Summertime is prime road-trip season, but lower back pain from driving may make it hard to enjoy things once you arrive at your destination. By making time in your travel schedule to stop and perform some stretches, you can avoid lower back pain from sitting in the car for hours on end.
How to Avoid Lower Back Pain from Driving
No matter how comfortable the seats are in your vehicle, and no matter how much headroom and legroom you’re working with, you can experience lower back pain if you spend too much time sitting in the car. That’s why regular stops and stretches are one of your best bets against preventing lower back pain. In fact, daily stretching is always a good recipe for a healthier back.
There are some stretches for lower back pain that passengers can perform while sitting in the car. But if you’re at the steering wheel, the safest way to stretch is when the vehicle is at a complete stop. So, if you plan on being in the vehicle for more than a couple of hours, make time in your schedule to stop and stretch at a rest stop.
If you really want to stay ahead of lower back pain, bring a workout mat for stretches that require you to sit or lie down. And when you stop, take your time—a good 15 minutes of moving around and stretching should help you avoid the lower back pain that builds up from sitting in a car and driving.
Of course, this could take you off-schedule, which is why it’s a good idea to build in an extra couple of hours or so depending on your travel time. That should cover you as far as stops to stretch and use the restroom, not to mention unforeseen traffic issues. This way, you’ll arrive at your road-trip destination stress-free and ready to have fun.
Lower Back Pain Relief with Somerset Hills Chiropractic
Road trips can be a great part of a wonderful summer, but not if you’re suffering lower back pain from sitting in the car or driving. If you’re in pain, Somerset Hills Chiropractic can help—we’ll help relieve pain with chiropractic care and massage, and we can recommend corrective exercises and stretches to help keep lower back pain from coming back. Ready to get started? Call us at (908) 221-0808, schedule an appointment online, or come see us at our offices in Bernardsville, NJ.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Brian Wallace
Dr. Glenn Eigenmann
Dr. Raymond Horman
