Drive Without Pain

Modern life involves spending so much time in cars, it is imperative that car seats support our spine. Unfortunately, as the engineering and design of our cars has evolved, the comfort and ergonomic design of car seats can be neglected. GP's say increasingly more patients complain of back pain caused by car journeys. Many people experience neck or low back stiffness after driving. Back pain, headaches and leg cramps can become routine, even for drivers who only drive short distances.

TIPS FOR COMFORTABLE MOTORING Getting in and out of your car; Swing your legs in and out of the car with your knees together. Never climb into or out of a car one leg at a time. After a long journey take a short walk before unloading the boot. Your joints and muscles will be tight and easily injured by such heavy lifting. Also walking will get the circulation going in your back. When lifting anything remember to bend the knees and do not twist. Try not to take everything in one go and if the item is particularly heavy try to get someone able to help you.

Steering wheel and seat position; Adjust the wheel so your arms are not stretched or cramped, which could strain your shoulders and neck and lead to fatigue. Adjust your seat to allow you a comfortable view of the road and enable the controls and switches to be within easy each. If you are small, heighten your seat to prevent overstraining your neck. Ensure that your feet are not too far from the pedals, you should be able to comfortably depress the clutch and/or accelerator without overstretching. If you are tall, slide the seat back to avoid cramp. Adjust the mirrors correctly – making use of all your mirrors will minimize the need for you to twist around in the seat.

Back and neck support; Driving with poor posture will cause back and neck ache, as well as poor concentration and fatigue. Adjust your seat so that your hips and knees are comfortably flexed. Sit back into the chair to support the spine. If your seat does not offer sufficient support you can buy a lumbar support from St Boswells Chiropractic Clinic. As a short term measure you can place a rolled up towel in the small of your back to support the spine in the “S” shape. Sit in an upright position without hunching over the steering wheel or slouching in the seat. To reduce the risk of whiplash, reduce the distance between the rest and your head.

Long distance driving; Sitting in one position for a prolonged period will result in stress and strain on the spinal joints, muscles and ligaments. Also the stress of traffic and the constant vibration from the wheels on the road will have an impact. Stop for a few minutes each hour. Walk about to ease the spine and minimize aches and pains. The discs rely on regular movement of the spine for the supply of nutrients and therefore getting out for regular walks is important.

General tips; Think about your posture: keep your chin in, do not grip the wheel too tightly as this tenses your muscles and adds to the stress, relax your shoulders and keep your head upright. Do not twist and reach for items in the back seat. It is much better for you to walk around to the back door and lift it out. Exercises to do at traffic lights; Pull in your stomach muscles, breathe out forcefully, relax and repeat. Raise your shoulders towards your ears, push the shoulders backwards against the seat, relax and repeat.

Extra tips for passengers; Where possible stretch your legs out in front of you and waggle your feet up and down several times and roll your ankles around several times in each direction. If you have room try flexing your knees by straightening and bending your legs (one at a time) whilst seated. Shoulder shrugs and moving your head up and down, side to side and left to right, are also good.

If you do find that you suffer from recurrent aches and pain, consult a chiropractor at St Boswells Chiropractic Clinic for a spinal assessment.

Author Contact Info: Scotia Chiropractic
http://www.scotiachiropractic.co.uk
01835 823645