Summertime is the dawn of vacations, plane rides, and road trips. Do you experience pain while traveling? Well, you’re not alone.
Read on to learn about taking care of your body during the traveling months of summer.
Why Do Injuries Occur While Traveling?
The most common culprits of aches and strains while traveling are the back, shoulders, and neck. Pain typically intensifies during the traveling season due to stress placed on the spine and other networks of muscles and joints while lifting luggage and sitting for long periods. Without proper support and rest, these can become serious injuries.
Tip #1: Lift the Right Way
More than likely you have seen or heard the phrase, “bend your knees!” Thankfully, there was some life value to that statement. The first way to avoid strains on your back and neck during vacation is to know your limitations and lift luggage with the proper technique.
Tip #2: Pack Light
If you’re anything like us, your packing will match your ideal vacation experience with dinners, events, and attire to match a multitude of destinations. Avoid this mistake by packing the essentials for the roads or packing items into a group of luggage to be carried on trips, rather than one single load.
Tip #3: Minimize Carries
If you happen to be someone who requires a number of luggage items on vacation, be sure to utilize the provided services at airports, hotels, and resorts. You can request check-in assistance, curbside carry, or even shipping ahead of time to mitigate injury.
Tip #4: Get Moving
Every so often, you should stop the car or stand up on the plane to walk around, stretch, and get your blood pumping. Not only could blood clots occur, but this will also help to eliminate stress on various joints and muscles and loosen your body for more extended periods of time.
Tip #5: Avoid Stress
This point can be easily forgotten. One of the best ways to avoid a painful road trip is by avoiding stress, which seizes up your muscles and joints and reduces mobility. Ask for help before traveling, plan ahead to avoid potential problems, and be mindful of your breathing throughout the trip.
Tip #6: Call Country Roads Physical Therapy
Are you planning to travel or just returned from a long vacation? Don’t move a muscle without scheduling an appointment with Country Roads Physical Therapy.
With our state-of-the-art equipment, aquatic facility, and ASTYM/Functional Dry Needling treatment options, our hands-on techniques are perfect for treating aches, strains, pains, and travel-related injuries.
Make an appointment or find additional information at www.countryroadspt.com. We have locations in West Fairmont, East Fairmont, Buckhannon, Wheeling, Morgantown, and Whitehall, West Virginia.