Now holiday season is upon us, it is important to stay safe whether you are home or away. Of course, it’s crucial to keep your holiday money hidden and remember to wear sunscreen, but that aside a holiday of any sort is a very precious thing, especially these days, so do not let the prospect of pain ruin your relaxation.

Why not follow these top tips to promote a healthier and happier vacation:

Have a check-up before you ‘jet’ off,
Ice isn’t just for your drink,
Consider your sunbed posture,
Take a walk once in a while,
What to do if your mattress is uncomfortable,

Regular spinal checks are of benefit to us all and where a concern has previously existed then it is only sensible to keep it in check. It may therefore be of benefit to visit your Osteopath before you travel, just to make sure that all is as well as possible back-wise.

Most people ditch their self-care routine whilst they’re away, which makes them vulnerable. If you can keep your inflammation levels at bay by continuing with or even stepping up your ice packing/cold gel regime then you will be far less likely to suffer from a symptom flare up.

Lying on your front isn’t generally advisable so spending time doing so just to get a tan can be a very fraught undertaking.

If you place a folded towel under your stomach to prevent your back from banana-ing, then place another under your forehead so that you can look straight at your sunbed, rather than needing to twist your neck to either side, then you should stay comfortable for longer.

But if you have any back or neck pain or are just recovering from a flare up then please do avoid this all together.

Some consider sitting to be almost as bad for us as smoking, although this is somewhat of an exaggeration, rather than driving for long periods without a break or lounging all day on your hols. It is best to take a stretch break, move around and take in the sights on foot, as this can really help your joints to regain and retain their flexibility.

If your mattress is a little short on give, then lie on top of your duvet/bedding to create some degree of comfort or mould-ability, and if you have gone camping do keep your inflatable bed topped up with air.

But whatever you do, don’t have a massage abroad, especially if there is a language barrier, unless you like that I’ve just gone 10 rounds with Tyson Fury feeling!

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