Proper Driving Posture
How is your car treating you?
While less than just a few years ago, the average American still spends a large amount of time in their car. Many more people are working from home, but the rise in type and availability of delivery services means many more people are driving for a living. No matter what you spend your time in the car doing or where you are going, your posture is important.
The modern vehicle provides ample adjustments around the driver to obtain the best position and posture. Because driving is a static (or stationary) activity, making sure your posture is correct is a crucial component of avoiding pain, stiffness, and chronic injury. Headaches, neck and back pain, shoulder pain, numbness and tingling in the arms or legs, or pain in the knee and hip joints can be a sign that your position in the car is not optimal.
Following a simple seat and mirror positioning tutorial (we have one for you below) is all you need to fend off pain and injury related to poor position in the car. In addition to the proper positioning, there are a few tips to consider when traveling for distances greater than 20-30 minutes at a time.
- Avoid leaning sideways onto the armrest or the window frame. Keep your spine aligned upright to reduce muscle pain and fatigue.
- Change hand position on the wheel frequently to reduce stress on the hands, elbows, and shoulders.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Try getting out of the car to stretch every 2-3 hours.
Help your car treat you better! Take a look at our proper car seat posture video to make the most out of your travel time and avoid pain.