Traveling is one of the most enjoyable things you can do; whether you are alone, with a friend, or with your entire family. But if you are suffering from neck pain, back pain, or some injuries, going on trips could be challenging. Sitting still and walking for extended periods of time may lead to feelings of discomfort and could even further aggravate the painful areas in your body.
On this page, we will discuss some tips on how you can reduce discomfort while traveling. Read on and apply every help
ful fact as you hit the road.
How Can You Stay Comfortable During Travels?
Every move you make may affect how you feel, especially if you are experiencing certain types of body pains. Here are some tips that can help you enjoy a pain-free trip:
1.Have something to support your back.
Do you have a lumbar support pillow? Bring it with you to have a comfortable ride. Oftentimes, trains, planes, and even cars don’t have the right kind of support for the neck and lower back; so it really pays to bring your own support.
If you don’t have a lumbar support pillow, you may use a blanket or jacket rolled up. Having a neck and back support is especially important during long flights.
2.Don’t bring a heavy bag.
You should pack light as much as possible. Apart from inconvenience, bringing a heavy bag can cause or worsen back pain; for it strains the joints and muscles.
Instead of lifting a heavy bag, it would be best to bring a suitcase with handle and wheels. Go for a light one, for you will still need to lift them; for instance, in and out of a vehicle or up and down the stairs. You may also want to ship most of your things ahead of time should you really need to bring a lot of stuff.
3.Keep your feet on the right position; stretch your hips and legs.
Supporting the lower back requires making the feet feel comfortable. While sitting, you should place your feet on a firm surface. Failing to do so will lead to additional stress being transferred to the lower back.
Always rest your feet on the floor to provide full support for the lower back. Should you get a seat that is too high, look for a footrest and rest your feet there.
Stretching your hips and legs also helps provide support to the lower back.
4.Wear a comfortable pair of shoes.
A trip is not complete without doing short or long walks. While you want to wear your most fashionable pair of shoes, keep in mind that comfort should always come first especially during trips.
Pick those shoes that come with a good heel and arch support. Among the good options you may try are tennis shoes. They will certainly make you feel comfortable when sightseeing on foot.
5.Observe proper sitting position.
Apart from bringing your own back and neck support, stretching your hips and legs, and resting your feet on the floor; you should also be mindful of how your back looks. To help yourself feel comfortable, make sure your back is always aligned against your seat’s back. Also, see to it that your headrest supports the middle part of your head.
Moreover, don’t hunch forward. Always keep your shoulders straight. You may also adjust the seat when needed.
6.Move a lot.
Going on a long trip? If so, you should get up and walk for a few minutes once every hour. Keeping yourself active helps prevent soreness and deep-vein thrombosis.
Meanwhile, you should also squeeze your calves’ muscles and move your ankles to keep your blood flowing. Sitting in just one position for a long period of time stiffens the muscles; hence the pain and other feelings of discomfort.
7. Bring some pain relievers.
Because you will surely be physically active during the trip, there is a great possibility that you will need to take pain relievers. Make sure you have enough supply for the entire trip and keep them with you.
It also helps to bring a prescription and your physician’s phone number with you just in case you run out of medication.
8.Set realistic goals.
While you want to make the most out of your trip, it is also important to avoid having too much in your itinerary. Be realistic about your energy level and your ability to walk and move around.
Also, you should include breaks in your plan. Overdoing things will just take the fun away from your much awaited trip.
9. Eat healthy foods.
Eating foods high in fat, sugar, salt, and processed carbohydrates can result in increased inflammation particularly when you stay in one position for a long period of time. Sad to say, you can find these foods in numerous train stations and airports.
Instead of eating these foods, bring some healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, and clean water. Avoid soda and alcohol as well.
10. Avoid traveling during the busy days.
If you want to feel more relaxed, it will help if you pick a not-so-busy period for your trip. Go for the days when there is little to no congestion at airports. Instead of scheduling your flight on a weekend, you may just go on a mid-week flight.
Apart from sitting for long periods of time, spending extra time to check in can definitely add to the pain that you may possibly feel. Indeed, right timing contributes a lot to having a more fun and relaxed trip.
Conclusion
While pain is sometimes inevitable during trips, you can always lessen the feeling of discomfort by doing these and a lot more helpful tips. The thoughts discussed above are actually simple things that don’t require too much effort. They are quite easy to do and are worth your time.
For more ways to enjoy a pain-free travel, do further research and apply everything that you think may work for you. Traveling should make you feel relaxed. Do not allow yourself to miss a lot of fun experiences just because you failed to do the things you should do to make yourself feel more comfortable.
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