How to Ease Neck Pain While Traveling
Neck pain can be a real nuisance when traveling. It’s uncomfortable and distracting and can make the experience of being on the go much less enjoyable. Fortunately, you can do a few things to help ease neck pain while traveling. Read on to learn more about how to mitigate this common issue.
The most important thing you can do is ensure your body is aligned while sitting in the car or airplane seat. This means adjusting your headrest to support the back of your head and neck while keeping your spine in line with the seat back. It would help if you also tried to keep your knees slightly higher than your hips when seated. This will help keep your spine aligned and reduce strain or discomfort in your neck and shoulders.
When traveling by car, make frequent stops to move around and stretch. Move your neck in circles and side-to-side motions to help loosen any tight areas in your neck muscles. You can also try gently massaging the sides of your neck with two fingers for a few minutes throughout the day to relieve tension.
If possible, take frequent breaks during long periods of travel. Getting up and stretching out will help relieve some of the tension in your muscles and allow them to relax before you continue your journey. Additionally, if you’re driving for an extended period, alternate between sitting and standing every hour; this will help reduce fatigue and minimize stress on your neck muscles.
Finally, if you have access to a foam roller when traveling, use it! Foam rollers are great for working out knots in tight muscles like those around the neck area that may be causing pain or discomfort. Make sure not to apply too much pressure as this may cause further irritation—lightly massage away any stiffness until it subsides.
Neck pain is a common side effect of travel for many people, but there are ways to manage it effectively so that it doesn’t become too much of an issue during long trips. Adjusting your posture accordingly while seated and taking frequent breaks when driving or flying will go a long way towards alleviating neck pain caused by traveling—and don’t forget about foam rolling! With these tips in mind, you should enjoy each journey all the more without having to worry about pesky neck pains getting in the way!
