It’s hot and it’s summertime in Indiana. Here at Meridian Chiropractic Clinic many of our patients are headed out of town on vacation. And whether your are planning on a long drive to the beach or a flight to visit family or friends, there are a few tips to remember to maintain your back and neck health.
First, it would be a good idea to see your favorite Indianapolis chiropractor before you leave on that vacation. Let me tell you why.
When you go on vacation there are a number of scenarios that can potentially work against your back health. Sleeping in a strange bed is the first one. Whether you will be sleeping in a hotel or at “grandma and grandpa’s house”, you will be sleeping in a unfamiliar bed. Your body is used to sleeping in your home bed for probably 350 days a year. Your physical body gets accustomed to certain postures and pressures in that bed and adapts to make your sleep as deep as possible. In a strange bed, you increase the chance of a less restful sleep, which your back pain needs, as your body tries to adapt to the different bed. Obviously, you can’t bring along your bed from home but it is a good idea to at least bring your pillow.
Also, many of us try and cram as much activity as possible into our vacations. By the end of the day, we are so exhasusted we tend to fall asleep anywhere and don’t even notice the strange bed or pillow. Whether you are jumping the waves at the beach or sitting on the sand reading for hours, the difference in activity uses new muscles compared to what your back and spine are used to and can be quite stressful for your back health.
Your method of travel can also be stressful on one’s back. Whether you are planning on driving to your destination or flying, there are ways of making yourself more comfortable and less stressful to your back and neck. Most airline seats are shaped like the letter “C” whereas your back is shaped like an “S”. Take a magazine, roll it up and place it in the small of your back. This helps to promote the lumbar curve that airplane seats do not. If you are riding for long distances in a car, try and move your position around every so often and, if possible, get out and walk for a minute or two every hour and a half. If you can’t get out of your car, move your four limbs through as much range of motion as possible as you sit.
A visit to Meridian Chiropractic Clinic or your own Indianapolis chiropractor before you go on vacation will help your back and neck be as healthy as possible so you can enjoy your vacation that much more.
