IN-LAWS AREN’T THE ONLY PAIN IN THE NECK DURING THE HOLIDAYS

With the holiday season quickly approaching your wallet might not be the only thing feeling the strain. Your neck and back are also affected by the stress and hustle and bustle of the season.

Starting with Thanksgiving and going on through New Years, the body will go through a lot during the coming weeks. Many injuries are sustained during the holidays, some minor, and some that can lead to bigger problems in the future. Getting chiropractic treatment can greatly reduce the negative effect of the holidays on the body, but preventing injuries is the best method for staying safe.

The holidays are an opportunity to spend time with family, but all of the planning and traveling can cause a lot of stress, many people feel anxious or stressed out during these times, which can lead to headaches and muscle tension in the neck and back. Maintaining your stress level, along with keeping good posture and getting adequate rest can help prevent headaches and muscle tension, but if that is not enough a chiropractor can use a variety of methods to help.

Lifting items such as a frozen Thanksgiving turkey, firewood, packages or luggage can also put a strain on the back. When lifting objects hold them close to the body, bend at the knees before standing up with the item and try to maintain good posture, so that most of the lifting is done with the legs. If possible, try and slide heavier items, rather than lifting them to avoid any serious injuries.

Holidays are about food and this can be the root of more than one problem. When cooking or standing for an extended period, elevate one foot with a foot rest or stacked books about six inches high. Alternately elevating each foot relieves tired back and leg muscles and helps prevent bad posture, which can lead to abnormal spinal curvatures.

Overeating is another part of enjoying the holidays; the extra weight gain can put added stress on the back muscles and spine. Every extra pound in the abdominal region could put 10 pounds more stress on the lower back and could lead to misalignment in the spine. Try to eat conservatively and exercise to avoid gaining extra weight.

Traveling can be rough on the body. Whether you are traveling alone or on your way to a relative’s house with your family, long hours in a car or an airplane can leave you stressed, tired, stiff and sore. Warm up before settling into a car or plane, and cool down once you reach your destination. Take a brisk walk to stretch your hamstring and calf muscles.

When traveling by car or airplane, place a pillow or folded towel behind the small of the lower back to help maintain the arch in your lower back. This relieves the discs and joint structures of the spine from unnecessary pressure.

In addition to fastening your seat belt for car trips, adjust the head rest to align with your head. Also, exercise your legs while driving to reduce the risk of any swelling, fatigue or discomfort. Open your toes as wide as you can, and count to 10. Count to five while you tighten your calf muscles, then your thigh muscles, then your gluteal muscles. Roll your shoulders forward and back, making sure to keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. Do not grip the steering wheel. Instead, tighten and loosen your grip to improve hand circulation and decrease muscle fatigue in the arms, wrists and hands.

With family around many people enjoy playing sports or other outdoor activates, always warm up before engaging in any activity, especially when the temperature is dropping, also, cool down afterwards to avoid muscle injuries. Don’t try and overextend yourself at the risk of injury, know your limits and stay within them.

Get enough rest. Many health problems that occur with the holidays are simply due to fatigue. By simply getting adequate rest, you can help prevent structural strain, emotional and cognitive imbalance, and general health problems.