Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, Richmond Hill Liberal, Copyright May 31, 1990


Dear Dr. Horowitz:


Now that we can say that camping season is here, I would like
your opinion on something. We usually camp weekends at the
provincial campgrounds, or at the various private facilities. We have
a large tent for my wife and myself, and a smaller pup tent for our
two young boys who like to sleep in their own space.


I am sure you hear this every summer, and I know that I have
complained to my own chiropractor about it before, but I want to
know if there is anything that can be done to prevent those early
morning backaches I have when getting up every morning.

I have no problem sleeping in my sleeping bag. I am warm and
comfortable. I use a plastic mat under the bag to level the ground a
bit and to provide some sort of padding. My wife has no problem at
 all, doesn’t use anything under her bag and she sleeps fine and has
 no back pain when she wakes up. What am I doing wrong?

ANSWER:


When you choose to sleep outside, a tent provides some protection
from the insects, some from the raccoons, some from noisy
neighbors, but none from bears or the dampness. The bears will
usually leave you alone as long
as you leave them alone, but the
dampness won’t. Sleeping in a
sleeping bag is fine if its warm
enough and if you have enough
protection from the uneven,
damp ground. Your plastic mat
may help a bit, but most
campers find better comfort
from an air cushion, such as
those used for flotation in water.
A pump can be brought along to
make it easier, or you can get your young children to do it for you,
which is even easier.

The air which separates you from the ground will help support
your back in a more comfortable manner than the plastic you are
now using. It will also help keep you off the cool, damp ground. The
dampness is usually the thing campers feel bother them the most.
Even if it is hot and dry, there is still the morning dew, and the mist
which is more prevalent around lakes where most campgrounds are.
The ground water is also higher in these areas and therefore the
ground tends to get more moist even in nice dry weather.

FIRES ARE OUT

Fires are not to be lit near tents, and stoves are to be used with
caution, but there are now several products on the market which
provide instant heat. Some you boil, some you press a button, others
you shake. These chemical concoctions will keep you warm and dry
and placing one inside your sleeping bag might help.

One other reason you may be stiff in the morning is because of the
increased, or at least changed, activities you have done the day
before. You may be chopping fire wood, swimming, canoeing, hiking
or so on, and although these are all good activities, your back might
not be ready for these activities and then a night on the ground as
well.

Also, many campers tend to go to bed earlier than they would at
home. The lack of lights, television, and telephone make most people
turn in when it gets dark, by around 10 p.m. You may or may not get
up with the birds and sun, but this change in sleep habits might also
aggravate a slight back problem you may already have.

AN ALTERNATIVE


If you try dealing with everything I have mentioned and your
back is still sore when camping, you should have a professional
examine your back to see if there are any other suggestions that
might be made … such as … “TRY A HOTEL!!!”