Vacations are meant to be fun, but sometimes injuries happen so what can you do to ensure your vacation isn’t ruined?
Before you get there
You don’t want to turn up to your vacation destination stiff and in pain from the journey there. Read our blog on how to travel well for top tips on looking after yourself while travelling by plane or car.
Before you even leave though, think about your baggage. Hauling heavy luggage is one of the most common ways in which people injure themselves, often resulted in severe back ache. If you can’t lift your bag comfortably, either divide the content between two bags, or ruthlessly take items out.
Remember to pack good supportive footwear, especially if you are thinking of undertaking a lot of sightseeing. Flip-flops are not up to the job and can cause a range of injuries. See our blog post. Also think about coming in for a check-up so we can make sure you’re in tip-top condition before you go!
Injuring yourself on vacation
When on vacation remember our advice on the flip-flops and note that the same advice for heavy luggage applies to your beach bag. Don’t overload it so that you end up walking crooked, especially on an uneven surface.
If you’re going to join in games such as beach volley ball, make sure you stretch before and after… and only join in if you know your bodyis up to the challenge. Remember to keep hydrated and if going on a beach holiday, get up from that sun lounger and move your body so it doesn’t get stiff – especially when lying on your front with your head turned to the side.
If you injure yourself on vacation be sure to seek out the appropriate medical treatment. Muscle injuries can be kept under control with some simple stretches or by resting and icing. We had a client who while on vacation woke up in excrutiating pain. The bed was too hard and was causing back, hip and referral pain. By undertaking one simple stretch she was able to relieve most of the pain until she returned home and came in for treatment. It eased the symptons so that she could enjoy her vacation fully.
Safety on vacation is paramount to the overall satisfaction of your experience. Paying attention to your body and being aware of your every move will help prevent accidents from happening. Simply Contact us for a holistic chiropractic approach if you are still experiencing pain from an accident or an injury after a vacation.