How To Avoid Those Christmas Aches & Pains 

And we're not about the relatives! Swindon Chiro has some great tips for you this festive season

 

We hope everyone is enjoying the festive season so far and has managed to avoid injury at the office Christmas party!

 

Our friends at Swindon Chiro have put together some hints and tips based on previous experience from their clients over Christmas, as winter time can really bring home those niggly aches and pains.

 

Wrapping presents tying knots in your back?

A preferred method for wrapping all those Christmas presents is to sit on the floor with them all spread out. This often leads to a slumped posture and over-arched back that can put strain the joints and muscles in your back.

In order for you to wrap all those presents without any aches and pains here are a few tips for you;

- Wrap the presents at a table that you can stand, turn and twist more easily
- When reaching for presents don’t over-twist
- Take a break every 20 minutes and move around – make a cup of tea!
- When it comes to lifting heavy presents make sure you bend your knees keeping your back straight.

If your back is sore after any of your Christmas preparation, ask your chiropractor for advice.

Lifting your turkey out the oven

When you’re in a mad rush on Christmas day to finish cooking all those traditional dishes, you don’t often pause to consider your posture. Lifting that turkey and all those roast potatoes out of the oven with an arched back can hurt your back! Even if it’s a small turkey being lifted, the correct lifting technique is essential to protect your back, this includes;

- Keeping you back straight
- Bending your knees to come down to the oven level
- Take your time! So ensure you have thick oven gloves to prevent your hands from burning.

Also remember if you’re hunched over the stove for a prolonged time, take breaks regularly to roll and move your shoulders around!

Decorating the tree

Putting up the Christmas tree can irritate the back at all stages of preparation from installing the tree, to getting the decorations from out of storage, to decorating it!

When putting up your tree, have someone help you to lift it and position it how you want it so you are not bending over, twisting and straining to ensure it is straight yourself.

Take your time getting the decorations out of the loft or from the back of that cupboard; lift the boxes carefully with a straight back and bent knees and make sure the box is not too heavy for you! Remember when decorating the tree if you can’t reach where you want that bauble to go don’t! Overstretching could cause discomfort in the back and contribute to a loss your balance, increasing the risk of falls! Move to the optimum position and if needs be get a chair that is stable so that you can reach to the top of the tree.

Take care in the cold weather

Cold weather can be a problem for all so it is important to take care in these winter months – here are a few tips to keep you well and warm over the cold period;

- Have regular hot drinks and at least on hot meal a day
- Keep hydrated and wear several light layers- shivering can sometimes make your muscles ache causing discomfort!
- Wear boots or shoes with a good grip when out in icy conditions.
- Check up on relatives and neighbours who are likely to be vulnerable to the cold weather such as the elderly.
- Check the Met Office before travelling in cold weather for any tips or weather warnings.

 

About Swindon Chiropractic Clinic

Swindon Chiropractic Clinic have treated over 28,000 people since opening in 1982. They offer a safe, effective hands-on treatment which gets straight to the cause of the pain.

 

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