Experts warned: Don’t sleep while traveling

Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Çağatay Öztürk said, “When traveling, body weight should be distributed equally between both legs and you should travel in an upright position. Sleeping, even for a short time in a sitting position, can cause muscle spasms.”

Emphasizing that sleeping is not something that should be done sitting down because we lose consciousness when we sleep, Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Çağatay Öztürk stated that keeping the head, back, and hips in the same position for a long time can lead to muscle spasms.

Öztürk said that sleeping while traveling can cause back and neck injuries as well as leg cramps, adding, “The nerves in our body are inside the muscles. However, in some places, they come to the surface. If uncontrolled sitting and sleeping occur together, partial nerve paralysis can also occur.”

Do not sleep while traveling on public transportation vehicles.

Öztürk emphasizes that the ideal sleeping position for spinal health is on your back or in the fetal position, stating, “”There is a condition known as Saturday night sickness. People who work during the week and party on the weekend, resulting in sleeping in an unbalanced position, wake up on Sunday morning with stiff arms due to nerve strain. To prevent this, it is necessary to sleep on an orthopedic mattress. Such mattresses minimize strain on structures such as muscles, nerves, and ligaments.””

Orthopedic and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Çağatay Öztürk, who says that it is necessary to sit upright in public transportation vehicles by distributing weight equally on both legs, explained, “Even sitting in a reclined position for a short time can cause muscle spasms. Therefore, instead of sleeping on public transportation, activities such as chatting, listening to music, or reading a book should be prioritized during travel.”