Break Free From Back Pain

You’ve looked forward to it for a good while, rushed around getting ready, jumped in the car, hung around in the airport, sat in a bad position on a plane for a few hours as you’re over 5ft tall, pick up your cases at the other end and your back goes.

First stop, the local chemist for painkillers, spend the next 3 days shuffling around while everyone else gets fed up with the moaning! Sound familiar?

Here’s how to avoid getting a pain that spoils your family’s enjoyment of the holidays.

Firstly try not to get too stressed running around and squeezing all those essential tasks into the frenetic last two days before you go, stress will increase your chance of a back or joint strain by increasing tension, but more likely by causing you to take short cuts with how you move, leading to bad positions and increased chance of injury.

Try to keep the weight of your suitcase down to a sensible level. Lets face it if you’re flying RyanAir you’ll need to or they’ll hit you so hard in the wallet, not to mention the lost hour of your life stood in the baggage excess queue that you wont be able to afford to spend a penny, or is that a pound these days! Keep the weight distributed as evenly as possible too.

Don't do this or you'll be asking for trouble!!

If you’ve had a long car journey to the airport walk around for 5 minutes before lifting the cases out of the boot, make sure you keep your back straight, swivel your whole body and not the spine.

In the departure lounge don’t spend all your time sitting, walk around. Obviously this is not a problem for those about to spend an hour in the Ryanair excess baggage queue, in fact that could be a blessing in disguise. The fee is cheaper than a visit to the Chiropractor.

On your flight, try to sit upright, (some of us have no option or our knees get crushed), get up and walk around if able to without hindering cabin crew. If you are going to nod off get a travel pillow to help support your neck and prevent injury and keep yourself hydrated, dehydration is a factor in muscle injuries.

At the other end, don’t rush too much to get your case and especially don’t lean too far forward or round someone to grab your bags as they pass you by, this is a great time to get your back injury.

Take care loading your bags and unloading again at the other end. Finally when you do arrive at your destination have another walk around and save the unpacking for an hour or so, except to maybe get your swimmers out for a relaxing dip.

Most importantly of all though, make sure you have a great time and recharge those batteries. Happy holidays .

Summary:

• Keep calm and avoid stress
• Don’t overdo the packing, keep the weight down (better for the environment too)
• Walk about between legs of the journey when possible.
• Try to sit upright on your flight or car journey.
• Watch out when picking up bags from carousel, don’t rush and reach round people.
• Walk about again before lifting bags from car or bus at other end. If it is a bus transfer let the driver do it if possible or someone else with longer and stronger arms!

Have a great time!