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Effects
of Driving
Paul
L. Maunsell D.C. MMCA
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Both the
driver and the passenger can stiffen up in a car during a long
trip. While sitting for a long time in a fixed position it is
extremely important for the passenger to alter his/her position
from time to time and sit with knees bent and thighs level.
Moving regularly avoiding sitting with legs crossed allows one
to be most comfortable.
For drivers
and passengers it is good to stop regularly, especially if feeling
tired. A good stretch, ideally once every few hours, bringing
your knees right up to your chest gives the whole of the body
a bit of a wake up.
Back
pain
It is
very important to choose a car with an adjustable lumbar support.
Otherwise a wedge shape cushion is another way of ensuring that
the pelvis is higher than the knees allowing the back to be
in a more relaxed position.
An automatic
car is obviously better with someone who has a weak back as
pushing the clutch increases pressure on the back. Choose a
car with a higher curb height to make getting in and out less
of a strain on the spine. Power steering also lessens the stress
on the back.
Driving
can cause:
- Neck
pain
- Eyestrain
- Headache
- Wrist
pain
- Back
ache
- Hip
pain
- Knee/foot
and ankle pain
Is your
car right for you?
The driver
should place both hands together, pointing forwards. If the
steering wheel is not offset then the driver is pointing straight
at the centre of the wheel. The danger of having an offset wheel
is that most drivers tend to rotate the middle of the spine
to compensate for its position, producing long term back strain.
When the
seat is in the normal position make a fist with the left hand
keeping the thumb to the side of the index finger. You should
be able to put the fist on the crown of the head. If you are
only just able to put the flat of the hand between the roof
and the head then there is not enough headroom. The driver is
then very likely to compensate for this lack of height by slouching
in the seat, which then strains the back and thighs.
Looking
down at the legs when you have both hands evenly placed on the
steering wheel, you should be able to see equal amounts of both
legs between the arms. The left leg is often seen but the other
will be obscured by the right arm. This may mean that the shoulder
girdle is rotated to the left in relation to the pelvis.
After having
driven the car awhile look down and check the position of your
right leg. Is it elevated above the level of the left leg or
has it rotated towards the edge of the ease? Is the right foot
in line with the thigh (correct position) or has it had to move
across towards the middle of the car?
What
to do when driving.
Adjust
the car seats to suit your posture and always make sure that
you keep the seat fairly upright and slightly leaning backwards.
Adjust
the headrest so that the centre of it is level with your eyes.
If it is too low then more trauma can result after an accident.
Adjust
the seat belt properly making sure you use it at all times.
Children also need to be checked thoroughly with appropriate
cushions if necessary.
Lifting
unnecessary weights should be avoided. Be very careful when
loading and unloading always remember to lift correctly.
First sit
down when getting into the car and then swing the legs in. Move
the seat back and then swing your legs out on getting out.
Get out
if you need to get bags from the rear seat and avoid reaching
over from the front seat.
Rotating
and lifting the shoulders to the ears before lowering them with
an out breath is a good way of letting muscle tension go and
relaxing more.
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Spine
Universe Editorial Board Comments;
"This article gives a common sense approach to protecting
your back when driving. I am personally unaware of significant
numbers of scientific studies validating the recommendations.
However, they do make sense from the perspective of spinal
protection."
Todd
J. Albert, M.D. - Editorial
Board, SpineUniverse.com
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