Sitting in a car or anywhere for that matter is a risk factor to your spine and to your overall health. Your spine takes in a lot more pressure when you are sitting than when you are standing. This pressure is accentuated especially when you are driving due to bumping and swaying when driving on different terrains. You can, however, take certain measures when you drive to prevent back pains, muscle soreness, and numbness. Here are some of the ways you can sit inside your car to ensure maximum comfort.
Wear Loosely Fitting Clothes
Before you even get inside your car, the first step is to check what you are wearing. If you are just driving for a short distance, you can wear anything you want. However, if you are to drive for a long distance, then consider wearing loose attire. It allows you more mobility so that you can move and stretch with ease when you need to. Tight clothes keep you fixated in such a way that you cannot even stretch when you need to in the course of your journey.
Sit Hip First
When entering your car, do not just jump in and out. Let your hips in the car first and tuck yourself on the seat, then slowly bring in your legs one after the other. When exiting your vehicle, step out with one leg then let the other one follow suit as you lift yourself out. This motion prevents the possibility of accidentally spraining your back. Check out Freeyourspine.info to get details on the affair.
Sit Upright
When in the car, adjust your backrest to incline at about 110 degrees. Push the sit slightly forward to ensure that you have a good grasp of your steering wheel. Ensure that it is also high enough such that your knees are slightly bent above your waist to ensure that you have a clear view of the road. Straining to see the road can have an effect on your back. Ensure also that your headrest is in line with your backrest for maximum comfort. Ensure that your bottom is tucked in as far back as possible on to the seat and your thighs are firmly supported.
Avoid Having Stuff in Your Pocket
Make sure that your back pockets are empty when you sit. Remove mobile phones, wallets, keys and any other item you may be having in your pocket. If you can remove everything even from your front pockets. A wallet might slip from your front pocket and slide to your bottom. Sitting on such items misaligns your pelvis and might lead to sharp lower back pains after a while.
Adjust Your Controls Properly
Bring your seat closer to the steering such that you can steer with your elbows slightly bent. Your legs should also be slightly bent instead of having them stretch straight to reach the gas pedals and other controls. If your arms are outstretched, they might cause a strain to your back and neck. See to it that you do not also have to hold too tightly on the steering wheel. Ensure that your mirrors in the right position in relation to your sitting position. You should only move your eyes instead of your entire body whenever you need to use the mirrors.
Use Cushions
If you anticipate driving on very bumpy terrain, you can carry along a cushion to prevent your body from taking all the shock. If your seat is not comfy enough, your body will absorb too much shock from a bumpy ride leaving very sore and with severe back pain. Sitting on a cushion and using a folded towel for back support can go along way in adding the much-needed extra comfort.
Take Advantage of Cruise Control
If you have a car with cruise control feature, ensure that you take full advantage of it. Avoid resting your feet suspended on the pedals when you can just initiate the cruise control feature and rest them on the floor of your vehicle. When your feet are rested on this position, they provide more support to your spine and prevent possible pains in your back.
The key here is to make sure that you are as comfortable as you can when driving, since your spine will still take in the pressure of sitting in the car. Do not let that lead to those uncomfortable back pains.
