Summer Travel Tips for Beating Back Pain

Posted by on July 14, 2011 in Health | Comments Off on Summer Travel Tips for Beating Back Pain

By: Dr. Bridget Monaghan

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - HealthFor many people with back pain or neck pain, the prospect of a long trip can be daunting. Millions of Americans experience the most common form of back pain—muscle tension—and it turns out being behind the wheel of a car puts drivers at great risk for it since they’re in a static position at the very time their sense of awareness is most heightened. Chiro One Wellness Centers and the American Chiropractic Association suggest the following tips and advice to fight the pains and strains of driving long distances before they occur.

In the Car:

  • Adjust the seat so you are as close to the steering wheel as comfortably possible. Your knees should be slightly higher than your hips. Place four fingers behind the back of your thigh closest to your knee. If you cannot easily slide your fingers in and out of that space, you need to re-adjust your seat.
  • Consider a back support. Using a support behind your back may reduce the risk of low-back strain, pain or injury. The widest part of the support should be between the bottom of your rib cage and your waistline.
  • Exercise your legs while driving to reduce the risk of any swelling, fatigue or discomfort. Open your toes as wide as you can, and count to ten. Count to five while you tighten your calf muscles, then your thigh muscles, then your gluteal muscles. Roll your shoulders forward and back, making sure to keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road.

    • Safe Travel for Children:
    Always use a car seat in a car when traveling with children below the age of 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds. Ask the airline for their policy on child car seat safety. Car seats for infants and toddlers provide added resistance to turbulent skies, and are safer than the lap of a parent in the event of an unfortunate accident.

    Make sure the car seat is appropriate for the age and size of the child. A newborn infant requires a different seat than a 3-year-old toddler.

    Car seats for infants should always face the rear. In this position, the forces and impact of a crash will be spread more evenly along the back and shoulders, providing more protection for the neck.

    Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle and is placed at a 45-degree angle to support the head of the infant or child. For more information about Chiro One Wellness Centers, visit http://www.ChiroOne.net.

    Comments are closed.