With borders open and restrictions lifting, many Australians are taking advantage of back-to-back long weekends and school holidays to travel.
To help avoid some of the travel ‘bugs’ that can spoil a holiday, we’ve compiled a list of the top travel tips to keep in mind as you enjoy your long overdue holiday.
As the best travel tip of all, we recommend that everyone in the family spends just 3 minutes each day doing the Straighten Up exercise program while you brush your teeth!
Travelling by Car or Bus
- Take regular stretch breaks at least every 1 – 2 hours.
- Tuck in your chin & roll your shoulders back every hour to loosen tight muscles.
- Use back support, such as a small, rolled towel. Alternate behind the back & then between the shoulders.
- Sit upright with your head back before setting the position of your mirrors. This will remind you not to slouch.
- Stay well hydrated, sip water often.
- Pillows are light, so take a supportive pillow strapped to your case.
- Put your seat upright & ensure your tailbone is as far back in the seat as it can be, with shoulders and head as supported as possible by the seat.
Travelling by Plane
- Where possible, sit on the aisle to make it easier to regularly stretch and walk during the flight.
- Use a rolled up garment or small cushion as a spinal support, to maintain the natural shape of the spine.
- Be careful lifting suitcases. Bend with your knees, not your back.
- Regularly roll your ankles in circles and point then flex your feet.
- Stretch at least every 1 – 2 hours, and always stretch after sleeping.
- Stay well hydrated, sip water often.
- Place a supportive pillow inside your luggage or take an inflatable travel pillow.
- Before take-off, set your watch to the time zone of your destination, then eat, drink & sleep in alignment with this time during the flight to adjust to it.
Sleeping in a Unfamiliar Bed
- Sleep on your back or side as much as possible, avoid sleeping on your stomach!
- If the bed is ‘saggy’, consider putting the mattress on the floor.
- Use a ceiling fan instead of air-conditioning where possible to avoid cold blasts of air on your neck or back.
- Compensate for dips in the mattress by placing a small, soft towel under your side.
- Always stretch after sleeping.
- Stay well hydrated, sip water often.
Seeing a chiropractor is one of the best things you can do not just for your spine, but for your overall health as well! Chiropractic care looks after the entire nervous system and improves your musculoskeletal health; not to mention improving your immune function over time (as chiropractic care restores function to your nerves to ensure they are operating spick and span). A visit to your local ACA chiropractor may also give you more energy, improved range of motion, better balance, improved digestion and better breathing and sleep!
Find out more about chiropractic here or to find your local ACA chiropractor, visit findachiro.org.au
