The holidays are here — twinkling lights, festive feasts, and perhaps a few extra mince pies. But all that gift wrapping, cooking marathons, and holiday travel can leave your body feeling more “bah humbug” than “ho ho ho.” A quick osteopathic tune-up before the season kicks into gear might be just the ticket – so you can deck the halls without being decked-out by aches and pains. If you’d like a festive check-in for your body, call Body@Boronia on 03 9762 9445 to book a pre-holiday session before the calendar fills up. In the meantime, here’s a few practical tips to keep you pain-free while you wrap, roast, and rejoice.
1. Sleigh long journeys with smart travel
Hours in the car or on a plane can tighten hip flexors, stiffen shoulders, and compress the spine. Take regular stretch breaks, use a lumbar support, and roll your shoulders or gently rotate your neck whenever you can. Even a few minutes of mindful movement can make a long journey feel merry, not weary.
2. Deck the halls without decking your back
Hanging lights and decorating the tree often means bending and reaching in awkward ways. Bend your knees, keep your spine long, and alternate tasks to avoid overloading one side of your body. A few gentle mobility exercises for shoulders and back before you start can help you “jingle all the way” without pain.
3. Wrapping tips to keep hands happy
Hours of gift wrapping and stirring Christmas pudding can leave wrists and thumbs sore. Simple stretches for fingers, wrists, and forearms, combined with ergonomic positioning — like keeping work surfaces at elbow height — can prevent “elf-sized” aches from creeping in.
4. Keep your core on the nice list
From lifting shopping bags to stirring the gravy, your spine and core are working overtime. Engaging your core muscles and maintaining upright posture can reduce strain and make everyday festive tasks feel lighter. Think of it as giving your spine a little Christmas cheer.
5. Breathe, relax, and sparkle
Holiday stress can make muscles tighten and posture slump. Diaphragmatic breathing, gentle stretches, or a few spinal mobilisation movements can ease tension, improve circulation, and leave you feeling more twinkly than tense. Even five minutes a day can help your body glide through the season.
A festive reminder
This holiday season, unwrap the gift of movement. A gentle osteopathy session can help you stay pain-free, flexible, and ready for all the holiday hustle and bustle. Call Body@Boronia on 03 9762 9445 to book your festive tune-up – and enjoy the season with a little extra jingle in your joints.
References
When needed, we research our content using a range of sources across both web and books. Regular references we use include:
Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine, 4th ed. Seffinger et al. 2019
Thieme Atlas of Anatomy, 4th ed. Gilroy et al. 2021.
Clinical Sports Medicine: Injuries, 5th ed. Brukner & Khan. 2017.
Principles of Anatomy & Physiology, 13th ed. Tortora & Derrickson. 2011.
Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor. 5th ed. Souza. 2016.
Physiopedia website – https://www.physio-pedia.com/home/
Pubmed website for latest articles – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Google Scholar for latest articles – https://scholar.google.com/
World Health Organisation website – https://www.who.int/
Osteopathy Australia website – https://osteopathy.org.au/
Australian Physiotherapy Association website – https://australian.physio/
Chiropractic Australia website – https://www.chiropracticaustralia.org.au/
Professional bodies websites and health conditions charity websites, like Arthritis Australia – https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/
