Traveling is a great way to take a break from the everyday grind. A vacation is an opportunity to relax, recharge, and explore new destinations.

Whether you’re visiting family, going on a road trip through scenic landscapes, or jetting off to somewhere exotic, taking time away from work can help rejuvenate your spirit.

However, suffering from back pain should not be part of your travel experience. It can limit your activities and make it difficult for you to get out and enjoy all that your destination has to offer.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take before and during your travels to minimize any discomfort caused by back pain.

For starters, talk with your doctor about medications that may reduce inflammation and ease your discomfort.

Also, make sure to take breaks throughout the day and practice good posture while sitting or standing for long periods of time. Additionally, if you’re walking a lot, consider investing in a support device such as a rigid back brace or ergonomic cushion to provide extra support.

5 Things That Could Make Your Back Pain Worse When Traveling

1. Carrying heavy suitcases or backpacks: The extra weight can pull your muscles and cause strain on your back.

2. Sitting for too long in awkward positions: When sitting, make sure to sit up straight and have proper lumbar support to avoid putting pressure on your lower back.

3. Not taking regular breaks: When traveling by car or train, take frequent short walks or stretches during the journey to reduce stress on the back muscles.

4. Not using ergonomic objects when possible: Portable desk setups and other ergonomic solutions should be used as much as possible while traveling to prevent unnecessary strain on the body.

5. Poor posture: Make sure you maintain good posture while traveling, especially while sitting. Poor posture can lead to excess strain on the muscles and ligaments of the back.

In order to prevent back pain before traveling, there are some simple steps one can take.

First and foremost, it is essential to build up your core muscles. This will not only help support your spine but also provide additional balance when carrying luggage or taking on strenuous activities while traveling.

Regularly doing exercises such as planks and squats can improve posture and strengthen the lower back muscles.

It is also important to ensure you are packing light; too much weight in a suitcase or bag can put extra strain on your back.

If possible, pack items into two separate lightweight bags so that each arm carries an equal amount of weight whilst walking through airports or around town.

Additionally, if you have access to a gym or a pool, taking some time out to do some low impact cardio exercises such as swimming can help strengthen your muscles and alleviate tension from the spine that may have built up over the course of the day.

This should be done in moderation, however – too much exercise could lead to further injury.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Back Pain?

Physical therapy is a great way to help with back pain and ensure that you stay comfortable while traveling.

Our therapists create personalized treatment plans for your back pain, incorporating manual techniques like massage, targeted exercises, and posture education.

We conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the cause of your back pain, enabling targeted physical therapy interventions to alleviate symptoms, enhance mobility, and restore strength and balance to your spine.

Come See Us If You Are Concerned Your Back Pain Will Ruin Your Vacation

Empower PT & Pilates offers a Travel Ready Assessment, which is a great way to get the conversation started on the next steps in your treatment if you are experiencing pain.

We want to help, so contact our Arvada location today to schedule a time to come see us.  Contact our team or schedule a Travel Ready Assessment so we can begin looking at different treatment plans for the pain you are experiencing.

All you need to do is tell us a bit about what’s going on through this quick form and we will have a conversation about how we may be able to help.

You can also give us a call at (720) 722-0685. 

See you soon,

Dr. Casey

OTHER FREE RESOURCES…

Free Guide – 7 Simple Way To Finally END Back Pain

Read our blog – Should You Exercise With Back Pain? 

Read our blog – 5 Tips When Traveling With Back Pain

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