Healthy Back Survival Tips for State Fair-goers

Here's a repost of my article from last year. Still good information. Let me know what you think.

The Minnesota State Fair is here at last. I have learned from both personal experience and a lot of patients over the years, that a day at the fair can be tough on the body. I am not talking about the stomach, but the back. Here are some healthy back survival tips to help you enjoy "The Great MN Get Together."  Feel free to leave your own tips as a comment.

Tip#1. Good shoes are a must. Don't think fashion, think comfort. Shoot for a cross-trainer type of shoe with lots of cushion. Most of the fair is walking around on a hard streets and sidewalks, so cushion is key.

Tip#2. Take frequent rest breaks. There are a lot of places to sit at the fair, so take advantage of them!  At least take a 10-minute break every hour or so. With all the good people-watching opportunities, you will probably want to sit longer.

Tip#3.  Along with the rest breaks, do some light stretching. Find a nice, grassy area and sit down and stretch. Don't just stretch your legs but upper body, too. If you feel self-conscious about stretching in public, don't worry, no one will look twice at you. If they do happen to look your way, they will probably start stretching too.

Tip#4. Eat lots of mini donuts. Okay, this one probably won't help your back but it will make everyone feel a little better.

Have fun at the fair!

Your friend in health,

Dr. Steven T. Cass
CASS CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
952-928-8735
www.casschiro.com