Take These Steps To Avoid A Sore Neck Or Back During Plane Or Car Travel
Posted on: 21 September 2016
Summer vacation might be over, but if you're planning a trip this fall and tend to easily suffer from neck and back pain, you want to be sure that these physical issues don't plague your time away from home. Long travel days, sleeping in a hotel bed, and other travel-related factors can put your spine out of adjustment, leaving you in search of a chiropractic clinic in whatever city you're visiting — instead of focusing on relaxing or having fun during the trip. Getting adjusted by your own chiropractor before you leave can be a good idea; here are some other steps that can help you to avoid neck and back pain.
Travel With A Neck Pillow
Whether you're riding on an airplane or a passenger in a car, it's a good idea to include a neck pillow in your luggage. This semicircle-shaped pillow slips around your neck and prevents the weight of your head from pulling your neck so far to the side that it gets out of alignment. For example, when you're sleeping in the car or on an airplane, your head can fall to the side in an unhealthy position. Unless you wake up soon afterward and correct your posture, you could be dealing with a sore neck by the time you reach your destination.
Fit Exercise Into Your Travel Plans
A variety of basic exercises, whether it's a short walk or a handful of yoga poses, can help to loosen up muscles that get tight when you're seated for a long time while traveling. Think about your travel agenda and try to make time for exercise. At the airport, take a few laps around the terminal before you board your plane; when driving, stop at a yoga studio along the route and attend a drop-in class. Taking care of your body in this manner can often be enough to keep your neck and back free of pain.
Pack Your Pillow From Home
While a neck pillow can be valuable during the travel itself, you'll appreciate having your pillow from home when you go to bed at the hotel. Even if the hotel provides you with a number of pillow options, it can often be a challenge to find a pillow that closely matches the thickness and density of your pillow from home. This can leave you with a kinked neck when you wake up in the morning. Unless you're flying and have already filled your suitcases with clothing, try to make room for your pillow.
For additional tips and advice on how to keep your neck and spine healthy, talk to a chiropractor at an office like Vanderloo Chiropractic.
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