Road trips are intended to be fun, as you excitedly drive across the vast expanses of America with your family and friends in tow. But for many of us riding in the car can quickly become painful when the uninvited travel partner known as lower back pain shows up. Many travelers use poor posture when slouched behind the wheel or scrunched down in the passenger’s seat, which leads to lower back pain flare-ups. Driving countless hours on congested roads also causes stress, which can trigger or exacerbate back pain. The good news is that there are several proven ways to help ward off lower back pain while on the road, or at the very least relieve the symptoms.
Before embarking on your trip, carefully adjust the seats to maximize support for your body’s contours, especially your lower back (lumbar). If you’re driving, sit close to the wheel because prolonged arm extending places undo stress on your back muscles and spine. Remove objects from your back pockets like Smartphones, wallets or keys, as they also place pressure on your posterior spine. Sit up straight with your chin up and out, and shoulders back. If your body feels uncomfortable while seated, listen to what it’s telling you.
Okay, it’s impossible to totally avoid potholes or rough patches of road. But to create a smoother overall ride that will reduce the likelihood for lower back problems, there are steps you can take prior to embarking, such as:
Especially on longer trips, using these measures will go a long way in preventing lower back pain as the miles add up.
Our bodies were designed to walk upright, so forcing yours into a seated position for untold hours is simply asking for lower back muscle tightening, aches and spasms. If you suffer from back pain, plan breaks in advance for every hour or two. Use these outside-the-car “timeouts” to walk and stretch out the stiffness, and make sure to stand up straight while doing so. These timeouts are also a great way to reduce driving-related stress. Beforehand, give your travel companion(s) a heads-up regarding your pain-reducing regimen, how often you’ll need to break, and encourage them to join you so that their backs will be happier and healthier too!
If lower back pain has already “crashed” your road trip party, apply heat or cold to the afflicted area to alleviate discomfort. On most road trips you’ll have a cooler in the car, so try rotating two or more ice packs in there while using one of them on your pain area while seated. Back pain experts also recommend heat to soothe an inflamed lower back when pain persists. To do so, bring along a heating pad with a power converter that can be inserted into an onboard 12-volt port. Then, place the pad between the seat back and your lower back while sitting. Note: Always wear your seatbelt and shoulder harness while using a cold pack or heating pad!
Collision repair shops in your area don’t know much about lower back issues, but they are experts in reducing your emotional pain after an accident. Body shop pros have the training, experience and equipment to restore your vehicle like new again while promptly getting you back on the road. They’ll work directly with your insurance company so you don’t have to, and will make the entire repair process as seamless and stress-free as possible to put your mind at-ease. If you were involved in an accident on your last road trip, or just need some expert advice about collision repairs, search your zip code now for a better body shop in your area at: www.carwise.com.
