Dealing with neck and shoulder pain in Navarre FL is common in today’s society. Driving is one of the main times pain can flare up and bad posture can especially lead to serious lower back pain and stiff neck and shoulders. If you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain, a sore back or even a headache while driving, there are some things you can do to improve the problem and eventually eliminate your driving pains!
What Causes Driving Pains?
There are several factors that can contribute to neck and shoulder pain while driving. One of them is the jolting caused by roads that may need to be repaired. Another important reason is because some car seats offer no lumbar support. Poor positioning of your seat can contribute to neck, back and shoulder pain. If you drive a manual vehicle, constantly pressing the clutch can even put a strain on your lumbar disks.
Thankfully, you can make adjustments to your seat and the area around it that can make a huge difference in whether or not you experience pain while driving!
The following tips can help you better avoid neck and shoulder pain while driving:
Keeping things in your back pocket while sitting can take your back out of alignment. Phones and wallets should be stored in the console while you are driving and out of your back pockets any other time you are seated.
If you know that neck, shoulder and back pain are problems for you, take breaks from driving when needed. It makes a big difference between a comfortable journey and a painful one. You might want to also do some light stretches that can add comfort to your trip.
Make sure you are seated close enough to the steering wheel so that your feet can comfortably reach the pedals. All controls inside of your vehicle should be within reach without strain.
Find the appropriate distance where both of your hands can comfortably rest on the steering wheel or your elbows can rest on the armrests.
You should be seated high enough so that your hips rest evenly with your knees or just below them, although some seats don’t allow this kind of adjustment. You can also use a pillow to lift your seat up and adjust as needed.
Adjust your headrest so you can rest your head without tilting your neck. Resting your head periodically can help you avoid a sore neck while driving.
The back of your seat should be positioned so that you can sit upright in a healthy natural way. This will allow you to look directly through the windshield without causing a stiff neck or shoulder.
Eye strain can cause you to tilt your head forward to see, causing headaches and a stiff neck. If you need to wear corrective glasses, wear them! Of course if you can’t see the roadway for any reason, it’s best to wait till it clears up.
Driving is a necessary part of life and if the tips listed above aren’t helping your problem, it may be time to see your Navarre Chiropractor. We can help you identify the cause of your pain and give you tips on healing and prevention. Regular Chiropractic Adjustments are a great way to manage your pain and better the quality of your life.
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