Camping Tips for Back Health
By Sara Butler
This is the perfect time of year to go out and explore the great outdoors, and for many people that means going on a camping trip. There’s nothing quite like surrounding yourself with nature, roasting marshmallows over a campfire and taking a cooling dip in the lake. Since humans aren’t conditioned to really live outside anymore, you need to take a few extra precautions in order to keep your back healthy as you’re roughing it. Here are some tips you can easily apply to your next camping trip in order to keep your back healthy!
Be Prepared
Those Boy Scouts really know what they’re talking about! It pays to be prepared before you go on your trip in order to be ready to tackle any unexpected challenges along the way. You should:
- Test your gear – You don’t want to get out in the woods and realize you’ve got a broken strap on your backpack or a hole in your tent, so check everything out carefully before you go!
- Plan activities ahead of time – If you’re going to go rock climbing or do something else that requires specialized safety equipment, you need to make sure you’ve got all the right gear with you. Plan what you’re going to do so you will have everything you need.
- Get familiar with the area – If you’re going someplace you’ve never visited, be sure you scope it out online first so you can make a good plan!
Avoid Injuries
You want to come back from your camping trip with great memories, not an aching back or a sore neck! So, make sure you are physically ready to do all that needs to be done for your outdoor excursion. You should:
- Get in shape – If you plan on doing activities such as hiking, running or biking during your trip, see your chiropractor before you go to make sure you’re physically ready!
- Give your back support – Your back will have to shoulder a lot of demands such as bending over to pitch a tent or carrying a pack, so make sure you engage your core and lift properly as you move your body around.
- Keep it light – You do not need to pack up your whole home to go camping – that would be murder on your back. Just pack what you need and avoid extras in order to help prevent back strain and fatigue.
Have fun as you close out summer with even more adventures, but always remember to be kind to your back while doing it!
