NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) December 16, 2008 -- “There’s a right way and a wrong way to shop,” says Dr. Louis Obersteadt, and he’s not referring to where you’re shopping, what you’re buying or how much you’re spending, he’s referring to the proper way to carry your gifts. “I don’t care if you shop at Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Walmart, or the Dollar store,” says the former president of the Tennessee Chiropractic Association, “what counts is how you handle your packages.” And this, according to Obersteadt, can make the difference between sitting in a warm comfy chair watching your kids and family open presents Christmas morning or have you laid up somewhere immobilized.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to shop

I don’t care if you shop at Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Walmart, or the Dollar store

what counts is how you handle your packages.

There are more back, neck and shoulder injuries suffered during the holiday season (December) than at any other time of the year

and that's because people are loaded up with gifts, they've been walking for hours and hours, many women in high heels, and between the purses and the bags and the constant leaning to one side the chances of causing a (serious) misalignment are significant and greatly enhanced

Make no mistake about it

this time of year can, and does, add tremendous mental as well as physical stress on our bodies.

Talk about a casserole of tension

with times as tough as they are you can easily find yourself wound tighter than Toby Keith's guitar string and under highly unusual and stressful situations.

In my more than 30 years of practice

I have seen the simplest activities cause great pain and injury.

Holiday Shopping: Oh the Joy, Oh the Pain

“There are more back, neck and shoulder injuries suffered during the holiday season (December) than at any other time of the year,” says Obersteadt, “and that’s because people are loaded up with gifts, they’ve been walking for hours and hours, many women in high heels, and between the purses and the bags and the constant leaning to one side the chances of causing a (serious) misalignment are significant and greatly enhanced,” says Obersteadt, one of Tennessee’s most highly regarded Chiropractor’s, having twice earned the distinction as Tennessee’s Chiropractor of the year.

Holiday Shopping: A Pinch in Your Wallet, A Crick in your Back

“Make no mistake about it,” says Dr. Obersteadt, “this time of year can, and does, add tremendous mental as well as physical stress on our bodies.” Think about all that shopping you do. Not to mention putting a crimp in your wallet there’s an equally good chance you’ll put a crimp in your back or neck. “Talk about a casserole of tension,” says Obersteadt, “with times as tough as they are you can easily find yourself wound tighter than Toby Keith’s guitar string and under highly unusual and stressful situations.”

Keep the Good Cheer and Reduce the Wear (and Tear) on Your Back

To ensure that good tidings prevail for you and your family this holiday season and to stem the tide of aches, pains and even injuries, Dr. Obersteadt has come up with the following healthy and smart shopping techniques for all:

Dr. Obersteadts’ 12 Tips for a Smart , Healthy and Pain-Free Holiday Shopping Season

1. Women especially, wear comfortable shoes, no high heels (tennis or running shoes).

2. Women, do not carry your large purse loaded with your things. Empty your purse or opt for a smaller purse that you can put in another bag as you begin collecting more bags.

3. While standing in line, shift your weight from one leg to the other and bend your knees occasionally.

4. While in line, or walking, do shoulder shrugs, and bend your head back to stretch your spine and alleviate pressure; take some deep breaths, you’ll need the extra oxygen and it feels good too.

5. Only request bags that have handles or grips.

6. Carry bags equally divided, as much as possible with even weight distribution.

7. Divide gifts/presents up into different bags so you can carry them with both hands (stabilizing weight on both sides of your body to reduce leaning and pressure on muscles on just one side of the body).

8. Bring your own (large or small) tote that has handles so you can distribute gifts accordingly into your own bags that have handles.

9. Do not walk around with gifts/bags, etc., in front of you, (causes great lower back strain) and do not carry gifts on your shoulder, like your fetching water from a river in a third-world country (tremendous pressure and strain on all muscles).

10. Nutrition on the go is important. The best snack (or even meal) is trail mix with a combination of assorted unsalted nuts and fruit.

11. When wrapping gifts, be sure to do it on a flat surface that does not require you to stretch or bend or remain in awkward positions for any length of time.

12. Rest on benches, or sit to reduce leg pain and lower back stress and enjoy watching your fellow shoppers.

Ho Ho Ho: Holiday Stress, Headache, Backache

Think about how many times you get in and out of your car. All the packages you’re lugging around. All the bending and lifting. The reaching and twisting. There’s as much opportunity for you to suffer some sort of quirky Christmas ache or pain as one of Santa’s Elves sustaining a shop injury on Christmas Eve. “In my more than 30 years of practice,” says Dr. Obersteadt, whose chiropractic clinic is located in Nashville, “I have seen the simplest activities cause great pain and injury.” Not to sound like Kris Kringle, Dr. Obersteadt points out that lurking beneath that beautifully wrapped gift tucked beneath your elegantly dressed fir is a pinched nerve, and romping around on the floor with the kids is a slipped disk.

Wave Good-Bye to Family & Friends, Then Visit your Chiropractor

So, whether you find yourself with a wrenched back from playing touch football with the boys, or with a sore neck two days after trying out that new chain saw, or if you are literally on your last smile and desperately seeking the much needed stress relief after you’ve waved goodbye to your last out of town guests and finished that 12^th load of laundry, heed this advice offered by Dr. Obersteadt, the founder of the Belle Meade Chiropractic Clinic and you’ll be sure that the only thing wrapped up during the holidays are your gifts, and not your back.

About Dr. Louis Obersteadt

After suffering serious neck and upper back injury in civilian life while serving in the Army reserves, a young Louis Obersteadt sought medical relief. He found none despite excellent medical counseling from the orthopedic surgeons in his U.S. Army Reserve Hospital Unit in St. Louis, MO. He later moved to Omaha where his condition became worse and he sought Chiropractic Treatment. Within weeks, his condition began to improve and in less than 2 months he was completely better. It was then that Louis Obersteadt personally understood the benefits that Chiropractic offers to people in pain and chose to pursue this as his profession.

Dr. Louis Obersteadt is one of Tennessee’s most respected healthcare professionals who’s been in practice since 1977. He is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions by his medical peers, including twice being named Chiropractor of the year. Among other achievements he is a leader within the profession having served multiple terms as the former President of the Tennessee Chiropractic Association.

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