Monday, June 30, 2008

How to Relieve Travel Stress

Take a heating pad when you travel. Lifting and carrying baggage can cause back muscles to tighten. Even with wheels, luggage needs to be lifted in and out of vehicles, onto airport scales, off of baggage claim conveyor belts.

Backpacks free your hands, but the weight of your stuff can be heavier than you anticipate and cause muscles to tighten. If you sling a bag over your shoulder it can cause shoulder muscle pain or stiffness on one side of the back.

Add the stress of meeting flight times, finding your way through a new area, traffic, hotel beds that aren’t like your own, and you may be feeling tense.

Woman relaxing sore back muscles with a microwave back warmer, man relaxing tense muscles with a microwave neck warmer, and knee pack strapped onto a knee to relieve sore knee

Heat relaxes tense muscles. When you can relax your muscles you may sleep better, and have more flexibility in your back to enjoy your vacation. Most hotels have microwaves and many hotel rooms now offer them. Gas stations that have mini-marts also have microwaves – but wiping them out first is recommended, or place on a paper plate. Maine Warmers sells microwave heating pads that are portable and safe – no worry of overheating. Back Warmers and Neck Warmers can be tucked into a suitcase or carry-on. Also, they may be frozen and used as gentle ice packs.

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