With Glastonbury just around the corner and teens planning post-exam trips to Reading, the festival season is definitely now under way.  Our practitioners offer a few tips to help make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Looking After Festival Feet

• Use wet wipes to wipe your feet daily.
• Take plenty of socks and change them daily. Dirty, wet socks will breed germs.
• If it is raining, wear waterproof footwear or place a plastic bag over your socks before putting on your shoes to create a waterproof barrier.
• Do not wear flip flops or open sandals, they offer no protection in the crowded mosh pit or from sharp items left lying around.
• If you do sustain an injury to your foot, be sure to clean the wound thoroughly and seek first aid before it becomes infected.

Festival Sleeping/Rest

• Do not lie on a hard, damp floor! Always take a good quality camping mat or air mattress and take a travel pillow to provide support for your head and neck.  Do not overinflate your travel pillow.
• If you suffer from back pain, roll up a jacket or a hoodie to form a lower back support when you are sitting, or place the support between your knees when sleeping on your side or under your knees when lying on your back.
• Try not to sit in one position for too long, whether sitting in a foldable chair or on the floor, try to get up for a regular ‘stroll and stretch’.
• Ensure you have a warm sleeping bag and plenty of warm, waterproof clothes, especially for the night time when temperatures can drop quite noticeably, even in the summer.
• Try to get some sleep!

Finally:

• Use sunscreen.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Lift bags and camping gear with care – always bend at the knees when lifting. If possible, pack two small bags rather than one so you can distribute the weight more evenly (or use a good quality ruck sack with padded straps).
• When you arrive, be sure to familiarise yourself with the location of the medical tents/facilities.
• If you feel unwell or have sustained an injury and have any doubt about the seriousness of your condition, seek medical attention sooner rather than later.
• But, most of all, stay safe and have a great time!

If you have any queries regarding the above please contact the team at Teddington Osteopaths on tel: 020 8977 3295.