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Preventing Travel Aches and Pains During Spring Break with Chiropractic Care

It’s no secret that this winter has been a brutal one. It seemed like whenever the light appeared at the end of the tunnel, Mother Nature furiously fired back with another snowstorm. But good news – March is here, which means we can finally look forward to spring. For many of us, the warmer weather is motivating. We can get outside for yard work, exercise and travel. But along with the experiences and memories of traveling come the wear and tear on the body. The constant moving around can strain muscles and cause pain that may put a damper on that dream vacation. Read on to learn how to prevent travel aches and pains during spring break.

Stay Hydrated

This one seems obvious, but it cannot be overstated. Many people tend to think of staying hydrated – drinking plenty of fluids and cooling off – when they decide to tackle an intense workout or a ten-mile bike ride. But drinking water works wonders for the body during all seasons and not just during the hot summer months. In fact, one overlooked benefit to drinking water is that it keeps your joints lubricated, and joints are oftentimes a major source of pain when exerting the body. Drink water – it’s a simple step, but you’ll thank yourself for it!

Pay Attention to Your Luggage

Travel means you’ll likely be carrying around carry-on luggage, checked bags and a personal carry-on item. Depending on what you do for a living, this could cause great strain and overexertion. Minimize what you carry around both in the travel process and when at tourist sites. A good place to start is by having wheeled suitcases. Some of these items can weigh upwards of 50 pounds, and they must be carried great distances. Stuff as much as you can into a wheeled suitcase and bring along a light carry-on to minimize unnecessary back problems.

Adjust to Your Seat

When you think of back and joint issues, your mind probably jumps to what we just discussed – lugging around heavy travel items and walking or running unusually long distances. Perhaps another part of travel doesn’t get the attention it deserves, and that’s all the different spots where you’ll be sitting. It might sound funny, but let’s unpack this.

Everyday life can many times be incredibly structured and rigid. As a result, your body has gotten used to a specific routine: you sit in the same seat of the car, the same chair at the dinner table and in the same spot at work every single day. Traveling disrupts this routine. You’ll be sitting in plane and airport seats, riding in a rental car and sleeping in a hotel bed that is probably much different from the one at home. These factors can put your back and joints through great stress, resulting in aches and pains.

So, what can you do?

A good place to start may be by bringing your pillow. You don’t know what style of pillow you’re getting at a hotel, and pillows vary enough that using a different one can disrupt your quality of sleep. Another tip would be to bring a comfortable seat cushion along to minimize back strain on the airplane, trains or in other unfamiliar vehicles.

Visit Your Chiropractor

If you’ve got pain and you’re still planning your big vacation, do not ignore it. Pain needs to be addressed: it will certainly not go away through traveling. Explain specifically what’s bothering you and get that nagging pain away so you can focus on having a wonderful time. Not only will your chiropractor address your pain, but will also have the tips and advice to make sure it doesn’t return.

Schedule an Appointment with Van Ness

Van Ness Chiropractic has the expertise to diagnose your pain and eliminate it through a specific procedure unique to you. Even if travel isn’t in your spring plans right now, regular visits to Van Ness can spare you from a variety of aches and pains. To schedule your next visit, click here or call (847) 842-8070 to speak to Drs. Van Ness, Parkin or Sabri.