Every year as December arrives, my patients ask me if it will be quieter in our practice over the holiday period as everyone goes away.
Every year I tell the same stories about the numerous guests who arrive in Melbourne to visit families, replacing all those who have left, and the mad injury tales I hear. Every year I swear one day I’ll write a book about it.
For 40 years, we’ve looked after patients on public holidays during the Christmas-New Year madness, as people are their own worse enemy bringing chaos, injury and pain to what is meant to be a relaxed down time. Maybe this article will save someone from themselves!
I even did a search before putting pen to paper and found numerous titles like, “Tis the Season to Prevent an Injury” and “Tis the Season for Mishaps”. Lawyers and hospitals write posts called “Top Common Holiday Accidents” and “Top Tips to Avoid Christmas Injury”.
They cover topics ranging from car accidents, alcohol intake, christmas trees catching fire, shopping injury statistics, toy injuries and depression. Wow, what an exciting time of year!
This is a chiropractic take on life over summer, so it won’t be as dramatic as the food poisoning tales, champagne corks leading to hospital admission and falls from roofs putting up Christmas lights as are often told!
I’ll leave out electrocution for the layperson electrician, cooking injuries in the kitchen and the numerous things people do on ladders, falling from the roof and the higher rate of cyclist and pedestrian accidents.
What an uplifting article this is going to be! The festive season of holly and joy often includes sprains, back pain, sciatica, crook necks and inflamed joints, so here are a few samples and tips on how to stay safe and painfree!
Fact – People are more likely to injure themselves over Christmas than any other time of the year.
Pre-existing Injuries
We often find that many strains are existing issues just showing themselves after being aggravated. An accident or a fall might create a new injury but so many of our patients return with the same problems, just renewed after travel or lifting. All the more reason for a maintenance check before Christmas, eh?
Falling over
Summer means warm weather and spending time around the pool to cool down. Slipping on a slippery pool deck can be more than a pain in the butt! It can result in serious injury. Even a wet driveway or outdoor steps can lead to a horrible fall with bruised body and pride. Not to mention the next few steps you slide down. Wet bathroom, laundry and kitchen surfaces are no safer.
They’re a common area to slip, especially if your shoes have polished soles. How about using stepladders and chairs in the home to change light globes, smoke alarm batteries and hanging pictures? A tumble off one of those will do some damage. Finally, falling off a chair while seated, falling out of bed and rolling off the couch are all common causes of injury.
Work Related Injuries
Where do we start? Ladders, wheelbarrows, garden hoses, electrical gear, cutting implements and tools of the trade. Take your time and wear protective gear. Looking up for too long pruning branches, cleaning gutters and wasking windows can strain your neck. Bending over for too long without stretching and a break can hurt your lower back. What about just lifting too much out of the car instead of taking another trip to do it? It’s not great just before your holiday break when that searing pain hits you in the spine so you can’t move.
Sitting for Long Periods
In Australia, summer means cricket and tennis so extended hours of TV watching mean much more sitting. Or maybe Netflix and binge watching TV is your thing. Sofas are not that supportive so long hour of sitting without moving often cause stiffness. Not to mention the extra weight some of us put on to add insult to injury. Doing too little can be part of the problem, not doing too much!
Travel
Same again, long periods of sitting but with the legs extended. That makes it much worse. Long haul flights, interstate drives and that all includes lifting luggage, different beds and pillows and not enough exercise. Lifting bags off the airport carousel and around tight spaces in hotels are the chiropractor’s favourite!
Sleeping
Funny how you can fall asleep in odd positions on the couch after a big meal, and maybe a few drinks. Your friend’s spare bed might be the old hand me down that leaves you waking up a lot stiff than last night.
The Hero
Every year, a father comes in with a bad neck after his kids jumped off his shoulders in the pool. Every year, a dad shows his kids how it’s done with a new sport or toy. He’s a little older and heavier and things don’t work the way they used to. The stories would be funny if not so painful. How about the weekend hero climbing ladders, falling off walls and roofs or just lifting too much at once. Don’t be the hero. Your spine won’t thank you.
Sports Accidents
Beach cricket, tennis, boating, backyard footy and cycling are all associated with potential injury. We have good intentions but too much can be too much, especially after a week at work on the computer. New plans to exercise, lose weight and get in shape can be fraught with trouble so stretch, warm up and take breaks.
Maybe the book will eventually be written! Dr David Black and Dr Michael Black will on hand at our Doncaster and Armadale clinics to help all the hapless heroes, the weekend warriors, the tennis/cricket champions and the odd swimming pool idiot with their crooked backs, misaligned necks, pinched nerves and assorted injuries that wait all year to appear.
We’ll have some holiday emergency after-hours hours opened in our online bookings at the top right of our home page so you can get the chiropractic attention and help you need.
Don’t forget that most private health insurance covers renew in January. If you have extras cover, you may as well use it to advantage! Get a check up or the care you need before your allowance expires.
Call 9509 7691 if you need help or advice, or to arrange a time to be seen. Have a great summer and know that Michael & David Chiropractic Group is here for you. We understand the importance of giving you a customized treatment plan, so you can recover from your injuries efficiently.
