Freedom from pain while you travel!
You can easily apply Myotherapy to your muscles to make your next trip more enjoyable. In many cases traveling requires a person to be seated for extended periods of time. Self-help Myotherapy and key stretches can be applied on planes, trains, boats and automobiles.
Remember to pack your self help tools. The Myotherapy Crook is nothing more than a "J" shape piece of metal tubing with soft rubber end caps that you use to reach trigger points in your muscles all by your self. This Crook is very helpful in reaching key trigger points for Back Pain from extended periods of sitting during long flights or drives. You can order Crooks from Bonnie Prudden's site at www.myotherapy.com "Bodos" are another item that you can order through Bonnie Prudden. Bodos are small wooden dowels that fit right in your hand and they are ideal for applying pressure to trigger points in you muscles. Many everday items are helpful for fixing your muscles; tennis balls, golf balls, aged and rounded rocks from your trip to the beach are ideal to lie on to reach trigger points in your back if the tennis ball is too soft. Take time to find the tool that best suits the work you are trying to do on your muscles.
Stretches to do anywhere. Using the Pain Erasure book is the easiest way to find key stretches for your particular area of tightness. The Side-lying stretch can be done seated by simply leaning back in your seat and pulling one knee at a time towards your chest. Do four repetitions for each leg and follow this by tucking your pelvis under as tightly as possible and then let the pelvis release in the other direction arching the low back. (4 reps as well) These are basic pelvic tilt exercises done in the seat. Shoulder Shrugs are another key exercise for travel weary muscles in the upper body. Pull your shoulder up towards your ears and then relax and let them down. Do four repetitions and then try alternating, one shoulder pulled up toward the ear and the other going down as much as possible. Next combine shoulder rotations by rotating the shoulders inward so that the back of your wrists come together. In the rotating inward movement your arms will be in front of you between your knees as you sit, when you rotate the arms and shoulders outward your arms will move to the back and your chest will press forward.
Take the opportunity to walk between flight connections and during long drives. As tempting as it is to drive straight through, the benefits of allowing your body to move will make your travel much more enjoyable.
General travel tips. Remembering to avoid heavy, fatty foods as well as big meals will keep you lighter and more comfortable during long flights and/or drives. The best advice on water is to drink 6-8 glasses per day but long flights and drives can make accessing a bathroom difficult. Hydrate with water well before your trip so you will not put yourself in any 'bladder compromising' situations. Hydrating with alcohol is,of course, not to be recommended. During long drives make an effort to stop at least every hour and a half to walk and do some warm-up exercises. (Consult any Bonnie Prudden book for Warm-up Exercises) If you are sitting for long periods shift your positions as much as possible. If you are flying prepare for security checks by dressing appropriately, this includes easy to remove jewelry and shoes without metal in them. (check with the airlines regarding new rules for carry on's and restrictions on any and all liquids. This includes water.) Small blow-up cervical neck pillows can provide immense comfort for a tired neck. (see Pain Erasure book for Neck Pain self help techniques)
Use a Bodo to fix Knee Pain and stiffness while sitting. Reading the section in the Pain Erasure book by Bonnie Prudden is the easiest way to learn the basics on how to help you knees out while sitting in a car or on a plane. If you don't have the book then start on the inside of the thigh area just above the knee. Start your points just above where the inside seem of you pants would be. Apply firm pressure with your Bodo (a wooden dowel with a handle) and hold for seven seconds. Move up about two inches and try another trigger point, holding for seven seconds once again. If these points are not too bad then you can always move higher toward the top of the thigh just almost in line with your knee cap. Eventually you will be in line with you knee cap as you work your way up. Run all points right up the thigh spacing them about two inches apart. Stop when you reach the groin. (right at the line of your underwear) Your last line will be to the outside of your thigh just about the outside seem of your pants. Three lines in the thigh is a good start but you can always do more. Remember, be a detective and search out the sensitive trigger points that will give you the best results. Happy hunting!
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