Don't Let Back Pain Ruin the Holiday Season for You

(ARA) – More than 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 experience frequent back and neck pain according to the National Pain Foundation. Ask any chiropractor and they’ll tell you the holiday season is the worst time of year for flair ups.

Between carrying heavy bags around the mall, heavy packages to the post office, and heavy carry-ons to and from your holiday destination, not to mention those heavy bookbags the kids carry around at school, there are a lot of opportunities to hurt yourself. Once an injury has occurred, the treatment options available include over-the-counter pain medications, physical therapy and in extreme cases, surgery.

But of course it would be preferable if you could avoid an injury from occurring in the first place. As Ben Franklin wrote after being burned flying his kite in an electric storm, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Here are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself from experiencing back and neck pain:

* Avoid Repetitive Motions
More than any other thing, repetitive motions can cause chronic pain to increase. So, try your best to avoid activities like bending over to pull weeds and picking up toys in the kids’ rooms.

* Spend Time Doing Strength Training
One of the best things you can do to reduce back pain is strength training. Build up the muscles of your back by doing chin-ups, back extensions or using a seated row machine at the gym.

* Get Regular Massages
Massage is one the best way to relieve tension in your back, but getting regular massages from a professional can get expensive. You may want to ask Santa for a chair massager instead.

* Use a ShoulderSaver on Bag Straps
One of the most frequent injuries to the back and neck people suffer this time of year involves sprain or strain caused by the bags they are carrying. Prevent the extra weight on your shoulders from doing you harm by slipping a ShoulderSaver from IMAK on your bag’s strap before carrying it.

The ShoulderSaver is a sleeve, designed by an orthopedic surgeon, that is filled with ergoBeads, a smooth plastic bead filling which disperses the weight of the bag across the shoulder, making its impact less stressful. It also provides a massaging effect, making the bag more comfortable to carry.

The ShoulderSaver can be used on just about any kind of bag imaginable. The only requirement is that it has a standard strap the device can fit onto with Velcro.

To learn more about this ergonomic solution for carrying heavy bags, or to find out where to purchase one, log on to http://www.imakproducts.com/Products/ShoulderSaver.aspx. ShoulderSavers retail for between $7 and $10, making them an inexpensive lifesaver for you, and a great holiday gift for a friend or family member.

Courtesy of ARAcontent