Sitting in the same position for a long time locks the pelvis, shortens the psoas and tightens the low back muscles. When lifting a suitcase is added on top of this load, low back pain becomes inevitable.
1Practical tips
- Get up every 1–1.5 hours and move around for 2–3 minutes
- Place a soft support (a small pillow or a rolled-up jacket) behind your lower back
- Keep your feet flat on the floor — don’t cross your legs
- Carry your suitcase on wheels if possible, rather than on one side; bend at the knees when lifting
- Drink plenty of water on the road — dehydration reduces tissue elasticity
We look not at where the pain is, but at where it comes from.
— Dr. Elfana Suleymanova, Center Director · Internist and osteopathic physician
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Sources and further reading
- Low back pain — fact sheet — World Health Organization (WHO)
- Lower Back Pain — anatomy and types of low back pain — Spine-health