Traveling with Pain? Try These Stretches to Ease Aches After Flights and Long Drives

Back Pain

I recently returned from vacation and felt not only a bit sad from the end of a lovely time but also ridiculously tight from slogging a bunch of bags through the airport. 

Carrying backpacks, pulling bags, lifting bags into the overhead bin/car…these can all be challenging activities when you’re traveling, especially if you have a weaker/painful side.  And let’s not forget the long stretches of sitting (whether you’re traveling by car or by plane).

I make it a habit to stretch nightly to say "I'm sorry" to my spine for what I put it through during the day. I absolutely make sure to do it after arriving at my destination or home from travel.

Though there are so many options to help yourself out, here are some of the top stretches to get you through the pain of travel.

(There are many variations of these stretches...find what works best for you.)

Hip flexors stretch:

Lizard Yoga Stretch (Hip Flexor Stretch)

Quad stretch:

Prone Quad Stretch (Ardha Bekasana)

Pec stretch:

Standing Pec Stretch

Lats stretch:

Lats Stretch (Puppy Pose)

Backbends:

Backbend (Cobra Pose)

Already in pain from travel and not sure how to feel better?

Let’s get you moving again. Union Yoga & Physical Therapy in Annandale, VA offers personalized care to help you recover from travel-related strain.