Traveling Tips
Back To Action
Travel, whether by car, boat, plane or train can present some significant challenges if you are dealing with musculoskeletal injury. Here are a few tips to smooth your way.
Car Travel:
- Take frequent breaks - drive or ride no more than 30-60 minutes at a time.
- Stretch your hamstrings, quads, calves and back muscles every 1-2 hours.
- Sit up straight, use a lumbar support if needed, keep sit bones wide apart.
- Shift position frequently and avoid compression of your shoulder leaning on the armrest.
- Adjust mirrors for optimal erect posture (don't lower them as you slouch!)
- Don't stare out one window, look all around.
Plane Travel:
- Get an aisle seat so you can get up and move more frequently.
- Drink lots of water!
- Stretch - you can discreetly extend your back, stretch your quads and calf muscles while standing in the aisle.
- Get help from flight attendants when putting heavy objects into or removing from the overhead bins.
- Sit up straight, with sit bones wide apart. Use a lumbar roll and neck support.
- Walk, don't sit, while waiting for your connecting flight. (unless you have a 4 hour layover.)
- At the luggage carousel position yourself so that you can see your bags ahead of time and use proper lifting techniques.
- Tie a bright ribbon on your bags so you can easily identify them.
|
