Minimizing Back Pain in the Car
A long trip in a car can aggravate a low back injury. Here are a few tips to make your next trip more comfortable:
- Always use your seat belt. It should fit firmly across the hips.
- The seat should be upright but still tip slightly backwards so that you do not hunch forward.
- Don't twist around and over the seat to reach into the back of the car. Stop the car, get out and enter through the rear door or fold down the front seat.
- Use armrests and adjust the headrest to fit comfortably in the middle of your head.
- Use a lumbar support while you are driving.
- Stop to take occasional breaks to get some exercise to avoid stiffness.
- Be careful when entering the car. Sit on the seat, then swing your legs in.
- Watch your posture when you load or unload luggage or other objects into the back seat or the trunk.