4 Tips for Preventing Back Pain During the Holidays
The holidays are a time of cheer, coming together, and enjoying the company of other people. But for people who regularly experience back pain, this initial cheer can quickly turn to dread or discomfort. During the holidays, you should always consider the impact that traditions may have on your spine. Our Chiropractic office is dedicated to helping people find solutions for this back pain, especially during the holidays. By taking additional precautions during the holidays, you can fully enjoy this time with friends and family. Read on to learn about a few simple ways you can prevent back pain during the busy holiday weeks.
1. Decorate With Others, or Over a Few Days
While decorating your home or apartment can be a pivotal part of the holiday experience, it can take a toll on your spine. That’s why decorating as a group– with family members, roommates or friends– is crucial.
Repeatedly stretching from a ladder to put lights on the roof can cause pains in the shoulders to develop. The same is true for carrying heavy objects like Christmas trees, ornament boxes, and other cumbersome holiday items. This is especially true if you’re venturing into an attic to access items you’ve stored away. Do your best to avoid carrying these heavy holiday items alone, or with poor posture. And while decorating, avoid sudden or frequent twists, turns, and other rapid, unnatural movements.
2. Shop Smart, Not Hard
The conventional mall shopping routine might be part of your holiday experience, but it could be causing unnecessary spinal stress. Whether you have chronic or acute back pain, mall shopping can be the factor that puts you over the edge.
While walking around and exercising is great for your spine, carrying merchandise around is not. Mall purchases can quickly turn from a minor inconvenience to a huge burden, especially when you’re walking around for hours at a time. When you carry merchandise in front of you, you’re stretching your spine. Awkwardly walking around with hefty gifts can also lead to a condition like sciatica. Doing this repeatedly can unfortunately set you up for back pain during the holidays.
Shopping online is a great alternative to shopping in the store. You can still choose from a large selection, and many retailers have a gift wrap option. This will eliminate a major source of spinal stress, while still experiencing the joy of in-person gift giving. If you must shop in a store, then stick to a single store with a shopping cart, rather than a mall.
3. Pay Attention to Posture While Cooking
It’s no secret that cooking during the holidays can be stressful. But, this pressure extends beyond the inconvenience of balancing conversations with tending to the roast. Lifting heavy dishes, the repetitive motions of stirring pasta or sauces, and bending over to grab spices can be dangerous for your spine.
Preparing for the meal in the days leading up to the holiday is one way to prevent this issue. For instance, cooking desserts the day before a gathering will save you valuable time, and your body lots of movement. This may also prove to be a great strategy for tasks like prep work. If possible, try to remain seated in an upright position while tending to other menial tasks. Avoid standing for extended periods of time. Be sure to never turn down offers from relatives or friends for assistance in cooking or cleaning. If you’re curious about how your cooking routine might be contributing to back pain, then ask your Doctor. Don’t Ignore Standard Spinal Care Tips
Especially during the holidays, remembering standard best practices for spinal care is a must. Following these basic tips will help you to enjoy the holidays without any unnecessary back pain.
- Even if seating is tight, be sure that as many seats as possible are suited for great posture, with a firm cushion.
- Whether it’s to attend to a task or simply because you’ve been seated for a long time, get up to occasionally stretch your legs.
- Refrain from crossing your legs, as it can prevent blood circulation and impact the condition of your spine.
- If possible, continue your standard exercise routine. Or, if you find yourself with extra time on your hands, take advantage of the opportunity to broaden your routine. If you have questions about the kinds of exercises that might work, contact your chiropractor.
- Continue visiting your chiropractor for consistent chiropractic treatments. Especially during the winter months, this can improve your immune system and prevent a cold or the flu.
Tips from a Long Island Chiropractor
Your spinal pain can unfortunately limit your enjoyment of the holidays. Without discomfort or spinal pain, you’ll be able to enjoy the company of friends and family even more. If you’re having back or neck pain, contact us at Brenner Chiropractic. Consistent chiropractic treatments can go a long way in eliminating this pain, and helping you to live a pain-free lifestyle.