Why Back Pain is Associated with Driving?

If someone is sitting in a driving seat while the car is stationary, it will be just like sitting in a cushioned chair. But if the car is moving, the body is exposed to different forces like whole body vibrations, swaying from side to side and acceleration and deceleration forces. Also during driving, feet are actively used, so support provided by feet is lost which also has an additional effect. The combined effect of these factors plus the design of the car seat increases the risk of back pain for some people. There is also some gender predisposition. It is also proven in some researches that although the incidence of lower back pain is greater in females the ‘lower back pain associated with driving’ is more common in males. It is also observed that while sitting in a driving car seat, the lumbar curvature is not maintained due to loss of support to the back, which increases the risk of sciatica. Sciatica is a type of back pain which radiates from the back towards buttocks and leg. It occurs due to compression of sciatic nerve root for many reasons, i.e. disc compression, narrowing of spinal canal and degenerative changes in the disc.

Importance of Body Posture

Good posture maintenance is compulsory to keep our back, pain-free. A good posture means, one’s shoulder blades should sit flat on one’s back, and head must sit back so that the ears may align the shoulders. That’s the reason, the backs of car seats are provided with extra support and headrest in order to maintain a good body posture, and head kept on head support while the shoulders and cervical spines are relaxed. Merely decompression the spine is not enough for keeping the back pain free and healthy. One needs to consider one’s posture and lifestyle activities to support the spine and enjoy good health. Sitting on the back is much harder as compared to standing because 2.5 the extra pressure is exerted to the disc according to Nachemson medical study. This pressure is dumped into the skeleton due to relaxed muscles. So maintaining a good posture in sitting position is mandatory for feeling and functioning our best health. This good posture while sitting in the driving seat is only achieved by proper support on back and head.
https://www.spinalbackrack.com/
According to researches, 30 - 60% drivers complain back pain which is either caused or made worse by driving. This back pain is sometimes associated with radiating pain in the buttocks and leg which is termed as sciatica and occurs due to compression of sciatic nerve root between spinal discs. Heavy vehicle drivers are subjected to high vibrations, so this group of people is affected more. If the person who is driving is a passenger, he may be able to keep himself comfortable or take medications to relieve pain. But if the affected person is behind the wheel, he does not have any choice especially if he is a driver by occupation. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health found in a research that the people who are frequently exposed to heavy whole-body vibrations for example occupational heavy vehicle drivers have double the risk of sciatica and low back pain.

A Good Car Seat Design

It is to be noted that most of the cars available in the market do not have all of the features listed below that an optimal car seat must contain. These particular things must be included in the car seat design in order to prevent back problems.

1.) Car seat comfort

When we sit in the car seat and have adjusted our body well in the car seat so that we do not feel any discomfort, then it’s all right. If not, probably the car seat will cause discomfort and back pain or sciatica.

2.) Car seat adjustments

While sitting in a car, you should be able to adjust its seat according to your own comfort. You should be able to tilt the seat angle in front or up and down so that it may not press your knees. Lumbar cushion support must be provided for the lower back.
Headrest must be provided for neck support.
Arms rest must be cushioned, wide and comfortable and height adjustable.

3.) Change your posture

While sitting in a car seat, you must be able to change your posture with time and according to your comfort. It will help you in alleviating postural fatigue.

4.) Seat accessories

You must be provided with a variety of car seat accessories that may increase your comfort and provide some types of back massage during driving.

Is your car seat design good?

Is the seat design of your car is an ideal one? To know this, notice the following things in your car seat design.
1.       Does the seat has adjustable back incline?
2.       Does the seat has an adjustable bottom depth?
3.       Does it have changeable seat height?
4.       Does it contain seat bottom cushion?
5.       Does the seat has adjustable lumbar support?
6.       Does the seat has changeable bilateral armrests?
7.       Does the seat has padded adjustable head restraint? 
8.       Does the seat has a shock absorber?

Modern vehicles have decreased internal space due to lower roof lining. For the adjustment, driving seat is also lowered. Thus legs are straightened, exerting an additional pull on the hamstring muscles. These causes pull on the attachment of hamstrings thus rolling back of the pelvis and causing pelvic pain. It is also observed that pressure is also exerted on the cervical spine due to tipping back of the seat. This driver has to flex the neck up to 20 degrees to look forward and causing posture instability.
Laboratory researches show that the natural resonant frequency of lumbar spine is 4-5 Hz. This natural frequency is increased due to increasing whole body vibrations during driving. It results in increased discomfort and postural instability and increased risk of isolated lower back pain or sciatica.

Tips to prevent back pain associated with driving

1.       If your car seat doesn’t keep your back happy, start using back support for car seat immediately.
2.       First of all, know your limit of driving. Know after how much time of continuous driving you need a break.
3.       Take regular breaks during driving. Do back stretches during these breaks. It will reduce stress from your whole body especially from the back.
4.       Comfortable seating is mandatory to reduce the risk of back pain or sciatica.
5.       Always maintain proper distance from the steering wheel so that you may not pull your shoulders forward. It will reduce back pain during driving.
6.       The chair’s back must be adjusted to 100 degrees and seat bottom 5 degrees upward. This position allows neck in a comfortable position against the padding.
7.       Put a roll of tissue papers behind your back. It will provide you with additional lumbar support.
8.       Always avoid putting your wallet or mobile in the back pocket. It causes misalignment of the spine and risk for sciatica increases.
9.       Always feel comfortable and relaxed before starting the journey.
10.   Always adjust your mirrors in a good manner so that you may not have to twist yourself to see them.
11.   Take regular intervals during driving and stretch your body.
12.   Take exercise regularly.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Causes of Sciatic Nerve Pain and Effective Treatments

Image
Sciatic nerve is considered to be the longest and widest nerve in human body. It runs throughout the whole lower body after starting from lower back. The main purpose of this nerve is to supply sensation to the skin of whole lower leg as well as to the foot. Not only that, it also innervates the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg and foot. Sciatic pain or sciatica is the pain due to compression in the sciatic nerve caused by any problem in the lower back. Poor hip bones conditions, lumber spinal stenosis and muscular hypertension are some of the major causes for the pain in the sciatic nerve. Causes of sciatica Nerve Pain Sometime sciatica get intensely painful and patient have to struggle to make any movement. To get rid of the sciatic pain and to stay in the game, keeping the hip and back muscles strong is a key. Exercises and use of foam-rollers reduce the pain and help in strengthening the muscles. Physiotherapist usually prescribes medications and stretches f
Read more

Bulging Disc Explained – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnoses, and Treatments

Image
What is the bulging disc? Bulging disc is a change in the shape and position of the intervertebral disc that serves as a support between the vertebrae. A problem like bulging disc can happen at any age but it is more common in the people who are aged or those who are involved in hard physical activities for extended periods of time. To know more about bulging discs, it is necessary to know about some symptoms, causes and treatments of this disease in detail.   The spine in a human body consists of discs in the vertebral column that act as a damper and absorb shocks or jerks to keep the bones and spinal tissues safe from any damage. Not only that, they help in moving and twisting the body. Vertebrae discs are enclosed in a hard casing and fluid like centre.  The liquid material starts to swell outwards from the weakest point of the shell when the disc moves or slip from its normal position. Usually, the disc balloons develop between spaces present in the vertebrae and the same proce
Read more