During the Christmas period a lot us tend to test our bodies in more ways than one…The long drives causing back pain, the well anticipated Christmas party ankle sprain, the extensive lunch that is the catalyst for many new years resolutions….Christmas is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends (especially after the year we’ve had) so the last thing we want is a pesky injury putting a dampener on your well earned break.
Avoiding Common Christmas Injuries – It’s important to have fun at Christmas and take steps to help avoid common injuries to make sure we can enjoy a pain-free holiday.
- Reduce your sitting time or take breaks
- Prolonged sitting can lead to short term injury like lower back pain. It is also related to increased risk of chronic disease such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease
- Present idea: Get a Fitbit as they can remind you to move each hour and keep track of your steps, heart rate and other important indicators
- Get active
- Christmas holiday allows us to have some time off work. With more free time you can invest in your health via physical activities. Bushwalk or a bicycle ride can be a fun and healthy choice for catching up with family and friends
- Present idea: Purchase a piece of equipment that makes exercise fun! A bike, stand up paddle board, kayak or surfboard can be a great alternative to the gym!
- Slowly build up your physical activities
- To avoid injury, it is crucial to choose the type and intensity of exercise according to your current fitness level. If you are new to exercise, start with something easier like walking, then slowly building yourself up to more difficult training.
- Present idea: Get a Physio, Exercise Physiologist (EP) or Personal Trainer (PT) to help develop a training program tailored to you and that allows you to make sure you get benefits yet minimise risk of injury
- Don’t ignore pain
- If you have injured yourself in the Christmas period, do not push through your pain or force yourself to attend planned activities. It is recommended to consult a local physiotherapist for proper treatment to ensure the optimal recovery
- Present idea: Visit PROHEALTH PHYSIO to become pain or injury free ?
For further information please refer to:
Source: Australian Government – The Department of Health
Title: Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour : Research and Statistics
Read Time: 5+ minutes
Source: Australian Government – Preventative Health Taskforce
Title: Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020
Read time: 45+ Minutes