As the holidays are in full swing, staying active gets harder. Between long drives, crowded airports, and the constant shuffle of travel plans, most of our time is spent sitting or in a stagnant position instead of moving. Even a few minutes of mobility work can help fight stiffness, boost circulation, and keep you feeling your best while traveling. As physical therapists, we preach “movement is medicine.” Here are some tips to keep you moving this holiday season!
Moving in different directions and planes of motion can help to cover all your bases. In other words, side to side, forward and backward, and rotation movements are all important directions to move in. Changing positions often is best as we don’t want to stay in one position for too long.
Tips for travelling when experiencing a layover at the airport:
- For every hour of waiting, try to incorporate some type of positional change, like going from sitting to standing when you can.
- To further enhance blood flow, walking up and down the terminal can provide the most amount of movement for your body.
- Other options can be performing standing opposite arm to leg toe touches, placing hands the backside of your hips and bending backwards, or side bending to each side.
Can’t stand and stuck in your seat?
- Think of a bottom up approach to target most parts of your body even though you’re not able to get up. You can start with some ankle pumps, seated marches, pelvic tilts, and twisting in place.
Driving long distances:
- Consider splitting the road trip with other passengers Have dedicated stops to allow you to stand up and walk or stretch before continuing driving.
- Take your breaks, move and listen to your body.
Consult with your physical therapist on a plan that works for you!
Dealing with a current or past injury? Don’t wait until it sidelines you. Schedule a 1-on-1 evaluation or movement assessment with our physical therapy team to address pain, instability/balance, or mobility issues
