Summer is here—and that means road trips, plane rides, beach vacations, and plenty of time spent away from home. While travel is exciting, the long hours in cars, planes, or hotel beds can wreak havoc on your spine and nervous system.
At Aspire Family Chiropractic, we want you to enjoy your vacation without sacrificing your health. With a little planning and the right chiropractic care, you can make the most of summer adventures and return home feeling refreshed—not wrecked.
Travel often involves:
All of this contributes to:
Even a short trip can cause spinal misalignments—especially if your body is already dealing with stress, old injuries, or poor posture habits.
When your spine is aligned, your nervous system functions better—helping your body adapt to the physical and chemical stress of travel.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care:
Studies show that even brief postural changes during travel can increase spinal stress and muscle fatigue, especially in the lower back and neck (1). Chiropractic adjustments help relieve that tension and restore balance.
1. Stretch Before & After Travel Loosen your muscles and joints before you hit the road—and again when you arrive. Focus on the neck, hips, hamstrings, and lower back.
2. Pack Smart Use suitcases with wheels. Distribute weight evenly in backpacks or shoulder bags to prevent muscle strain. Carrying or lugging around all those heavy bags can greatly affect your spine and cause imbalances that can easily be avoided.
3. Support Your Posture Bring a lumbar roll/ small pillow or roll up a sweatshirt to support your lower back on planes or in the car. Keep your feet flat on the floor and avoid slouching. Those plane seats were not created with the spine in mind- the curves in the seats often times go the opposite direction of your spinal curves. There is nothing worse than sitting on a plane and progressively feeling those aches and pains come on. Help avoid these issues by supporting your lower back!
4. Move Every 30–60 Minutes On long drives or flights, stand up, stretch, or walk down the aisle when possible to maintain circulation and joint movement. If taking long flights, make it a point to get up after an episode of a show, the end of a movie or after a few chapters of reading. Prioritizing movement, even on planes, will help to keep your body loose during travel.
5. Hydrate Dehydrated muscles and discs are more prone to pain and tightness. Drink water regularly—especially when flying.
Planning a summer trip? Prioritize your pre-travel adjustments to make sure your spine and nervous system are functioning at their best. Your body will thank you if you add an adjustment to your pre-travel checklist!
And when you return, a post-travel tune-up can help correct any tension or misalignments before they become chronic.
Travels are fun, but they are a time where you are doing things that your body isn't used to. The goal of adjustments is to make sure your body can adapt and function better long term, even when you are out of your routine.
📞 Ready to Travel Well?
Don’t let vacation be a setback for your health. Whether you’re flying across the country or road-tripping through Georgia, Aspire Family Chiropractic is here to keep you and your family aligned, energized, and pain-free.
📍 Call us today to schedule your pre-travel or post-vacation visit—we’ll help you feel your best wherever summer takes you!
📚 Reference
Harrison, D.E., Harrison, D.D., & Croft, A.C. (2000). Sitting biomechanics part I: Review of the literature. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 23(9), 614–622. https://doi.org/10.1067/mmt.2000.110278
