Back Pain and the Holidays
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work or seek medical help and back pain can increase during the holidays. From decorating the tree to travel, a wide range of situations can cause back pain. Don’t be sidelined during the holidays. Here are some surprising ways the holidays can cause back issues–and ways to stop it from happening.
Lifting: Whether carrying heavy presents, bringing in a carload of groceries or hauling home a tree, lifting can hurt your back. To avoid making your back pay the price,
- Don’t lift too much at one time, and use proper form when lifting.
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend from your knees and slowly lift by straightening your knees and maintaining good posture.
- Hold whatever you’re picking up as close to your body as possible.
Decorating: You’ve probably seen ladder accidents when hanging up lights, but that’s not the only danger that comes with decorating. Climbing up and down ladders and reaching to hang decorations can cause you to pull a muscle or strain your back. When hanging up decorations, don’t reach too far, avoid repetitive lifting or twisting and ask for help with large, heavy or awkward decorations.
Travel: The holidays can also mean traveling to see loved ones, but road trips and sitting on planes can cause your back to ache if you don’t take a few precautions. Make sure you’re stretching and be careful when lifting heavy luggage or gifts for family and friends.
Stress: It wouldn’t be a holiday without a bit of stress, which can show up as back. When stressed, our bodies tense up, which can cause pain. Try to find ways to de-stress, not just for your back but for your overall mental and physical health.
Stretching: When it comes to battling chronic back pain, be sure you’re stretching. Try searching “quick and easy back stretches” to get started, test them, pick the ones that work best for you and do them regularly. Another effective way to avoid back pain is to build a strong core. The stronger the core muscles in your belly and back, the less chance of straining your back.
Chiropractic Care: For help with back pain that is not alleviated by these tips, chiropractic care uses spinal manipulation to target the source of your pain and is an effective choice to encourage alignment, range of motion and healing.
Falcon Health Center’s chiropractic team provides personalized and exceptional care to get you back to tip-top holiday shape. Located on the second floor, call (419) 373-7696 to make an appointment today!