Christmas Related Injuries

Wednesday, 01 December 2010 17:28

I hate to say it, but Christmas will come whether you like it or not and with it Christmas Related Injuries. If you want to avoid a CRI here are my top tips....

o   Wear comfortable shoes - either with a slight heel or trainers to shock absorb as the pavements and shop floors are so hard, they will aggravate a 'dodgy' knee or hip.

o    Layer your clothing. Shops are extra busy and hot and because of the temperature change from the cold you often overheat causing physical distress and a need to exit the shop ASAP.

o   PLAN your trip, so that you park close to the collection point of where you will get your biggest and heaviest presents and get them first, even better get them delivered direct.

o   Try to avoid carrying heavy bags around the shops, your arms feel like their 'dropping off' because the muscles are fatiguing, so instead take 10mins to drop them back to the car so that tennis elbows, neck and shoulders are preserved.

o   Rehydrate – shoppint centres are hot and dehydrate you faster, stopping for tea / coffee is great but it dehydrates you, so always have a glass of water with it and keep a small bottle in your bag, sipping regularly.

o   Avoid sugar as treats always result in a dipping of your energy within an hour after eating/drinking them, resulting in tiredness and irritability, so keep the sugary treat until your nearly finished or as part of a meal, Ignore at your peril - Hangry is the new word for this.

o   Write Christmas cards in batches so as to preserve the wrist and hand. You would be amazed at the amount of people who struggle with wrist and thumb pain from all the writing of cards.

o   Avoid over-reaching for the cellotape or wrapping paper when you are sitting on the floor wrapping presents. I always get a few clients whose backs 'go' wrapping the presents, I could explain why, but it is basically a chain reaction from being tired, slumped and something has to give and its your back.