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BBC News Online: Health


Wednesday, 22 August, 2001, 00:39 GMT 01:39 UK

Bank Holiday health risk


Beware the Bank Holiday back injury.

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) says there is always a surge in demand for chiropractic services immediately after a Bank Holiday weekend.

It is not clear whether it is DIY, gardening, sporting activities or simply getting stressed out in a traffic jam to blame.

The idea of 24 hours away from work may sound attractive in principle.



It is often the most common and unexpected of bank holiday activities that can cause the most problems
Tim Hutchful

But in fact it may be safer simply to go to work.

On average BCA members see an additional 4500 patients the day after a Bank Holiday.

The association says one of the biggest risks to health is the traditional holiday lie in.

Other potential hazardous ways to spend your day off include shopping, driving and weeding the garden.

The BCA research shows that over one-third of people plan to catch up on their sleep this weekend.

But spokesman Tim Hutchful said staying under the covers for too long could lead to problems.

Common and unexpected

He said: "It is often the most common and unexpected of bank holiday activities that can cause the most problems.

"Sleeping in guest beds can lead to back pain, sunbathing for prolonged amounts of time face down can cause neck pain, whilst simply carrying a small child on your back can do damage to your neck and shoulders."

Spending your morning in bed can lead to injury because your back stiffens when you are lying still so is more prone to injury when you get up.


Bank Holiday activities
Driving - over 50%
Shopping - 31%
Sport/Exercise - 26%
Relaxing - over 33%

Essentially, if you get up at 6am every morning the body is not used to laying motionless in bed for a lot longer.

Chiropractors say this produces a reaction similar to that, for instance, felt in the muscles after playing tennis for the first time in ten years.

It is more hazardous when you are staying in a guest bedroom because your back has become accustomed to your own pillow and mattress.

To avoid injury the BCA advises people to take their own pillows if staying away from home and lie on an extra duvet or blanket if the mattress seems too hard.

Elsewhere the research showed that driving on long journeys to visit relatives or take the family for a day out can lead to lower back pain and neck problems.

Trawling around the shops can cause headaches and joint pain, while gardening and DIY can lead to joint and lower back aches.

A chiropractor diagnoses and treats patients' disorders of the spine and other body joints by adjusting the spinal column or through other corrective manipulation.


Related to this story:
Warning over spine therapies (11 Mar 01 | Health) 80% of workers have back pain (14 Feb 00 | Health) Back pain cripples small firms (16 Oct 00 | Health)


Internet links: British Chiropractic Association | Back Care |
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