Black Friday: Your Wallet Should Be the Only Thing Hurting

You’re three stores into Black Friday shopping, your teenager has disappeared into another clothing store, and the bags are cutting into your fingers. Your lower back wants a seat. Your shopping list says otherwise. Whether you’re hunting for deals at Square One or making the rounds at Heartland, a “quick shopping trip” can become a surprisingly demanding day.

Maybe you’re buying for teens, grown children or grandchildren. Either way, the bags don’t carry themselves. These six tips apply to Black Friday, Boxing Day and all those November and December errands in between.

1. Don’t Let Checkout Lines Become a Back-Endurance Test

Standing in line after walking through several stores can leave your lower back aching, particularly when the outing is longer than you’re used to.

If you’re leaning heavily on the cart or searching for somewhere to sit, take a break before your back starts making decisions for you.

 Try this: Sit between stores, change your stance while waiting and divide an ambitious list across shorter outings. Arrange a meeting time with your shopping companions so their extra browsing doesn’t mean another hour on your feet.

Save a little energy for getting home. Carrying purchases up the front steps still counts as work.

2. Give Your Shoulders a Break From Bag Duty

One bag becomes four. Suddenly, you’re carrying a small department store from one shoulder, with a handbag competing for space.

Heavy, awkward loads can contribute to neck and shoulder discomfort, especially as you tire.

Before leaving, empty the handbag. Spare glasses, a full water bottle, everyone’s chargers and “just in case” items add up. Keep what you need; leave the portable lost-and-found at home.

 Lighten the load: Use a cart, return purchases to the car before carrying becomes difficult and share manageable bags. Teenagers who can carry sports equipment can probably manage a sweater.

Switching shoulders may offer temporary relief, but it doesn’t make an overloaded bag lighter or explain recurring pain.

3. Wear Shoes for the Shopping You’re Actually Doing

Those boots may be perfect for dinner. Several hours of walking and standing are a different assignment.

Foot discomfort can cut a shopping day short, while existing knee or hip pain may become harder to manage as you tire.

Choose familiar, comfortable shoes with good grip. Breaking in a new pair halfway through the mall is an experiment you can skip.

At Heartland, remember the walks between stores. Watch for puddles, uneven pavement and slushy parking spaces. Keep your view clear rather than stacking purchases high enough to hide the curb.

 If hip or knee pain regularly changes how you walk, ask Dr. Lanoue about an assessment. You don’t have to dismiss it as getting older.

4. Don’t Turn Loading the Car Into the Main Event

The purchase is paid for. Now comes the awkward part: lifting it over the trunk edge while reaching around everything already inside.

Black Friday electronics deals deserve special mention. A television box can be light enough to tempt you, yet too bulky to grip or see around.

 Before loading electronics, decorations or stacked gift bags:

• Clear space first. Avoid rearranging the trunk while holding something heavy.
• Bend through your hips and knees as comfortable, keeping the load close.
• Move your feet to turn. Avoid twisting while holding the purchase.
• Slide items into position when practical, rather than repeatedly lifting them.
• Arrange help at both ends. Store assistance won’t carry the box upstairs at home.

Make extra trips. There is no trophy for the one-trip carry.

5. Online Shopping Still Calls for Movement Breaks

Comparing laptops and checking headphone reviews can swallow an evening. Meanwhile, your neck is bent over a phone and your shoulders are creeping towards your ears.

• On the couch, prop your phone on a cushion or stand and raise it towards eye level without holding your arms in the air.
• For longer sessions, use a table. Rest your forearms with elbows comfortably bent, roughly at a right angle. A separate screen can sit near eye level; with a laptop, prioritize a setup that lets your shoulders relax.
• Between browsing sessions, walk to the kitchen or put something away. Your body appreciates a change of position more than an attempt to sit perfectly still.

6. Give Yourself an After-Shopping Check-In

Once home, try a short, easy walk around the house before settling in. Gentle shoulder rolls or slowly turning your head within a comfortable range may feel helpful. Don’t force a stretch or continue anything that increases pain.

 If discomfort lingers, tell your chiropractor, Dr. Lanoue, what it’s stopping you from doing: “Checking my blind spot hurts,” or “My back aches when I stand to cook.”

He’ll start with a conversation and examination. You can ask about adjustments, discomfort or how much care might be needed. He’ll explain the proposed treatment, benefits, risks and alternatives before you decide.

Depending on the assessment, care may include hands-on treatment, home exercises or changes to troublesome activities. The goals might be easier movement, less pain and more confidence carrying out everyday tasks. If another provider is better placed to help, he’ll explain that too.