Take care of your back while on vacation

It’s great to pack up the family and take a vacation. Everyone can benefit from the break in routine and exploring something new.

Whether you travel by car, plane, boat or motorcycle, your back doesn’t get a break from work. It just has to adjust to different surroundings, activities and schedules.

If you have back problems, here are some tips for traveling with a bad back.

• Check with your chiropractor to make sure your activities will be safe for your back. A trip to the amusement park or mountain climbing may not be the best ideas.
• Bring along your heating pad, ice bag and other tools for pain relief.
• Use luggage with wheels and handles that can be pulled easily through an airport or into a hotel room.
• During a long ride on a plane or train, move around as much as possible. Walk up and down the aisles.
• If you’re going by car, stop as needed for quick breaks to stretch your back and legs.
• Pace yourself. Don’t wear yourself out by doing too many things in a day. It might be better to enjoy fewer things and remain pain-free.
• Don’t be afraid to try. One of our patients was able to climb 300 steps on a spiral staircase to reach the observation deck at a church. She took her time, rested as needed, and persisted until she got to the top.

For more information, check out these tips on traveling with back pain and sciatica:

http://raintree.hubpages.com/hub/back_pain_and_sciatica_travel_tips