A recent TripAdvisor survey shows that 89 percent of Americans are planning on taking a vacation this summer.
For many, that means long hours driving on the open road. But, racking up time behind the wheel could cause problems for your back. Adjusting your seat to the proper position, while maintaining good posture and hand positioning helps to alleviate back pain while taking long trips, but that’s not the end of it. Ensuring that you have adequate lumbar support in the car, as aided by a rolled towel behind your back, can help significantly decrease back pain as well.
Additionally, check your steering wheel position before getting in the car! By setting it to a position in which your shoulders remain in a neutral position (elbows at your side, slightly forward without being forced to reach for the wheel) will help ensure back pain doesn’t flair up while driving. Keeping your hips aligned while driving will supplement this. Remember, if you feel strained, you need to stop and adjust!
Source: www.kmtr.com; Kat Wolcott; May 30, 2014.
