CHRISTMAS CAN BE A PAIN

Let's be real for a second, Christmas can be an absolute pain sometimes!

Seeing a Chiropractor during the holiday season can be extremely beneficial in helping you deal with the stress of shopping for the perfect gift, having a house full of family members, and not to mention the inevitable headaches that follow with the end of year work rush.

Often when we are busy, is when we need support and self care the most. Give yourself a little more of you this year and check out our top Reasons for Chiropractic Care this Christmas Season:

• Manage Stress: The holidays are always filled with fun and laughter, but they can also bring out the “stressers” in us. This season is often full of hopes & commitments, leaving us less time take care of ourselves, and more time focusing on others. That holiday stress generally leads to neck pain, low back pain, tension and headaches. When our bodies tense up as a result of stress, we can form bad biomechanical habits or leave ourselves vulnerable to injuries.

Top Tip: Chiropractic care is a great opportunity to put yourself first and address the effects of stress on your body!

• Shopping and Decorating: Shopping is probably the biggest cause of stress during the holidays. Fighting the crowds to get your children, nephews, & nieces those special gifts are quite the headache. Whether a person is waiting in line at a shops or scowering the aisle for a deal, simple movements can increase the chance of suffering from back pain. For one, bending the neck down to look at a phone while in a queue is a surefire way to experience back pain later.

Carrying box after box of decorations out the garage puts a lot of pressure on your lower back (especially when picking up or putting them down). Decorating itself can cause some injuries if you are not careful. If you overdo it putting the star on the tree, get yourself checked out.

Top Tip: Avoid the long shopping lines by shopping online. Carrying box after box of decorations out the garage puts a lot of pressure on your lower back (especially when picking up or putting them down). Decorating itself can cause some injuries if you are not careful. If you overdo it putting the star on the tree, get yourself checked out.

• Travel: Before the bags are packed, consider getting adjusted. The long car trips down the coast, uncomfortable airports and flights, and hard hotel beds are just a few of the perpetrators that leave us feeling less than merry during the holidays. Make sure your body is functioning at its best before setting out for Christmas away from home.

Top Tip: After your trip, if you find that travel has taken a toll on you, Chiropractic care can provide relief.

• Summer fun: With the heat over December through to March, more and more people enjoy doing outdoor activities such as surfing, cycling, hiking, and runs, which all can lead to injuries in some way, shape or form.

Top Tip: If you are the active type, it is best to seek help before that niggle turns into a pain and puts a cloud over your epic summer holiday.

So here are some stretches to prevent becoming a Christmas casualty this year. These are best performed laying flat on the back with arms by the side, knees bent, and shoulders laying flat against the floor:

- Rotational Stretch: In position, turn knees to touch left or right floor for 5 to 10 seconds then switch to the other side.

- Knee-to-Chest Stretch: Use both hands to bring the left or right knee up to the chest. Hold the position for up to 5 seconds and repeat as needed.

- Bridge Stretch: Lift hips while keeping head and shoulders on the floor with a straight back. Hold the position for 2 to 3 seconds and return to starting position.

Holiday stress is preventable, these small changes can reduce stress and back pain in the long run. If the back stretches weren’t enough to reduce back pain, don’t hesitate to contact us at Hughes Chiropractic to help get you feeling merry this Christmas.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Hughes Chiropractic!

Cheers,

Team Hughes Chiropractic

(This blog post is written from a combination of my experiences and the various research I have read over time, hence collective knowledge with no specific reference to particular articles).