Whether you are a professional driver or occasionally enjoy taking long road trips, you may find that you experience lower back pain during and after your long drives. Back pain after driving for long periods of time is not uncommon, and when steps are not taken to prevent and/or treat this pain, it can result in a reduction of quality of life. However, there are many ways to prevent back pain that stems from driving long distances. Read on to learn three tips for preventing low back pain when driving.
1. Position Your Seat Properly
Like many drivers, you may adjust the position of your seat to what feels comfortable when beginning your drive without considering whether the seat position supports a good driving posture that can help prevent back pain after long drives.
Ideally, your seat height should be adjusted so your knees are slightly higher than your hips or at least at a 90-degree angle. If you sit with your knees positioned lower than this, it can place unnecessary pressure on your spine when driving.
Instead of adjusting your seat to a completely upright position, you should also recline it to about a 100- to 110-degree angle. This slightly reclined position takes stress off your back muscles and discs to prevent pain.
Also, move your seat forward as far as you can comfortably. When your seat is far from the steering wheel, you may slouch forward when driving, which can cause back pain.
2. Pay Attention to Hand Placement on Steering Wheel
While drivers used to be told to hold their steering wheel with their hands at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, health and safety experts now recommend that drivers place their hands on the wheel at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions.
Not only does this position keep a driver's arms aligned with their shoulders to reduce the stress placed on their backs while driving, but it also allows a driver to rest their elbows when necessary, which can help alleviate back pain.
3. Take Steps to Increase the Smoothness of Your Ride
Another way to alleviate back pain when driving long distances is to take steps to increase the chance of a smooth ride in your vehicle when possible. While you may not be able to avoid bumpy roads that place jarring impact on your spine, you can ensure that your vehicle shocks are in good condition to keep bumps to a minimum and replace your tires regularly to reduce car shaking that can occur when tires are extremely worn. In addition, since cars tend to provide smoother rides than SUVs and trucks, consider driving in a car when possible when back pain is severe.
If you experience back pain after driving for long hours on the road, then follow these tips to prevent this pain. Contact a chiropractor who can recommend additional pain-relief tips and treatments if you are experiencing lower back pain.
Share21 September 2021
Ever since childhood, I’ve been a driven person. Even as a young kid, I always strived to make good grades. With my schoolwork, I was never satisfied unless I made a perfect score. As an adult, I still tend to be a perfectionist. For instance, I won’t leave my home until every hair is in place on my head. In my career, I work diligently to please my many clients. Unfortunately, my perfectionist nature often causes me to become tense. Whenever I’m stressed about something, the muscles in my neck and shoulders become extremely tight. Sometimes, this issue leads to tension headaches. Thankfully, I know where to go when I begin experiencing muscle tightness. I visit my trusted chiropractor. On this blog, you will discover the methods a chiropractor uses to relieve tension headaches.
