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Three experts provide 12 ergonomic tips for travelers |
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Three experts provide 12 ergonomic tips for travelers |
When you pick up your luggage — especially from a moving carousel — do not grab and twist as most people do.
Try to get in front of the bag at a slight angle, pick it up, and immediately set it down. Focus on your lower back and neck because that’s where tension and strain tend to develop. Adjust positions regularly, shifting weight to different parts of your body. Take deep breaths occasionally, tighten stomach muscles, then relax. Flex your hamstring and hip flexor muscles. Drink plenty of water. If you’re dehydrated, you’ll pull muscles more easily. Distribute weight between as many bags as you can. Always use a luggage cart or luggage with wheels. Even carrying 10 pounds of luggage between a ticket counter and a departure gate, says Feldman, can put major stress on your spine. Keep your reading material and your laptop screen as close to eye level as possible. “Don’t settle for a bad bed,” advises Di Lorenzo. “Don’t settle for anything that’s not comfortable.” If you find yourself in a room with a soft or lumpy mattress, ask to change rooms. Feldman says if that doesn’t work, put the mattress on the floor. Pay attention to how you’re sitting in a hotel room if you’re spending a long time working at a desk. Hotels and motels aren’t known for outfitting rooms with the kind of ergonomic chairs some offices have. Sit up straight, make sure you have adequate lighting and stretch often. Use the health club; most guests intend to, but most guests do not. Even if you don’t have workout clothes or tennis shoes, use the facility to stretch or take a walk on an exercise machine. Be realistic. If you’re a large person, don’t try to cram into a sub-compact. If you’re taking a long road trip, change the position of your seat every once in a while. Use a pillow for lumbar support. Stop every couple of hours and take a stretch. If you can, try out several cars to see which has a more comfortable, firm, shaped seat. When I rent cars, for example, I often use the Emerald Club aisle offered by National Car Rental. I can choose from any of dozens of cars in a row, so I can actually slide into a seat and check out my comfort level.
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