24 Dec 4 Health Tips Inspired by Holiday Movie Classics
Originally published in the Williamson Herald –
Even if your holiday spirit is a little more Scrooge than Cindy Lou Who, everyone can appreciate a good holiday film. The laugh-out-loud moments and unfortunate mishaps of characters as they experience a chaotic holiday season are funny, but they can easily become reality if you forget to take safety precautions.
Inspired by iconic movie quotes, Trey Brown, FNP-C at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee Orthopaedic Urgent Care, offers safety tips to avoid injury this holiday season.
“This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here.” — Clark Griswold, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
With the holidays approaching, people are busier than ever visiting with family, decorating, cleaning and shopping. However, this can lead to increased injury risk. “Holiday activity combined with a change in the weather creates opportunity for injury,” said Brown. He explains that a large portion of urgent care visits during the holidays are the result of slips and falls.
Common holiday activities, such as decorating the tree or hanging lights outside on the house, can require climbing ladders in hard-to-reach places. Brown suggests minimizing the risk of falling by having someone at the base of the ladder. “Do not try to do these tasks by yourself,” says Brown. “This season is about community, so make it a community event.”
“Seeing is believing, but, sometimes, the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” — The Conductor, The Polar Express
With inclement weather potentially on the radar, some of the “most real things we can’t see” might be slippery steps and driveways. Invisible ice can cause unstable footing and the potential for a reenactment of movie scene right outside your front door. To stay on your feet this holiday season, take steps to ensure stability before you walk outside. “Awareness is key,” Brown said. “Test your footing to check for ice, outfit yourself with proper footwear and use caution to avoid slippery situations.”
“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.” – Buddy, Elf
Amid all the hot chocolate, cookies and special treats, it is important to remember to be kind to our bodies during the holiday season. A detour from our regular routines during the holidays can be relaxing, but suddenly returning to our busy lifestyles in the new year can increase the risk for injury. “Maintaining a healthy diet, drinking plenty of fluids, getting sunlight when possible and exercising consistently are key to avoiding injury during the holidays,” said Brown. Overall, maintaining activity levels, even in the colder months, can help keep your bones and joints healthy and injury-free.
“I made my family disappear.” – Kevin McCallister, Home Alone
Although we hope you spend the holidays with loved ones, if you ever find yourself home alone and in need of medical assistance, the orthopaedic urgent care professionals at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee are available to help. “If you are injured and have any concern, do not hesitate to come in for an evaluation,” said Brown. It is important to seek urgent care sooner rather than later when experiencing an injury. With a quick evaluation, the highly trained staff at Bone and Joint will get you on the road to recovery with treatments that fit your needs just in time for a holiday-themed movie night.
Bone and Joint Institute Orthopaedic Urgent Care clinics are located in Brentwood (101 Creekside Crossing, Suite 1100), Nolensville (7216 Nolensville Road, Suite 201) and Thompson’s Station (1106 Ellison Way, Suite 300). Appointments can be made online or by calling each specific clinic, but walk-ins are always welcome at each clinic. For more information on service offerings, appointments and specific hours of operation, click here.