| Healthy tips for avoiding injury during holiday shopping |
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By: Trent Nessler, Baptist Sports Medicine
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Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009 6:46 am
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According to the American Labor and Statistics, the average American spends one and a half hours per day shopping during the holiday season.
That is 39 hours spent in crowded shopping malls, department stores and in parking lots from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.
Many of those hours are spent totting heavy bags, dragging children along and walking miles on hard concrete surfaces for many hours at a time.
Come Christmas Day, many of us are feeling the toll this season has taken on our body.
Many of these aches and pains can simply be avoided by taking a proactive approach prior to starting our shopping frenzy.
First, wear proper shoes.
There are many orthopedic problems associated with the holiday shopping spree.
Many of these are associated with prolonged hours on your feet, prolonged walking on hard surfaces and general muscle fatigue.
These can included but are not limited to:
• Foot/Heel pain,
• Knee pain,
• Hip pain and
• Low Back pain
Wearing proper shoes will reduce the stress to the entire lower leg, hip and back and aid in reducing muscle fatigue.
A good walking shoe with proper ankle and arch support will go further than you would ever image.
Talk to your podiatrist about finding the proper fitting shoe or visit: http://www.cbssportsstore.com/sm-determine-your-shoe-size--bg-2715018.html#C
Second, avoid carrying overloaded bags.
Many of us are guilty of trying to carry too many bags and putting one more thing into an already overloaded bag.
This adds stress to the entire body including pain in the shoulders, neck, elbows and wrists.
These problems can simply be avoided by taking repeated trips to the car or renting a cart at the mall to transport your bags.
Third, pace yourself.
Increased fatigue adds to a decrease in the body’s ability to resist increased stresses to the body and can result in greater wear and tear on tissues.
To prevent fatigue, make sure to pace yourself and follow the following tips:
• Get enough rest the night before.
• Drink enough water.
Water is one of the most important nutrients and is essential for bodily functions. As little as 1 percent dehydration can result in a 10 percent decrease in performance. Decreased performance means the body is less likely to withstand the increased stresses we are placing on it during our shopping.
• Eat a healthy meal.
Low glucose levels can add to overall fatigue and add to increased stresses on the body. A proper meal before and, if needed, during your shopping trip will aid in preventing fatigue.
• Finally, listen to your body.
If you are having pain, do not ignore it. Aches are to be expected, pain is not. If you cannot rid your pain with the application of ice or if it increases in intensity, duration or frequency, see your primary care physician or orthopedist.
Remember, simple proactive planning can often help us avoid a potential problem. |
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