Travel Tips
TRAVEL TIPS
- Try traveling with a simple, rubber door-stop. It can stop intruders in their tracks. It’s inexpensive, light to pack and gives you the peace of mind to sleep well. The main door to your room usually has a good lock and peephole; some also supply a bar chain. But, if there is an adjoining room, that door usually has a fairly flimsy lock. The doorstop is especially useful in those situations.
- Try taping a foot-long piece of duct tape around a pencil to stick in your bag. It can fix so many things. If a strap on a sandal snaps or a purse handle breaks, it is duct tape to the rescue!
- Store all liquid products like shampoo, hairspray, etc. in zip lock baggies when packing. Many of these items can explode easily (some may explode from the high altitudes of flying) and the baggies will protect your other items.
- Foot problems are a painful part of the frequent-flyer lifestyle. Long hours of walking in airports, through convention halls or on uneven surfaces can lead to blisters. Band-aids often slip off toes and heels, so try packing thin moleskin instead. Buy the soft self-adhesive sheets at a grocery or drugstore, cut them into small squares and keep them in your purse or briefcase. If your shoe starts to rub, cover the area right away before it turns into a nasty blister.
- Make at least 2 photocopies of each and every travel document that you have: Driver’s License; itinerary, passport, etc. Give one set to a family member at home and keep one set in your purse or bag (separate from the originals). This is in case your originals are lost or stolen.
- If you are visiting a theme park/amusement park and you plan on riding the water attractions, pack extra dry socks for the family in a large zip lock bag. You can switch out the wet socks for the dry ones after riding.
- Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you’ll suddenly be “in the dark” and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed. A headlamp flashlight frees the hands for other actions as well.
- Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.
- Always bring a pair of flip flops (or thongs), or surf slippers. You never know when you may need some temporary “shower shoes.”
- Take an inflatable travel pillow: when in flight, place the pillow under your chin to support your head if you nod asleep. At your destination, place the pillow inside the pillow slip with “Mickey Mouse’s ears” pointing to the top of your head—you have just created a temporary contour pillow!
Tags: Travel advice, Wellness & Health
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Just a thought! There are equally helpful “travel” pillows filled with buckwheat husks, made of memory foam or, sometimes with little synthetic beads, that will provide good neck support as well. I would note, that in cases where one happens to be on an AirBus aircraft, it is my opinion that the neck support “wings” installed in the aircraft seat work pretty well without the obiquitous travel pillow.
Happy Trails!
Fred Samorodin, RPT
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I welcome any questions or proposals for subjects of interest from readers that I may offer my professional opinion on!
Regards,
Fred Samorodin, RPT
September 26th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Hi Fred,
an you let me know how we can treat Achilles tendinitis (In gymnasts) through any other osteopathic techniques. Any help with the exact manual therapy maneuver or any resource material in this regard can help me.
regards
Shubham
September 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Greetings Shubham!
Thank you for your question! Osteopathic work is based on structure affecting function and visa versa. Therefore, I would assess a gymnast (patient) for postural alignment at the iliac crests (“hips”); the shoulder girdles (A.C. joints) and the base of the skull (O.A. area). I would assess the leg length for functional leg length discrepancies in prone lying. Remember that a 5 mm difference in leg length will produce a landing or take off force on the body that is assymetrical and will be reinforced by any functional leg length discrepancy. However, the discrepancy is usually created by spinal postural malalignment (see my authorship in medical textbook by Dr. Wolf Schamberger–”The Malalignment Syndrome” (2002) ) He, a carded long-distance runner suffered from Achilles problems for a long time as a sportman until he learned about the neurostructural contribution of myotomes and sclerotomes to peripheral joint problems. I treat differently than he does (in the book) now, therefore, osteopathically one needs to manually (and gently) align the occiput with C.1 and C2.; release the counterbalancing torque on the sacrum contributing to functional leg length discrepancies; unwind the fascia of both legs to release tensions on the piriformis muscle that is usually hypertonic and tender to deep palpation on one side and when there is a release of centrally induced hypertonicity of the calf muscle affecting the Achilles tendon. Note that palpation of the gastrocx and soleus (calf) is to assess the benefits of the rest of the recommended bodywork. Then, if the gymnast needs to perform, I would consider low-dye taping of both foot arches or perhaps Kinesiotaping of the affected Achilles tendon. The subtalar joint and the mid-tarsal joint of the affected leg can benefit from mobilizations or manipulations. Don’t waste your athlete’s time with 15 minute treatments–take your time during a treatment session-align them well-I bet the results will be rewarding!
Fred Samorodin, Registered Physical Therapist–Vancouver