‘Tis the season

The festive period approaches for another year and its a time to gather with friends and family and celebrate. Some Alice Springs locals take the time to get away, often with the very long drive or expensive flights to spend time with their loved ones, see the sights not found in Alice (the ocean, shopping centres, city traffic, etc) or just to get away from their familiar surrounds.

The activities we undertake during this period are generally not the activities we would normally pursue, and there are risks of injury or illness that otherwise would not be present. Sitting for long hours in a vehicle can be very taxing on the body and mind, thus we recommend regular breaks from being behind the wheel, even though every break add some to the travel time to reach your destination. Stopping every 2 hours is a great way to break up the journey. There are plenty of roadside locations on the way where a break can be completed and refreshments can be obtained. These places exist and survive off the back of us taking regular breaks at their establishments.

To engage a better sitting position in the car for the long haul:

- with your hips pushed back into the base of your seat, make sure you can safely reach all your pedals without shifting the hips out of the back of the seat.

- reach your arms out in front and make a 'butterfly' with your hands. Rest this butterfly on top of the steering wheel, and the creases of your wrists should meet the top of the wheel. Adjust the seat back to facilitate this position.

- set your rear view mirrors up a little higher, so you have to sit up straight to see behind your vehicle (not too high though, we don't want to compromise your safety - this is especially important when approaching built up areas)

- once these three positions are established, make sure you can see your instrument cluster, and avoid leaning your arm on the door.

We want your spinal health to be the best it can be. Getting your spine adjusted regularly may help make the journey more comfortable. I look forward to checking and adjusting as many people as I can before they travel, and we will be open throughout the Christmas period (only closing on the public holidays) for your convenience.

If you'd like to get your car seat position checked before heading off, please contact the office and I'll be happy to check it, to ensure you are comfortable, and safe on your travels this festive season. Have a wonderful festive season, and we look forward to serving you in the new year ahead.