It’s the most wonderful time of the year. That’s what the song says! And it really is wonderful for the most part. Whether you use it for cosying up and resting, running around hosting and socialising or rekindling your faith during advent, this time of year has many opportunities to bring joy.

However, pain can ruin your plans and with all the busy-ness, it is easier than ever to get injured or to skip that maintenance appointment you’ve had in the diary for a couple of months. One word of advice-do try and carve out the time to get yourself onto the treatment couch for half an hour. Yes, there’s loads to do, with normal life to fit in along the way, but it’s better to take that little bit of time for your health now than be forced to take lots of time out for it later.

All that aside, what are the main Pain Pitfalls of this season? Here we look at the main culprits for sparking up your pain at this time of year, and how you can help avoid them.

The Loft

It’s time to get those decorations out and drag that Christmas tree through a hatch about half the size of the box (or so it seems.) Common sense will hopefully prevail, and you should always do this with somebody to hold the ladder and to pass things to. I am speaking from personal experience when I urge you to have a ladder holder helper. Trust me, you don’t want that thing slipping out from under you when you are ceiling height. It hurts!

The Shopping

Heavy bags plus the relentless walking and shuffling through crowds at an awkward snails-pace, is a recipe for pain. Your feet hurt, your low back aches and your neck stiffens up from your shoulders being dragged down by heavy bags. Unless you are going to do all your shopping online, this is a bit unavoidable but at the very least try and keep weight distributed evenly between both sides. Lots of small bags rather than one huge one is better and switch items between bags to get the weight balanced. If you really struggle with your back, you could even consider a wheeled shopping trolley like your granny used to have. Be a trend setter!

If you are a handbag user, use something than can go over your head slung across your body, or even better something that can go on your back, rucksack style. It may be a bit annoying to keep taking off and on at the tills but it’s much more comfortable for your back.

Use a trolley! You may think you are only grabbing a few bits and pieces and a basket will suffice but we all know how that ends up. Just take the trolley and your back will thank you.

Take regular breaks when you set all those bags down and take the weight off everything. So that’s lots of Christmassy hot chocolate stops in warm cafes!

The Wrapping

Some blitz it one go, others do it as they go. Either way, people seem to inevitably end up crouched on a floor with their back curled up in a ball or stooped over a table that’s a good sitting but not standing height.

Our number one tip for wrapping is your ironing board! No, not for crinkle free paper, but as a height adjustable table. The best height is about hip level. Those bony bits at the side of your hips-that’s where you ideally want your surface to be or just above.

FYI this is a good height for actual ironing as well.

The Games

There’s something about Christmas that makes us all believe we’re able to partake in Twister and have a go on hoverboards like when we were ten! There’s no harm in a bit of fun of course, but perhaps avoid extreme sports after a couple of sherrys. If it would normally hurt sober, there’s a good chance it’s still going to hurt when merry!

Don’t let people cajole you into games that your body is protesting about. Unless they are the ones who are going to be off work and paying for your recovery in the New Year, then it is not for them to make you feel bad for bowing out. You can still cheer from the side-lines!

The Skipped Appointment

You don’t feel too sore, you’re far too busy to take time out for a treatment and you’ve already blown the budget for Christmas as it is. We get it, your maintenance treatment seems an easy thing to score off the calendar and put off until New Year. We can’t make people come in and we would never force anyone to have treatment they don’t want but we would urge you to take some time out for yourself and your body during all the rushing around. It’s good for the body and the mind and you want to be able to enjoy the fruits of all your efforts on Christmas Day without pain getting in the way.

So, treat it like a present to yourself and keep that appointment in place!