Bank Holiday weekend is here. It is the last one for the summer and the last one before school starts again. For many of us this either means a last holiday for the kids or a trip to relatives, which often mean a long drive.
As busy London chiropractors we know that driving long distances can take its toll on your back. We often advise our patients on keeping their back safe whilst driving and we want to share the same advice with you ahead of the weekend.
Keep your back safe whilst driving advises London Chiropractors
Even if you aren’t going anywhere this weekend a lot of this advice is still useful for your every day commute or your shopping trips.
There are a few simple rules and adjustments to follow and you should remain relatively pain free;
- Make sure you’re sat correctly – It sounds like one of those things that is easier said than done but it isn’t really that difficult anyway. Many back problems are caused because of poor driving posture and it is an easy fix. Make sure the seat position of the chair is bent slightly backwards and your elbows are at a comfortable angle. They should bend slightly. Your feet also need to be resting on your pedals so that you only need to change to angle of your feet to press down.
Make sure your seatbelt isn’t too high or too low and is resting over your shoulder not your neck or chest.
- Relax when driving – There is no need to grip the wheel tightly, just relax a bit and this will reduce stress on the spine.
- Make sure you take regular breaks – Keep on eye the time you’re clocking up when driving and be sure to stop and take a break every 2 hours or so. It is important to stretch out and loosen up.
- Avoid tight and restrictive clothing – It simply restricts the flow of blood, restrict your movement and cause you pain.
These are just a few simple pieces of advice for long distance driving. For more in-depth and personal advice please feel free to get in touch with us at any time.