Lug Your Luggage Safely( Carrying and Lifting Tips to Keep you...),Health

Carrying and Lifting Tips to Keep you Injury-free this Holiday Season

ROSEMONT, Ill., Nov. 18/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Seasoned travelers have a saying -- "Pack your bags, then take out half." This refers to the fact that most of us bring much more than we need on our trips. Now, even more travelers are echoing that line, especially, since so many airline providers are charging passengers a fee for checking luggage. However, if you are one of those people who cannot decide which half to leave at home, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (http://www.aaos.org/) (AAOS) has recommendations to help you carry your baggage safely.

According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission:

• In 2007, more than 50,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries related to luggage.

Packing light may prevent injuries such as:

• Strains, pulls and tears
  • Any of these can occur while carrying a heavy suitcase for an extended period of time.
  • Lifting and holding a bag incorrectly or lifting luggage from baggage claim carousels, overhead or under-seat compartments.
• The chances of these injuries are even greater when a person has been sitting still for a long period of time (as when on a plane) or when the luggage is over-packed and especially heavy.

"Using proper lifting techniques can ensure that your trip isn't cut short by an injury," says William R. Marshall, M.D., a spokesperson for the AAOS and orthopaedic surgeon in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. "Even a relatively minor i
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