Christmas is a special (and often busy) time of year. However, it can also be a time when people seek treatment for injuries, whether it’s a sprained ankle from wearing high heels for five hours at a Christmas party, a dodgy neck from laying on the couch watching the Boxing Day Test, or even the niggly back or knees from playing with the grandkids on the floor. Christmas puts us out of our ‘normal’ routine, which can be great, especially if your body is ready to adapt to changes.
Here are 8 tips to help you stay injury-free during this time.
- Keep active: It’s important that we stay active for our physical and mental health. This may mean sticking to your usual routine or mixing it up. Christmas can be a great time to get out on the bike with the kids/grandkids or go for a hike.
- Don’t ignore pain: Whether you have injured yourself over the break or have been putting up with lingering pain that you’ve been too busy to address, the Christmas break can provide an opportunity to get your body pain-free and in top shape for the new year ahead. Our Osteopath, Physiotherapists and Myotherapist can help get you on the right path to recovery.
- Ease into new exercise routines: Around the new year, many of us get a boost of enthusiasm to start a new exercise plan, which is a great idea. Going from little or no activity to running five times a week and hitting the gym every other day can be a shock to our bodies, which may struggle to cope with a rapid escalation in activity, and can increase the risk of injury. To help avoid injury, try building up to your new routine over a number of weeks.
- Avoid sitting for long periods: After a big year, everyone loves taking a break, but it’s important to remember that our bodies are not designed to sit on the couch all day. Getting up every 60 minutes to stretch your legs is a good first step toward minimising the chance of injury.
- Do things you enjoy: Decreasing stress and increasing endorphins (by doing things that make you happy) can change how frequently pain is experienced, so making sure you have time to take it easy and do the things you enjoy is important to your wellbeing.
- Get in the pool: swimming is a great low impact way to keep moving, not to mention a great way to beat the Brisbane summer heat!
- Give a fitness gift: Fitness trackers are a great gift idea, as is any sporting equipment that will help keep you and your family moving well and keeping active. The Body Refinery as also developed an online Pilates Studio for you to practice your Pilates anytime, anywhere! More information on www.thebodyrefineryonline.com
- Indulge in a massage: During the festive season, don’t forget to take the time to look after yourself by setting aside an hour to just relax and unwind – this could be the break you need this silly season.
From all of us here at The Body Refinery we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
