How
to Avoid the Pains of Traveler's Back
by Rich Steck & Judi Janofsky
Raise
your hand if you have ever returned
from vacation with a sore back, neck
or shoulders. If you did, rest assured
you're not alone. You may be a victim
of what the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) refers to as "luggage-related
injuries."
According to the U.S. Consumer Products
Safety Commission, last year more than
53,000 people were treated in hospital
emergency rooms, doctors' offices and
clinics for luggage-related injuries.
How can you avoid this? Start with the
old travel adage, "Pack your bags,
then take out half." All that extra
gear just adds unnecessary weight. How
many times have you returned from a
vacation and realized you packed things
you never got around to wearing or using?
Lots of us pack much more than we need
forour trips, leaving us to carry luggage
that's unnecessarily heavy. If you are
one of those people who just can't decide
what to take and what to leave at home,
the AAOS has some tips to help you transport
your luggage safely.
When luggage weight goes up, your risk
of muscle strains, pulls and tears increase.
Carrying a heavy suitcase for extended
periods of time, lifting and holding
a bags incorrectly or lifting luggage
from overhead or under-seat compartments
can cause increased risk of injury.
This risk multiples when you've been
sitting for long periods of time, especially
on a plane.
"Using proper lifting techniques
can ensure that your trip isn't cut
short by an injury. Even a relatively
minor injury, such as a muscle pull
to the back, neck or shoulders can be
quite painful in the short term and
ruin your vacation," said Dr. Robert
Hart, an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes
in spinal problems.
Hart
and others from the AAOS offer these
strategies to prevent injuries when
lifting and carrying luggage:
-
When
purchasing new luggage, look for sturdy
and light pieces with wheels and handles.
Avoid buying any luggage that is heavy
and bulky when empty.
-
Pack
lightly. When possible, pack items
in a few smaller bags instead of one
large suitcase. It's better to carry
a lighter bag in each hand rather
than one heavy bag in one hand.
-
If
you must lift heavy luggage, bend
at the knees and lift with your legs,
not your back or waist. Also, avoid
twisting or rotating your spine. Stand
beside your suitcase, bend at your
knees, then grab the handle and straighten
up, carrying luggage as close to your
body as you can.
-
Don't
rush when lifting or carrying a suitcase.
If it's too heavy, or an awkward shape,
get help.
-
When
placing luggage in an overhead compartment,
first lift it onto the top of the
seat. Then, with your hands on the
left and right sides of the suitcase,
lift it up. If your luggage has wheels,
put the wheel-side in first. Once
wheels are inside, put a hand on top
of the luggage and push it to the
back of the compartment. To remove
the luggage, reverse the process.
-
If
using a backpack, make sure it has
two padded and adjustable shoulder
straps. Choose one with several compartments
to secure various-sized items, packing
the heavier things low and toward
the center. Always wear a backpack
on both shoulders - slinging it over
one shoulder does not allow weight
to be distributed evenly, which can
cause muscle strain.
-
If
you need to use a duffel or shoulder
bag, do not carry it on one shoulder
for any length of time. Switch sides
often.
-
Carry
all rolling luggage up flights of
stairs; bending over to pull it up
puts your body at a nice position
for "luggage-related injury."
In
short, pack light and pick up right. |