Put a pain-free spring in your step with proper planning and prevention

~ TYLENOL(R) Canadian Pain Survey reveals many Canadians expect pain with seasonal activities, yet most don't plan ahead to relieve muscle aches and strains ~

TORONTO, May 5 /CNW/ - Whether it's puttering in the garden, manicuring the lawn or breaking out the baseball glove, it's hard not to embrace outdoor activities after a long dreary winter. Yet increased activity can also lead to bodily aches and pains, and as the TYLENOL(R) Canadian Pain Survey(1) reveals, 88 per cent of Canadians expect to experience some pain when increasing their activity levels, but many haven't prepared to manage the discomfort.(1)

"Properly preparing for increased outdoor physical activities can help prevent injuries and manage aches and pains," says Karen Webb, physiotherapist. "Starting slowly and gradually increasing the time you spend in an activity is important, as is mixing up your movements. If you're gardening, for example, alternate a difficult task with an easy one and move with your work."

SPRING INTO ACTION

Most Canadians (89 per cent) who've experienced pain as a result of increased activity say they have used some sort of treatment, such as over-the-counter medication, hot/cold therapy or topical creams and patches when experiencing pain, yet surprisingly, less than a quarter (22 per cent) plan in advance to have over-the-counter medication, such as TYLENOL(R), on-hand to help relieve discomfort.(2)

"While many may not think activities like gardening or lawn care are strenuous, it's a great form of exercise," says Mark Cullen, one of Canada's best-known gardeners. "After time spent weeding, raking and planting, the aches and pains can be real. The good news is that these pesky pains can often be avoided with stretching and proper technique, but if they do strike, being prepared with items such as hot/cold packs and over-the-counter pain relievers, like TYLENOL(R) Back Pain, can help ease recovery."

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION...

With busy lives, it's easy to be a "weekend warrior" and dive right into a chosen activity like a would-be gardener spending five hours planting begonias. Here are some more tips to help prevent aches and pains:

Warm up to warm-ups:

    
    -   It may seem silly to warm up before throwing that Frisbee or raking
        the lawn, but a five-minute brisk walk followed by gentle stretching
        can make all the difference when it comes to pain prevention.
    

Take care of tools and technique:

    
    -   Have your golf swing analyzed, take a running class and make sure
        your bike seat is set at the proper height. Make sure garden tools
        are sharpened and tuned up, too!
    

Stock up on supplies:

    
    -   Water, sunscreen, insect repellant and a good hat are musts when
        spending any length of time outdoors. Even with planning, increased
        activity may lead to muscle aches or back pain, so adding an over-
        the-counter analgesic, such as TYLENOL(R), to spring shopping lists
        is a good idea.
    

RICE IS NICE

When pain or injury strikes, RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation - is an important recipe for healing. Reducing swelling within the first 72 hours is key, so take a break, wrap a towel around a bag of crushed ice or frozen peas and hold it against the injured area for about 15-20 minutes every few hours. Elevate the injured area by propping it up slightly and be sure to consult a doctor if the pain or swelling doesn't improve.(3)

Acetaminophen (found in TYLENOL(R)) can help the RICE process by working quickly to relieve pain during the recovery period.(4)

For more information on how to avoid and relieve muscle aches and body pain, visit www.livingwell.ca.

About McNeil Consumer Healthcare

McNeil Consumer Healthcare markets a broad range of well-known and trusted over-the-counter (OTC) products around the globe. McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of Johnson & Johnson, markets products in the adult and pediatric pain relief, allergy, gastro-intestinal and nicotine-replacement categories under the brand names TYLENOL(R), MOTRIN(R), BENYLIN(R), BENADRYL(R), REACTINE(R), PEPCID(R), IMODIUM(R), ROLAIDS(R), NICORETTE(R) and NICODERM(R).

1. TYLENOL(R) Canadian Pain Survey was conducted in March 2010 by Vision Critical through an online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,003 adult Canadians aged 30+ years old. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.1 %, 19 times out of 20.

    
    References:
    ----------------------------
    (1) TYLENOL(R) Canadian Pain Survey. Spring in Your Step phase.
    (2) TYLENOL(R) Canadian Pain Survey. Spring in Your Step phase.
    (3) Living Well website.
http://www.livingwell.ca/english/articles/245/tales-of-a-weekend-warrior.html.
        Last accessed on April 30, 2010.
    (4) Living Well website.
http://www.livingwell.ca/english/articles/245/tales-of-a-weekend-warrior.html.
        Last accessed on April 30, 2010.
    

For further information: Media Contact: Rohini Mukherji, Anya Kravets, Edelman, [phone] ex 264, 323, [email protected], [email protected]; Tina Peyregatt, Senior Manager, Public Relations, Johnson & Johnson Inc., [phone], [email protected]