Travel Tips for Your Spine

Holidays usually involve airports and lengthy flights to be with family. It’s something we all look forward to assuming we’re feeling up to it by the time we get there. At the airport you are of course going to be exposed to many many germs, but also with any travel comes aching backs and necks. Here are a few tips to get you through this Holiday travel season with a happy spine:

1. Be smart with your luggage: Don’t overpack your bag so that it is too heavy for you to lift. If you are lifting your bag into the overhead bin you want to be able to do so without having to heave it up over your head while straining your spine. You should also lift it up in stages (no matter the weight!) Lift it from the floor to the arm of the seat, then lift it into the overhead bin.

2. Use the Fasten Seatbelt Sign to Your Advantage:  We sit too much. You’ve heard it before, and you probably know by know that you should get up at least once every hour to move around. Sitting for too long leaves the muscles stiff which causes stress on your spine. As soon as the fasten seatbelt sign goes off hop out of your seat and walk around for a bit. This will get your blood flowing and relax your muscles. There are also some great stretches you can do while seated, so keep an eye out for a video demonstration from me soon!

3. Bring Support for Your Seat: Some airlines offer you pillows. Roll those up and place it between your back and the seat to support your low back. If the bottom of the seat is sunken in you can also place a folded blanket on the seat to even it out a bit. If you don’t want to rely on the airline to provide you with a pillow and blanket for your back support, bring your own with you in your carry on bag.

Traveling is almost always stressful, but if you take these steps to make yourself as comfortable as possible it should be a little more doable. If you have any of your own tips please share them in the comments below!