Summer Holidays
- July 14, 2025
The summer holidays are nearly here! We hope everyone will be able to enjoy a well-earned break, whatever form it takes. Although holidays are supposed to be an enjoyable and pleasant break, we see many patients with injuries associated with their holiday at this time of year. Here are a few tips for how to avoid these problems.
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Sort out the niggle!
Most injuries aren’t fresh and new. Often, they’re an aggravation or reoccurrence of something that has been in the background for a while already. Consider getting a pre-holiday MOT to sort out those niggles and stop them laying you low while you’re away.
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Packing & Luggage
The holiday injury can occur before you’ve even left the house. People often store their suitcases in the loft and can injure themselves by getting them down. Sometimes they hurt themselves getting a heavy suitcase down the stairs. If you need to get a suitcase out of the loft, then make sure there is someone at the bottom of the ladder to pass it down to, rather than trying to wrestle it down yourself. Another tip is to carry it down the stairs empty, and pack it on the ground floor rather than heaving a fully loaded suitcase down a flight of steps. Try to get a suitcase with wheels to ease the load on your back. Bend from your knees and hips when lifting your suitcase into the car boot, or off the baggage carousel. Most of all, try to only pack as much as you need, because with all the lifting advice in the world, if something is too heavy…then it’s too heavy!
The Journey
Whether you are driving or flying, the issue will be sitting for a long period of time, particularly if you’re sat in a cramped or awkward position. If you are taller try to get an aisle seat on the plane, and make sure you get up and stretch your legs as often as you can. If you’re driving, set up your chair to give yourself the right amount of leg room. Make sure (especially if you’re in the driver’s seat) that you don’t have anything bulky in your pockets like wallets or mobile phones. Check that the belt on your trousers isn’t done up too tightly, as this can dig into your hips when you’re sat for a long time. The most important thing when you’re in the car on a long journey is to stop regularly, preferably every hour or two. When you stop try having a short walk and a stretch.
While You’re Away
When we go on holiday many of us like to have a break from the ordinary. People that are quite sedentary often like to have an active holiday, and those that do physical jobs enjoy the opportunity for a rest. Our bodies like habit and routine. Posture and muscle activity calibrate to whatever we use our body for day to day. This means that a major change from the ordinary can provoke a reaction or injury. By all means enjoy a rest, but don’t spend all day spread out on a sun lounger. If you’re used to being on your feet all day, take a short walk or hop in the pool for a few gentle lengths. If you’re keen to use your escape from the desk to get moving, great plan! Just make sure that you listen to your body, warm up before any vigorous activity and rest if you feel any discomfort. If you are holidaying in warm weather, make sure you stay hydrated. The health consequences of dehydration are well known, but did you know that dehydration can also predispose you to joint, muscles and other soft tissues injuries as well? When you’re away there is obviously a temptation to indulge in one or two more beverages than usual and there is nothing wrong with enjoying alcohol responsibly, just make sure to balance that with plenty of water too.
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Give us a call!
Obviously, if you suffer an injury while you’re away, we can’t do any hands-on treatment from a distance. But we are happy to talk through any problems and give you some advice. If appropriate, we could even send you some exercises to ease discomfort. We might even know someone local to where you are staying that we can recommend.
Happy Summer Holidays!
