to evaluate spinal health. A complete medical history review and discussion of daily schedules will be included. The chiropractor’s goal will always be to help seek pain relief and maintain normal activities without medication or surgery.
If you find yourself or your family needing some assistance and relief, make an appointment and find out what your chiropractor can do.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Susana Fernandez