In most areas of the world, driving is essential. Except for a few big cities that offer excellent public transportation and walkability, this is almost a universal truth! But driving can put serious stress on the body. In fact, many people experience chronic, painful conditions due to the posture assumed during the daily commute.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best tips you can use to set yourself up for pain-free driving!

Tip #1: Set Your Seat in the Right Position for You

There are some things you can control about the space in your car, and some things you can’t. However, there are a few key steps you can take to make sure you’ve set the car seat to the right height and distance for you.

Generally, you should be far enough from the pedals that your knees are bent to roughly 10-20 degrees (a slight bend). Furthermore, you should ensure that you maintain the same rough degree of bend for your elbows as well.

Those parameters can both be controlled by adjusting the seat distance and the seat back angle.

Another component you’ll want to optimize is the height of your seat. Some cars allow drivers to adjust their seat height through the use of levers. Unfortunately, other cars require a bit more creativity.

You should ensure that the angle between your trunk and thighs is as close to 90 degrees as possible. If you can’t adjust your seat height with built-in levers, you can instead use cushions to raise yourself up.

By simply placing a cushion of two underneath yourself you can effectively modify this trunk and hip angle to ensure you are in the best, ergonomic position possible!

Tip #2: Check Your Mirrors

Besides checking your blind spot when changing lanes, you should generally be able to rely on your mirrors for keeping yourself safe while driving.

Your rearview and side view mirrors should be set in such a way as to show as much of the road behind you as possible. This way, you’ll be sure that no one is about to hit you while you’re on the road.

Of course, there are some instances where you will need to physically turn your head and trunk while driving. For instance, parallel parking and merging provide two major examples of when this may be necessary. However, you can minimize these stressful motions as much as possible by optimizing your mirror positions.

Tip #3: Check in with Your Chiropractor Regularly

In the previous two tips, we outlined some specific ways in which you can make the act of driving more comfortable. However, there are also things you can do outside of the car that can significantly reduce your pain and dysfunction while you’re driving.

For example, seeing your chiropractor regularly will ensure that you are in the best position possible to avoid driving pain.

Chiropractors perform specialized treatments known as spinal adjustments. These treatments correct any misalignments in the spine. When patients visit their chiropractor on a regular basis, patients often report decreased pain, improved range of motion, and many other positive physical and mental benefits.

Have you been experiencing pain while driving or sitting for long periods? There are many ways you can decrease the pain you experience while driving! By optimizing your driving setup in order to reduce body stress as much as possible, you can take a great step toward reducing your pain. Furthermore, seeing your chiropractor often can also lead to reduced driving pain. Book your appointment now with the experts at At Last Chiropractic, your go-to Lithia, FL chiropractor.