[Health Tip] 'Myeongjeol Syndrome' After Long Holidays... How to Prevent It

The six-day holiday, including the temporary holiday during the Chuseok holiday and National Foundation Day, is coming to an end. After a long holiday, one may suffer from post-holiday syndrome, so preparation for this is necessary.

Post-holiday syndrome manifests in various ways, including mental symptoms such as lethargy, depression, and anxiety, as well as physical symptoms like musculoskeletal pain. According to a survey conducted last year by HR tech specialist Incruit with 1,017 members, 82% (832 people) reported having experienced post-holiday syndrome. Both men and women cited conflicts arising from conversations between family members and generations as the biggest cause of post-holiday syndrome. Following that, men pointed to long-distance driving (18.9%), while women identified food preparation (33.3%) as the next biggest cause.

[Photo by Himchan Hospital]

Ryu Seung-yeol, an orthopedic specialist at Mokdong Himchan Hospital, said, “After a long holiday, people often complain of physical fatigue, but since there is no external injury, they may not recognize it as a musculoskeletal disorder. Pain that occurs after the holiday is more often caused by posture or overuse rather than trauma. Middle-aged women who are in charge of household chores easily accumulate fatigue, and the aftereffects can last a long time, so active coping is necessary,” he advised.

Housewives Bear the Brunt of Holiday Labor... Need Frequent Care

Housewives, who are the busiest during the holidays, need the consideration of their families, such as actively sharing household chores. Carrying heavy items and repeatedly setting and clearing the table can strain the back, shoulders, hands, and wrists, causing sudden pain. In particular, increased fatigue of the back muscles and ligaments can easily lead to acute lower back pain. The wrists are prone to developing tenosynovitis due to accumulated damage, and applying warm compresses helps improve blood circulation and relieve pain.

Shoulder pain is mostly temporary pain caused by excessive labor and can improve with warm compresses or painkillers. However, after middle age, it may be due to direct damage to muscles and tendons, so it is advisable to see a doctor. To prevent shoulder disorders caused by post-holiday syndrome, it is good to sufficiently relax joints and muscles with stretching before doing household chores. When lifting or carrying heavy objects, holding them close to the body rather than using only shoulder strength can reduce the burden on the shoulders. Also, while standing, bending the waist, letting the arms hang down, and making circular motions or shrugging the shoulders up and down can help relieve shoulder fatigue. If the shoulders have been heavily used, warm compresses are also necessary. Even after the holiday, due to household chores, painful joints may be used repeatedly, so when pain first occurs, it is important to identify the cause, avoid using the painful area as much as possible, and rest.

Bow Carefully to Avoid Back Injury... How to Bow Properly?

Charye (ancestral rites) and Seongmyo (visiting ancestral graves) are indispensable events during Chuseok. Seongmyo often requires climbing sloped mountain paths rather than flat ground, so caution is needed when going up and down. When pulling out weeds around the graves, bending and straightening the knees repeatedly puts a heavy load on the joints, causing knee pain. Carrying ritual vessels, food, and tools for trimming grass increases the burden on the knees. When descending, lower your posture and go down slowly, and if you have knee pain, take breaks intermittently. After returning home, sufficient rest, stretching, and warm showers or compresses can relieve pain.

Visitors are paying respects at the ancestral graves. / Incheon - Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

When bowing, most people bend their waist while keeping their knees straight, which puts the upper body's weight on the lower back, causing significant strain. Repeatedly bowing with a bent waist can cause disc herniation. To bow correctly, lower your posture by kneeling and then bend your waist. When standing up, reverse the order by lifting the upper body first to straighten the back and then straighten the knees to reduce strain on the lower back. Also, be careful not to let your weight shift to one leg or shoulder while bowing. If stiffness and pain persist, rest and stabilization are most important. If there is swelling or heat, applying ice packs can help improve symptoms, and if there is no heat, warm compresses can promote blood circulation and relieve pain.

Dr. Ryu Seung-yeol said, “When joints swell, heat up, and hurt due to sprains or twists, apply ice packs for about three days first, and after about five days, when the heat and swelling subside, apply warm compresses to reduce pain. Even if the pain is not severe, if persistent pain is ignored, it can worsen into arthritis, so if pain lasts for a long time, it is necessary to visit a hospital for an accurate diagnosis and treatment,” he said.