The hot and humid season draws near in Bradenton and Sarasota, and we know people will be heading back up north or going on an amazing vacation to beat the scorching heat of the Florida summer.
Whether you’re going short distances in a car or on a long-haul flight to a faraway country, chronic pain can turn an exciting journey into a travel nightmare!
With that thought in your mind, we’ve gathered some of the best tips to help you stop chronic pain when you travel and make your journey enjoyable and stress-free.
From packing wisely and investing in exercise leading up to your journey, many practical steps act as preventative measures so you can spend time soaking in the sun pain-free.
Make your Lower Back Muscles flexible
Adding simple yoga-type flexibility exercises into your morning routine before you jet off could make all the difference to stop chronic pain when you travel.
Sitting for prolonged periods of time will overstretch the tight buttock and low back muscles, causing increased pain while sitting and when you first get up from a prolonged sitting position.
Increasing the flexibility of these tight muscles can help to protect you from chronic pain when traveling by making your body capable of what is required to sit comfortably during the trip, additionally improving your posture and core stability, so it’s a win-win for you!
Do You Really Need So Many Clothes?
This might be a more difficult tip for some people who like to take their whole wardrobe on vacation!
Joking aside, packing lighter could save you from chronic pain when you travel as you won’t have to haul heavy cases around airports and in and out of vehicles.
When we lift things, we also sometimes don’t handle our luggage in the correct way, which could cause you to suffer a chronic pain flare-up!
If you do have to pack that extra pair of swimming trunks and your luggage is slightly heavy, it’s important to remember to squat down with your legs, keep the case close to your body and engage your core muscles to push back up through your heels and lift.
This will distribute weight evenly and prevent you from triggering a pain flare-up that could ruin your journey!
Invest In Supportive Shoes
A fundamental element of your body is your feet, as they support the weight of your entire body when you stand and walk.
Investing in supportive shoes could mean the difference between chronic pain flare-ups and the best vacation of your life!
The correct footwear should support the arch of your foot, have the ability to absorb shock, and provide good cushioning.
Together these elements should promote optimal biomechanics and take the stress off joints and muscles when you’re walking or standing for long periods of time. Whenever possible, avoid using slip-on shoes or flip-flops when expecting to walk a lot.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help!
In order to prevent flares of chronic pain when you travel, it’s important to know that it’s okay to ask for help!
When you’re in the airport waiting to check in for your flight with your heavy bags, you can ask a member of staff to help you lift your bag on and off conveyor belts to save you risking a flare-up.
This tip can be especially helpful for solo travelers who may not be able to do everything themselves or have another person to support them through the traveling process.
Try Our Travel Readiness Assessment!
If you’ve been experiencing chronic back pain and your vacation is just around the corner, why not come in for our travel readiness assessment where we can help you get to the root cause of your back pain?
In your session, you will be able to have a 1 to 1 consultation with one of our chronic pain specialists where you can ask questions, get much-needed answers and begin to feel confident about going on vacation without chronic pain getting in the way!
You can arrange your travel readiness assessment by filling in our simple web form or if you prefer to talk over the phone you can speak to a member of the team by calling our clinic at (941) 226-2605.
Other Free Resources For Traveling With Chronic Pain!
Alternatively, if you feel you aren’t ready to come into our clinic just yet, here’s some more free information to help you manage your chronic pain at home!
Grab your copy of our free downloadable back pain report – free back pain report
Read our other chronic pain blogs – Traveling With Chronic Pain: Tips And Tricks For A Comfortable Journey
Follow us on social media – Manual Physical Therapy and Conceirge Services Facebook Page or Manual Concierge PT Instagram
