[Click! Health] Unwelcome Guests After a Fun Vacation... Beware of Musculoskeletal Disorders

After returning to daily life from an enjoyable summer vacation, it is common to see people complaining of stiffness and pain in the neck and lower back as aftereffects. This often occurs when fatigue accumulates from long hours of driving or sitting on an airplane, leading to muscle pain or fatigue syndrome.

[Photo by Himchan Hospital]

Lee Dong-chan, a neurosurgeon at Mokdong Himchan Hospital, advised, “When sitting for long periods, the upper body’s weight is placed on the spine, and poor posture in a confined space can put a lot of pressure on the spine, causing fatigue. If the pain persists despite sufficient rest, it is necessary to check for any musculoskeletal problems.”

If You’ve Been Sitting for a Long Time... Beware of Spinal Fatigue Syndrome

Maintaining a fixed posture for long periods in narrow spaces such as a driver’s seat or airplane seat can cause spinal fatigue syndrome, which results in overall body stiffness and strain on the lower back. Slouching forward or shifting weight to one side puts more pressure on the spinal discs and causes tension in surrounding muscles, leading to spinal fatigue.

In particular, driving causes tension in the lower back muscles, which inevitably increases the body’s perceived fatigue. Light activities such as walking or stretching that do not strain the body are beneficial for back health. Avoid lying down all day due to fatigue after vacation, as this can actually increase muscle fatigue. It is advisable to loosen the muscles even a little by massaging with warm water or soaking in a bathtub, which can be effective. If muscle pain extends widely from the lower back to the shoulders or neck, it is also good to get painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed at a hospital. In the early stages when the pain is not severe, rest, physical therapy, and exercise therapy alone can be sufficient for recovery.

When the muscles and ligaments in the neck gradually stiffen and pressure inside the spinal discs increases, a stiff feeling and pain may occur whenever the neck is moved. Passengers who look down at their smartphones for long periods in the car to relieve boredom can experience similar symptoms. If you already had neck and shoulder pain, you should pay more attention to neck pain that occurs after vacation. The pain is not always limited to the neck. You may feel tingling and numbness in the shoulders and arms along with pain, and in severe cases, headaches may accompany it. Many people think it is just temporary pain and do not seek treatment, but it is necessary to check whether it is a disc problem. It is good to relieve neck fatigue for 2 to 3 days after vacation. In the early stages of neck disorders, light exercise, physical therapy, and manual therapy can be combined to alleviate pain. Stretching by slowly rotating the neck in circles or light massages done frequently are helpful.

'Myofascial Pain Syndrome' Caused by Using Unused Muscles

Sometimes, fatigue accumulates greatly from using muscles that are not usually used. This can lead to myofascial pain syndrome, which causes shoulder pain. Long-distance driving or uncomfortable sleeping arrangements during vacation can cause the shoulder muscles to become stiff and achy. This symptom is commonly referred to as “having a stiff shoulder.” Myofascial pain syndrome also occurs when maintaining a poor posture for a long time. Since there is no specific trauma, it is often not recognized as a disease and left untreated, which can develop into chronic pain, so caution is needed.

Since the pain continues due to abnormalities in muscle tissue, it can be easily resolved by receiving treatment to relieve muscle tension. Frequently rotating the shoulders inward and outward in a circular motion while sitting and doing stretching exercises to relax the muscles are helpful. Most symptoms improve within a week by relieving muscle tension through heat therapy, warm baths, and stretching, which promote blood circulation. These methods are effective in overcoming fatigue after vacation because they promote blood flow and relax muscles. Sleeping or lying down all day to relieve fatigue should be avoided as it can actually worsen fatigue.