Labor Day Can Be a Pain in the Neck

Labor Day weekend is almost always an exciting one (especially with a hurricane on the way….). In fact, in my experience, it must be a little too exciting; every year my patients come see me in large numbers after the weekend, usually complaining of some back or neck pain. It’s a shame, really. It can really ruin a fun weekend. Even more so because it can usually prevented. Just follow these few simple tips…

A lot of neck problems like these result from sleeping in a guest bed, or worse yet, a pullout bed. An easy way to lessen the likelihood of discomfort and stay pain-free is to take the mattress off of the frame and use it on the floor. Believe me, your back will be grateful you did.

Bringing your pillow from home is another way to stay comfortable. Sleeping with a different type of pillow (or in some cases, with none at all) can wreak havoc on a testy neck.

Taking a flight for the weekend? Keep that neck supported! Sleeping on a plane in cramped spaces can lead to some funky neck positions that can really hurt. Personally, I like to travel with a cervical pillow to get the right amount of support.

Going to be in the car for a while? Take frequent breaks and stretch it out. Sitting in the same posture for a long period of time can be a real problem, especially if you are sitting on your walley (take it out while you sit!). Move around and keep your body from stiffening up.

Some of my patients go biking or running over the weekend. If you aren’t used to high levels of activity, be sure and stretch thoroughly before setting out. So often, the “weekend warriors” end up pushing themselves since they don’t get much activity in during the week. The result is usually an injury and plenty of pain. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Most of it is pretty common sense, but in the rush before a trip, things like this get forgotten. So the short list goes like this:

- Bring a pillow
- Move pullout mattresses to the floor
- Keep your neck supported on flights
- Stop and stretch when on the road
- Always stretch before activity (and remember fluids)

In the event something does happen, we’re here to help. Give us a call at Living Well Medical in NYC, (212)-645-8151, and let us help you out. In the meantime, have a blast this weekend!

- Dr. Shoshany, NYC Chiropractor