Over one-third of Americans get pain and aches from travel: poll

Summer travel seems like a fun idea, but is it worth the pain and the aches?

More than one-third (39%) of Americans agree that the pain and aches associated with travel have stopped them from going longer distances, according to a new study commissioned by Advil and conducted by OnePoll.

The survey, which polled 2,005 adults, found that 67% of Americans feel that they desperately need to stretch and move around after arriving at their destination.

35% said they get more soreness during travel rather than during their actual vacation. After an average of five hours of traveling, 78% said they start to feel sore.

People found the mode of transportation that left them most in pain was bus travel (39%), followed by planes (33%), cars (29%) and trains (24%).

Common activities that were likely to leave people sore including sitting for long periods on an airplane (33%), carrying luggage (28%) and waiting in long lines at the airport (24%).

The study found that people feel worst in their back (38%), legs (30%) and neck (24%) post-travel. 

67% of respondents said they pack pain relievers to prepare for the travel-related soreness, and 45% pack pain medication specifically for body aches.

But just because the pains occur during travel doesn’t mean they stop once you reach your vacation destination. However, that doesn’t keep people from enjoying their vacation to the fullest, according to the study.

67% of respondents still want to try new things on vacation and do an average of four new physical activities while away.

Over half of Americans said that trying new activities while traveling leaves them sore in muscles they “didn’t even know existed,” yet 45% of participants say they actively seek out activities that require full physical effort.

People enjoy trying popular activities for the first time while on vacation such as swimming (30%), hiking (29%) and camping (28%).

“Trying new things may just be the best part of any vacation,” explained Karen Bouhadana, senior brand director at Advil. “But it’s important to be conscientious about what you’re putting your body through. Overdoing it will leave you feeling uncomfortable and may prevent you from fully enjoying your time.”

About six in 10 respondents say they start to feel sore after new experiences, and 45% feel the burn when they wake up the following morning, feeling it most in their legs (47%), back (38%) or arms (30%).

One-third of people (32%) said they feel in need of pain relief medication while on vacation, while 28% said they are in need of it after the vacation ends. 44% said they would be more inclined to venture into new activities if they had pain relief meds with them.

While many people do enjoy trying new things, just as many would rather play it safe just to avoid feeling sore.

“As much fun as it is to travel and go on vacation and try new things, it’s likely to leave you sore,” Bouhadana said. 

“The best way to give your body a vacation from pain is to go easy on yourself and give your body some time to rest between adventures. It’s also a good idea to pack an over-the-counter pain relief medication so that you are prepared for any aches and pains that may come your way,” she continued.