Easy Air Travel for the Holidays

Long lines, rushing to gates, hauling heavy luggage, and stuffing yourself in an uncomfortable seat – holiday travel isn’t easy! At Williamsburg Chiropractic, we want you to enjoy this upcoming holiday season. With our tips, you can reduce the amount of stress that air travel puts on the body. Here are our recommendations:

Check Heavy Luggage

Most of us will do anything we can to reduce time spent at the airport, and that means we avoid checking bags. It may be tempting to stuff everything into a heavy carry-on bag, but keep in just how heavy it will be with the added weight of gifts, boots, and jackets. Can you safely lift the bag into the overhead compartment without injuring your neck or back? Saving a little money and time isn’t worth the aches and pains that will pop up from a neck or back injury. Make the right choice and check your bag if it’s too to easily lift.

Pack Light

The surefire way to avoid checking heavy bags is to pack light. Choose outfits that you can mix and match, bring only staple items, and if you have holiday gifts to share, ship them ahead of time. Make sure your suitcase has working wheels and comfortable handles. You don’t want to have to drag it along and end up hurting your arms or back. Remember when you lift your bag to use your legs, not your back and ask for help if you risk hurting yourself.

Support Your Back

The worst part about flying isn’t the food (which we hear a lot of complaints about), it’s the small and uncomfortable seats. We recommend investing in a travel pillow to reduce neck pain and strain. If you still can’t get comfortable and are having back pain, ask for a pillow to use for back support. If unavailable, roll up a blanket or sweater for added support.

Find Your Footing

To keep lower back pain at bay, sit with your feet on the floor. If the seat is too high for you to do this, try finding a footrest. Most airplanes don’t have footrests, so you could try using a bag or even purchasing one online.

Visit Williamsburg Chiropractic

Staying in proper alignment has many benefits and will help you feel your best before your next flight. Our experienced chiropractors will provide adjustments custom to your needs to ensure your spine is in great shape before your travels. To schedule an adjustment, just click here to contact us.