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Tips to Alleviate Back Pain on Your Road Trips

If you have lower back pain, riding in a car for more than an hour can be a real challenge.  Here are some tips to help with this problem.  

1. Get comfortable immediately.   
Take the time to make sure you're comfortable from the moment you set off on your trip. The smallest irritant in the beginning of your trip can turn into raging pain later.  Don't have your wallet, cell phone, or anything else in your back pocket, as that may throw your spine out of alignment.  Reduce reaching for the steering wheel, which places more stress on the lumbar spine, neck, shoulder, and wrists. Instead, sit as close to the steering wheel as possible without compromising your safety.

Sit up straight with your knees slightly higher than your hips, and keep your chin pulled in so that your head sits straight on top of your spine.  Make sure that your back is aligned against the back of your seat. For most people, this means adding extra support to the car seat. There are many specialized cushions and pillows that can help with sciatica pain or lower back pain.  You can also use a small pillow or roll up a scarf and place it between your lower back and the seat to support the contour of the inward curve in your lower back.

There is no single best option, and it may take some effort and trial and error on your part to find what works best for you.

2.  Make your ride as smooth as possible
For many, the worst part of the ride is the bumps in the road that jar your spine. If this is the case for you, consider these options:  Riding in passenger car, rather than an SUV or pickup, may provide a much smoother ride.  Consider sitting on a pillow made for a chair seat, such as a coccyx pillow, or a car seat cushion, to provide a bit of extra cushioning between you and the road

3. Get out and move around  
Your spine is designed to move. Sitting in one position in a car will stiffen up your back muscles and can lead to achiness and possibly muscle spasm. If possible, plan ahead for to schedule stops—ideally every 30 minutes—and get out of the car so you can move around and stretch. Movement stimulates blood circulation, which brings nutrients and oxygen to your lower back.  In between exercise stops, try to move a little in your seat. Even 10 seconds of movement and stretching is better than sitting still. At a minimum adjust your seat and change your position slightly every 15 to 20 minutes. Pump your ankles to keep the blood flowing and provide a slight stretch in your hamstring muscles. Any movement that is safe to do in the car will help you out.

4. Bring along a cold pack
If you have back pain, it may be a good idea to bring an ice pack or cold pack along in the car with you.  Most back pain is accompanied by inflammation. Applying a cold pack can reduce the inflammation and numb sore tissues. Please remember to always use a towel or another protective barrier to avoid ice burn.

Here are some options:  Bring a cooler in the car with you and keep reusable ice packs in it, or make your own ice pack and bring it along.  Buy some instant ice packs at a drugstore. Keep them in the glove compartment in case you ever need them.

5. Support your back with your feet
Supporting your spine starts with bottom-up leverage from your feet. Your feet need to be placed on a firm surface and at the right height to avoid transferring stress to your lower back. It is ideal to have your knees at a right angle. This means, if your seat is too high it is best to put your feet on a footrest. If you are the driver and have the ability to use cruise control for a longer drive, you may want to do this to allow you to have both feet on the floor for periods of time.


Adapted from Spine-health.com


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