We don’t really think about it, but travelling by plane or car can have a negative impact on our physical well-being. Sitting more than an hour can impact the lumbar region, causing severe muscle tension.

Backache when travelling is commonly caused by bad posture. Having your car outfitted with the correct gear and foam supports or bringing a posture support during a plane ride will help align your lumbar region contributing to a comfortable and worry-free trip.

Making Your Trip More Comfortable When Traveling by Car

Sitting in a car during long trips is just the same as sitting down all day. You should take regular breaks to avoid feeling stiff. While a break every 20 minutes is recommmeded, if this isn’t possible, then aim for every hour. If you’re the passenger you can undertake exercises sitting down to keep the blood flowing.

Before setting out, adjust your seat positioning. Most vehicles these days are designed with posture in mind but we are all different sizes so take time to find the ideal sitting position for you.  Seat height, seat position, and the appropriate seat back inclination all contribute to a good ride. Lumbar supports must also be directly positioned touching the curve of your lower back to avoid too much pressure on the lumbar area during long drives.

Remember to assess your posture as you drive and correct it if you find yourself leaning forwards, slouching or leaning to the side. During pit-stops stretch out your muscles and when you reach your destination, stretch again.

Making Your Long Airplane Trip Extra Relaxing

Long airplane trips are often excessively uncomfortable because of the quality of seating and the amount of space available to move around. However, there are things you can do to ensure you don’t end up suffering with a bad back or neck.

Neck aches from falling asleep sitting up are a pretty common injury. Make sure you pack a good supportive travel pillow which stops your neck from being stuck in an un-natural position. Also travel with extra back-support, expecially if you already have weakness in your back.

Be sure to get up and move around during the flight to keep your muscles moving and stretch out. Just like when travelling in a car (if you aren’t the driver) you can undertake stretches while sitting down. It is important to keep blood circulating and muscles loose.

Before and After You Travel

Before you travel, pop in and see us so that we can makes sure any current aches and pains are treated. We can also give advice on exercise and stretches you can do while travelling. It’s also a good idea to come back in after you return so we can check that everything is in alignment.