With the arrival of summer, we generally have more time for leisure and rest, stopping some daily routine habits, such as going to work or doing certain sports activities, so that our body rests and is not damaged as much. On the other hand, others can be harmful to a certain extent and can cause back pain or even worsen the pain and turn into chronic back pain. In this post we talk about the most common causes of back pain in summer and tips to help prevent it.
Factors that worsen back pain on vacation
Summer is a time where it is not only designed to rest and escape from the daily routine and stress generated at work. The truth is that planning vacations can also cause Stress, one of the main reasons that causes back problems to appear.
Causes of back pain in summer
A wide range of causes of back pain can be found related to good summer temperatures, leisure and fun.
If there is something that predominates during the summer, it is getaways and long trips to the beach or to favorite destinations to disconnect from the daily routine for a few days. When these summer trips are long, back pain appears, by spending many hours sitting in the car and generally without stopping before reaching the destination, which reduces mobility. Sleeping while traveling is also another of the most frequent causes of back pain, so that positions that are harmful to the neck and spine are adopted.
Changing the bed and pillow on vacation also affects and causes alterations in the spine, which also contributes to insufficient rest on vacation.
For many, summer becomes a time of change in terms of practicing sports activities. The truth is that if you are not used to exercising, practicing sports in good summer weather can cause contractures, precisely due to the lack of training during the rest of the year.
On the other hand, the stress that has been generated for various reasons has caused tension in the muscles, so relaxing suddenly on vacation can cause contractures and back pain to appear.
Carrying weight and luggage causes pain in the back, which can lead to lumbar problems due to the effort made.
Finally, sudden changes in body temperature and the transition from heat to cold from the fan or air conditioners can not only cause colds, but also air conditioning can affect the well-being of your back, and a contracture for this reason could be painful and annoying during the vacation period.
How to avoid back pain in summer
The back is one of the areas of the human body that can suffer the most in summer. Learning to take care of your back in summer and take precautions to minimize the impact of high summer temperatures and changes in habits on the body and avoid risks of contractures or injuries is essential.
Tips to prevent chronic back pain in the heat
If cold devices are used to combat the heat, it is recommended to keep them at approximately 22 degrees, since exposing the back and spine to the cold affects its muscles. Cold air on the back causes contractures of the paravertebral muscles, especially the cervical ones.
In summer, high temperatures increase sweat, so the amount of water circulating through the body decreases. To prevent the tissues of the human body and, especially those of the spine, it is advisable to hydrate yourself by drinking fluids frequently.
To avoid back pain and problems resulting from luggage, it is important to look for suitcases and backpacks in such a way that their weight is well distributed, adjusting the shoulder straps to the back in the best possible way.
On long trips, if they are made on transport such as the train or plane, it is advisable to take walks on them every so often in order to avoid numbness of the body muscles and thereby prevent pain. If, on the other hand, the holiday trip is by car, it is important to adapt the seat and maintain good posture during the journey, stopping every so often to stretch your legs and back.
On the beach or in the pool, it is recommended to use a chair or lounger rather than lying on the beach sand or on the ground, frequently changing your position and taking walks.
Also be especially careful when entering the bathroom, avoiding sudden plunges, as this is very common. traumatic cervical spine injuries caused by blows - hitting the head against the ground.
Do you suffer from any traumatological spinal injury? At ICAC we have traumatologists who are experts in advanced minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of spinal pain with more than 10 years of experience. Make an appointment with our team and improve your quality of life.
