What is the best posture to have when driving?
- Sit with the back firmly against the seat for proper back support – if your seat is not offering you the correct support then get a good adjustable back support
- The seat should be a proper distance from the pedals and steering wheel to avoid leaning forward or reaching – if your seat foam is breaking down on the right side (side you get in and out of) then add a coccyx seat – check to see if your head does not touch the roof and the line of site is good out of the windscreen.
- The headrest should support the middle of the head to keep it upright. Tilt the headrest forward if possible to make sure that the head-to-headrest distance is not more than four inches.
Country/Long Distant driving – driver’s tend to be more laid back than their stop/start City drivers, which means they use the head rest more. A high back Orhopod Insert by Therapod with neck rest is the only support in the marketplace today that gives this to the driver (apart from the High back Obuseform Support which is not adjustable, but uses a small lumbar cushion)).
City driving is more stop / start which means the driver does not use the headrest as much. If this is the case then a standard back Orthopod by Therapod (to top of shoulders) is adequate if the driver only wants lower back support. The other supports can be shown – see reasons below for their benefits or non-benefits.
- Foam inserts take on the shape of the seat they are put in. This means the client conforms themselves to the shape the foam support takes on. This is the same for standard foams and visco-elastic foams. Lumbar rolls support the minimum part of the back which means that you can shift the support requirements which means you need to move it up and down.
- Mesh Inserts can be rigid with minimal flexibility. This means that the client conforms themselves to the shape of the mesh insert. The mesh insert does allow for increased air flow which can assist in keeping the client’s back cooler.
- Inflatable Inserts will give the client a degree of flexibility in being able to adjust the support to suit themselves but are restricted to the shape of the bladder and the material the bladder is inserted. This material is usually a type of foam which will conform to the shape of the seat it is put into, thus the client conforms to the shape the inflatable support takes on of the chair it is put into. If the bladder is pierced the support is no longer useable.
- Adjustable inserts – the firm shell allows for the support maintaining its shape and not changing to that of the chair/seat it is put into. The adjustable strapping allows for the straps to be adjusted to the correct position to suit the client’s shape only. It can be re-adjusted at any time to suit the client’s changing requirements. It comes in two sizes – std back for lower/mid back support or the high back (optional neck rest available for added neck support) for lower/mid/upper back and neck support.
The more of the back you can support the better it is for your back. When you have good support for most of the back it helps relaxation of the muscles and ligaments. With relaxation we can assist in reducing pain levels.
Do you get sciatic pain while driving ?
Sciatic pain is caused by irritation to the sciatic nerve. The Sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body.
Car seats are designed to fit the maximum amount of body into a space – hence the reason for the not so good ergonomic seating in a car. This positioning for the body for long periods of time causes high levels of discomfort – usually in the lower back and also irritation of the sciatic nerve.
A seat cushion placed on the seat swab can assist in adjusting the positioning of the body to help relieve discomfort. The Therapod Coccyx seat is one of the best because it re-aligns the pelvis correct position to help relieve sciatic pain. The shell in the coccyx seat means that the cushion is not taking on the shape of the seat but allowing the client to be in the correct position to relieve pain levels.
If the client’s car seat swab is deteriorating on the right side (side they get in and out of driver’s seat) i.e. foam is failing it can mean the client is sitting slightly lopsided. A seat cushion can help rectify this. Be mindful that some foam cushions take on the shape of the seat which means the client is moulding themselves to it rather than it fit their shape. They are also often too thick for use in a car which means that the client’s head is too near the roof of the car which in turn means they cannot see out of the windscreen.
Other Tips:
- The best solution is to stop often and get out of the vehicle and walk around. This encourages movement and helps relieve symptoms from static sitting positions.
- Always remove your wallet from your back pocket before sitting. This can cause the pelvis to twist which in turn stresses the back.
- When getting in to the car sit first and then swing your legs into the car. To get out slide the legs out first and then stand up to decrease low back strain.
- Against the traditional hand position, lower them to 9 and 3 o’clock or lower. This will enable your shoulder muscles to relax. Other than while turning, avoid reaching across your body to hold the steering wheel and keep your wrist straight while holding the steering wheel.
- Give your body a few minutes out of the car before lifting heavy things from the boot or backseat.
