Nothing is more disruptive to the holiday season than back pain. 

The holidays offer us a much needed reprieve from the general stress of life. It is a time to unwind in front of the Christmas tree and focus on the small things that really matter: family, friends and staying cozy amdist the cold weather. But there is one thing that threatens your enjoyment of the holidays more than Scrooge and a cohort of Christmas villains ever could: back pain.

Whether you plan to travel or stay at home for the holidays, take steps to mitigate problems with your spine

Avoiding back pain is a near-constant struggle. Choose to not accept your pain as a foregone conclusion; treat your back right by following these tips:

• Drink responsibly: brandy-eggnog, mulled wine, punch; whatever your christmas cocktail of choice, remember that alcohol influences inflammation. Furthermore, alcoholic beverages are laden with calories that increase weight and the burden on your spine. 
• Travel right: if you are flying cross-country to see family, make sure you stand up from your seat to stretch regularly. Use a back support even if it is only a rolled up jacket; be careful lifting suitcases to and from the overhead compartment.
• Focus on staying hydrated at all times: the importance of this cannot be stated enough. Get yourself a water bottle and try to consume an ounce of water for every pound of body weight.
• Sneakily tone your core: whenever you think of it, pull your belly button in toward your spine and hold for as long as is comfortable. 

Make sure you check in at your Westwood chiropractor during or after the holiday season!

Christmas break is hard on our spines. Activity levels go down, consumption of food and alcohol goes up; we drive and fly great distances so we can sit around on the couch. There is plenty of time for our spines to move out of alignment, for muscles to tighten and pain to accrue. At our office in Westwood, we establish alignment in your spine and work on undoing the muscle tension that accumulates during Christmas. If you are interested in using our services to overcome Christmas-related back pain, give us a call to schedule an appointment today.