The holidays are here. ‘Tis the season to pack up the car, head to your relatives’ house and revel with festive spirit.
If you are like most adults, you feel a couple more aches and pains during the winter travel season. Packing boxes and luggage then sitting in a car or plane for hours takes a toll on the body.
Cold Weather Stiffens Muscles, Joints, and Nerves
Cold weather hinders flexibility, causing joints and muscles to tighten. Factor in extended sitting while traveling for the holidays and you have a recipe for pain.
Even an hour spent sitting in a car or plane will strain the lumbar portion of the back, tighten your hips and weaken your core. The worst-case scenario is lingering pain that lasts throughout the entire holiday period.
Long Travel Times Increase Spinal Compression and Strain
Sitting still for travel tightens the hip flexors. Excessive sitting also adds extra pressure to the lumbar region. If your posture is anything less than perfect, you’ll end up feeling rigid.
The muscles used to keep your spine stable might even weaken to the point that you find it difficult to remain upright upon standing.
Early Warning Signs You’re Close to Re-Injury
We’ve identified some key signaling mechanisms that indicate you are on the cusp of re-injuring your back, neck, shoulder or knee.
Tingling, Numbness, and Sciatica Symptoms to Watch For
Even slight numbness or tingling is an indication that your problem body site has been aggravated. If the tingling or numbness becomes gradually worse, seek professional medical attention.
In particular, lasting or strong numbness/pain that shoots down the legs is a sign that there is a problem. Such symptoms are indicative of compressed nerves.
Travel-Safe Strategies to Prevent Re-Injury
Be cognizant of the risk for reinjury during the chaotic holiday period and prepare accordingly. In particular, it will help to stretch and mind your posture.
Pre-Travel Mobility and Physical Therapy-Based Warm-Ups
Get the blood flowing throughout your body with some warm-ups prior to packing, traveling, cooking and engaging in other holiday activities. As an example, you can stretch your hip flexor by stepping forward with one foot as you tuck in your pelvis. Enjoy the ensuing hip stretch sensation and repeat several times.
When standing or seated, lift a knee toward your midsection to allow your lumbar region to open. Repeat this knee-to-chest stretch several times.
You can also loosen up while seated with the seated spinal twist. Sit upright, twist lightly to a side, hold that position for 10 seconds, then repeat it with the other side.
Healthy Sitting, Posture, and Movement During Long Trips
Spending hours in the car causes back stiffness that has the potential to last for days or even weeks. You can prevent such an outcome with the proper posture and strategic movement.
If you are driving for the holidays, move your seat the appropriate distance from the pedals below. Your knees should have a slight bend. Your back should press comfortably against the soft driver’s seat. Add extra lumbar support by inserting a pillow between your lower back and the seat.
If you are flying this holiday season, make sure the back of the seat is adjusted to an upright position. Roll up your jacket or use a small pillow for additional lumbar support.
If you are tempted to cross your legs while seated, don’t! Crossing the legs compromises spinal alignment, meaning it is likely to cause pain.
How to Avoid Re-Injury During Holiday Tasks
The holidays are a busy time filled with activities, some of which can aggravate pre-existing injuries. Be careful, lean on the professionals for sciatica treatment and you’ll prevent reinjury.
Safe Lifting for Boxes, Décor, and Luggage
Lift correctly and you’ll protect your sensitive back. Instead of bending at the waist, bend at the knees. Maintain a tight core when handling boxes, luggage or decorations. Always spring upward with your legs and never twist.
When At-Home Care Isn’t Enough: Diagnostic Testing Matters
You can only do so much on your own. If you have back, neck, shoulder, knee or other pain, ask for help from the professionals.
When You Need Updated Diagnostic Imaging or Nerve Testing
The first step toward recovery is pinpointing the cause of the underlying pain. It also helps to identify what, exactly, is contributing to your symptoms. Our diagnostic imaging sets the stage for personalized treatment that zeroes in on the actual problem instead of the symptoms.
Conditions That Commonly Flare After Travel and Holiday Tasks
Lumbar pain, meaning lower back pain, is the most common pain that flares up during the holiday season. Plenty of patients also complain of cervical pain, meaning a tight or strained neck.
Shoulder and knee arthritis flareups are also common during the holidays as a result of cold weather, packing/lifting boxes and traveling.
Eclipse Treatments That Support Long-Term Injury Prevention
Our advanced treatments help you enjoy a healthy, pain-free holiday season and beyond. Examples of our advanced treatment services include joint injection, trigger point injection and sympathetic blocks. We also provide spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation.
Physical Therapy and Strength-Based Rehab
Physical therapy is integral to pain medicine, helping to alleviate pain and also prevent further injury. Engage in physical therapy and you’ll expedite your recovery with strategic techniques that enhance mobility, restore functionality and reduce pain.
Our outpatient therapy gym spans 1,100 square feet. This space connects to a pain management clinic for constructive dialogue with therapists and physicians. Meet with our team and we’ll develop a personalized back pain treatment plan specifically for you.
Injection Options, Laser Therapy, and Advanced Pain Relief
From physical therapy to injections, laser therapy and more, we exhaust every avenue to reduce your pain. Protecting your sensitive back joints and long-term mobility with posterity in mind begins with a visit to Eclipse Clinic. Reach out to us today at (469) 290-7246 to learn more about our personalized pain relief and diagnostic support.