Pack Right for the Holidays to Avoid the ER
Luggage that’s too big or too heavy can lead to strains or worse
(HealthDay News) — There may be nothing wrong with stuffing your turkey full to bursting, but you might not want to do the same thing with your suitcase as you pack for holiday trips.
More than 53,000 people were treated in 2008 in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical facilities for luggage-related injuries, such as muscle strains, pulls and tears, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“Lifting and carrying luggage that is too big or heavy for a person’s size and frame can put serious strains on your body,” Dr. Jeffrey A. Fried, an orthopedic surgeon and spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, said in a news release from the academy. “To minimize any damage to your neck, shoulders and back, it is important to bend at your knees, lift luggage with your leg muscles while tightening your abdominal muscles and avoid twisting and rotating your spine.” Read more…