Holiday Shopping Shouldn’t Be a Pain

The Tennessee Chiropractic Association would like to encourage the public to take it slow, avoid injuries and enjoy the season.  The holiday season is upon us – and along with it, the aches and pains that result from frenzied holiday shopping and preparations.

One way to look at tackling the tasks associated with the holiday season is to treat them like athletic events.  The American Chiropractic Association suggests that by doing this, you may use them to ward off the stress and strain that often accompanies this otherwise joyous time of the year.

“Our bodies have the capacity to do a little more than we normally do,” says Scott Bautch, DC, of ACA’s Council on Occupational Health. “But our bodies do not adapt very well to doing a lot more than we normally do. Since the added demands of this season can stress the capacity of our bodies, we need to do everything we can to help ourselves. Eat right, drink plenty of water, stretch, exercise and take a few minutes to slow down and reflect on what the season is all about.”

The ACA has provided the following tips to help keep you healthy, happy, and safe as you navigate your to-do lists during the holiday season:

• During a day of heavy shopping, most people should take a break every 45 minutes. Those with less stamina may even need to take breaks more frequently.
• Wear shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on hard shopping mall floors — not high heels.
• Make sure your clothing is as comfortable as possible. It’s a good idea to wear layers, because you may be going from a cold environment (outdoors) to a warm environment (indoors).
• Leave the huge shoulder bags at home. Wear a light belted pack, or if necessary, a light backpack instead. Pack only those items that are absolutely essential such as your wallet, keys, and cell phone.
• Stay hydrated by drinking eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are dehydrators. Don’t substitute them for water.) On shopping days, you may need to drink even more water.
• When wrapping gifts, try alternating positions by standing at a table or counter-top for one package, sitting on a bed for another, sitting in a comfortable chair for another, etc. Do not wrap packages while sitting on a hard floor. This can wreak havoc on your posture.
• After you wrap gifts, stretch the opposite muscle groups; if you are leaning forward when wrapping your gifts, stretch backward when you are done.
• Cyber-shopping?  Beware of tech neck and poor posture as you browse the web for the perfect gift.  Avoid hunching over and use proper screen ergonomics to keep pain at bay.

Of course, you should try to maintain your usual healthy habits of eating nutritious food, getting plenty of rest, and visit your chiropractor if you develop aches or pains after holiday activities.  Need a doctor?  Find one near you at www.tnchiro.com/find-a-doctor.

Source: ACA’s Get Healthy With Chiropractic – Holiday Shopping Shouldn’t Be a Pain in the Neck or Back, Say Chiropractic Physicians