Focus on travel!

Whether you’re seeing family, visiting friends or simply going somewhere you’ve never been before, traveling is a wonderful way to spend the holidays. But between the hassles of airports and planes, the traffic-filled highways and other logistical problems, it can also be quite a hardship. For those of us that suffer from back pain and related ailments, this is even more of an issue; simply spending a few hours stuck in a plane seat can aggravate our symptoms and turn what was supposed to be a relaxing trip into a painful ordeal. Luckily, there are solutions out there! Since back pain is estimated to be the single leading cause of disability worldwide, there are plenty of remedies in place to help make sure that those who refuse to give up traveling for business or pleasure can do so without aches, pains, or stress!

The key to pain-free traveling, whether in a plane, car, train--you name it--is preparation. Plan out your trip in advance and you’ll minimize the risk for running into problems and surprises down the line. For instance, before departing (depending on how severe your symptoms are), you may want to talk to your doctor to make sure that you’re healthy enough to travel, and see whether he or she has any tips on making the journey as smooth as possible. Once you’re clear to make the trip, be sure to pack as lightly as possible, and make use of curbside pickup and other services offered by the airline. If you take medication, be sure to bring extra in case of delays or hold-ups.

Once on the plane, follow ergonomic principles (get tips on those with this blog post!) as best you can. Those seats may not be the comfiest ones around, but try to make sure your neck and lumbar spine are being supported--if necessary, bring extra pillows or use your carry-on luggage to support your legs. If possible, try to book an aisle seat, as these give you a bit more of that precious leg-room. And don’t be afraid to get up and do some simple stretches on the plane (as long as it doesn’t interfere with the flight crew!)--because when it comes to back pain, as this Travel+Leisure article puts it, “embarrassment is not a consideration.”

Many of us will also be taking long road trips during the holidays. Luckily, in cars we tend to have more control over our seating than we do on planes, and can make adjustments accordingly--for instance, tilting our seats to allow leaning back instead of hunching forward, and keeping our arms relaxed (while still driving safely). The American Chiropractic Association estimates that around 75% of drivers aren’t using their headrests correctly; make sure it supports the back of your head and lower your risk of neck pain. And most importantly, take a lot of breaks--get out and walk around every two to three hours at minimum!

Once arriving at your destination, be sure to maintain any stretching or medicine routine that keeps you healthy--it’s no time to take a break from that! But be sure to also follow through on relaxing and giving yourself a vacation from the stresses that surround you, as these can be important contributors to our levels of pain. Take a load off and enjoy the holiday--you’ve earned it!