Lugging Luggage Safely

Written By Selinger Chiropractic on September 21, 2017

Lugging Luggage Safely

It wasn't that long ago that people actually had to carry their suitcases wherever they went. It was definitely an incentive to pack light, but there are times when each of us has a heavy load to carry. And that, of course, resulted in lots of sore backs, pinched nerve pain and neck pain in Lake Worth and other communities in Palm Beach County.

Looking back, it's surprising nobody came up with the idea of putting wheels on our luggage sooner. But even now, when you can roll your suitcase down a long terminal with ease, luggage can still pose a threat to your spine health and the fun you're planning to have on your trip.

“So many of my patients injure themselves while traveling, typically by lifting luggage or sitting in the plane seat,” Lake Worth and Lantana chiropractor Dr. Craig Selinger says.

If you want to be in good shape to enjoy your vacation or family visit or be at your best for the business meeting you're traveling for, Dr. Selinger has some advice on the proper way to place your carryon baggage in the overhead bin.

“The first thing we want to do is get close to our luggage and we want to bend our knees and we want to lift our luggage keeping our back straight,” the Palm Beaches chiropractor says. “And then we want to put it onto the chair of the plane. We want to make sure the overhead compartment is open. We want to take the luggage by the top handle and we want to bend our knees, get close to it, lifting it with both hands [one grabbing the top handle and one hand placed underneath the bottom of the bag] from our chest. And then placing it into the overhead compartment.”

Getting that bag down is a bit easier but you still need to be careful, Dr. Selinger says. “When we're taking it down, we want to lift it again using two hands - one on the top handle and one at the bottom of the bag by the wheels. As you lift it, keep it close to your body. Bring it down onto the chair. Then to get it on the ground, you get close to it, lifting it by the handle, and then bend at the knees, placing it down.”

Dr. Selinger will be there for you if you come home with shooting leg pain to Lake Worth or are in need of deep tissue massage in Lake Worth following your trip. But, if you want your trip to be a good one, he says, “The key things are bending your knees, keeping your back straight, ask for assistance if you need it. If you do these things, you're going to be less likely to injure your back on your trip”