Could Your Driving Posture Be Triggering Back Pain?

Back pain, particularly lower back pain, is a common ailment that plagues millions of people worldwide. While numerous factors can contribute to this condition, one commonly overlooked aspect is the role of driving posture. This article will delve into how improper driving posture can contribute to back pain and suggest ways to rectify the situation.

The Connection Between Driving Posture and Back Pain

When driving, you might not pay much attention to your posture, but the way you sit behind the wheel can significantly impact your back. Sitting for prolonged periods in any situation can contribute to back pain, but the issue can be exacerbated when driving due to the vibration of the vehicle, steering wheel use, and the necessity of maintaining the same position for extended periods.

Inadequate lumbar support, incorrect seat adjustment, and poorly positioned steering wheels can contribute to poor posture and place excess stress on the lower back. This stress can strain muscles, tendons, and ligaments, leading to inflammation, pain, and possible development of chronic back conditions over time.

Identifying Poor Driving Posture

Poor driving posture can take many forms. Slouching, sitting too far or too close to the wheel, and not utilizing backrests are common habits that may lead to back pain. If you notice persistent discomfort during or after driving, it's worth evaluating your driving posture.

Adjusting Your Driving Position

Achieving the correct driving posture can alleviate back pain and prevent future issues. Here are some tips for optimizing your driving position:

1. Seat Adjustment: Your seat should be positioned to allow for a slight bend in your knees when you depress the pedals. Your back should rest comfortably against the seat with your shoulders touching the backrest.

2. Lumbar Support: Adjust the lumbar support in your seat so that it fits snugly into the curve of your lower back. If your vehicle doesn't have built-in lumbar support, consider using a portable lumbar cushion.

3. Steering Wheel Position: Position the steering wheel to maintain a slight bend in your elbows when your hands are at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. Avoid reaching too far or having your arms fully extended.

4. Mirror Position: Adjust your mirrors to encourage good posture. If you need to slouch or lean to see, your mirrors are not correctly adjusted.

5. Taking Breaks: On long drives, take regular breaks to stretch your muscles and relieve any built-up tension.

Seeking Professional Help

If your back pain persists despite making these adjustments, it may be time to seek professional help. Chiropractors, especially those specializing in upper cervical care, are experts in spinal health. They can provide advice on posture, conduct spinal health assessments, and offer treatment plans to alleviate back pain.

Driving posture is an often-overlooked aspect of back health. By making a conscious effort to maintain good posture when behind the wheel and taking proactive measures to address back pain, drivers can significantly improve their overall spinal health and quality of life. Always remember: a healthy back is essential for a comfortable drive!

How We Treat Back Pain

The top seven vertebrae starting at the skull's base and descending through the neck constitute the upper cervical spine. These specific vertebrae are highly susceptible to damage from even minor traumas or postural misalignments, and a misalignment in the upper cervical spine can have a ripple effect down the back, exerting additional stress on various joints, ligaments, and muscles.

Specializing in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, Dr. Gordon Elder blends modern technology with gentle manual adjustments to treat upper cervical complications.

Employing cutting-edge 3D imaging technologies, Dr. Elder identifies and measures spinal misalignments. Using this information, he administers precise, gentle, and rapid adjustments to correct the positioning. When the upper cervical spine is correctly aligned, inflammation reduces, and strain on other joints and tissues along the back decreases. This optimal alignment allows the body's natural healing processes to initiate and carry out the rest of the recuperation.

To ensure long-lasting results, Dr. Elder supplements his treatments with follow-up examinations to confirm the maintained alignment. Furthermore, he advocates for regular check-ups as a preventive measure against future back issues.

If back pain is causing you discomfort, consider implementing our relief tips. Alternatively, reach out to Dr. Elder to schedule an appointment and explore how upper cervical care may benefit you. Dr. Elder caters to areas including Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.

Could Your Feet Be Causing Back Pain?

Many people suffer from back pain, but rarely do they consider the source of the problem may be somewhere else in the body. Many people experiencing back pain seek relief but don't realize that the root cause of the problem is their feet. 

When you think about it, it makes sense. After all, everything in the body is connected. When one part is out of whack, it can affect the other parts. Feet problems can cause a problem in the ankle, which causes a problem in the knee. This chain can work its way up, leaving the back to get the brunt of it. 

Foot Problems That Cause Lower Back Pain

One very common foot problem that causes back pain is pes planus, otherwise known as "flat feet." This is when pressure causes the arches to flatten, causing the legs to rotate inward. This causes an unnatural pelvic tilt, increasing stress in the lower back. 

People with flat feet often experience back pain and fatigue, especially after physical activity, or after a long workday standing and walking around. 

On the flip side, supination is another condition that isn't any better than flat feet. The opposite of flat feet, people with supination have high arches. 

Your arches are like shock absorbers; their job is to allow your foot to be a bit springy so impacts don't cause any damage. High arches make the foot too rigid to absorb shock effectively. Spending a lot of time walking on hard surfaces, running, or jumping when you have high arches can lead to back pain.

Foot pain in general also causes back pain. Your foot can hurt for any number of reasons—an injury, a blister, an ingrown toe nail, bone spurs, or ill-fitting shoes can cause your foot to hurt. This may cause you to limp, hobble, walk on your toes, or walk on the outside edges of your feet. This poor foot posture can lead to strained muscles and joints going up the leg, into the back. 

Chiropractic Care Can Help Back Pain from Foot Issues

While you should address your foot issues with your healthcare provider, you might consider seeing a chiropractor to help with your back pain. Any foot pain that causes strain on your back can knock vertebrae out of alignment, and this can have a domino effect on the rest of the musculoskeletal system. Misalignments can cause inflammation, pain, and swelling, and may pinch nerves and disrupt the flow of signals through the central nervous system. 

Dr. Gordon Elder of the  Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas is a practitioner of the Blair Chiropractic Technique. This technique targets misalignments using advanced diagnostic tools and gentle manipulations to restore the spine's natural, healthy position. 

Dr. Elder has a three-step plan for patients that begins with a thorough health screening. This screening includes scanning using advanced 3D diagnostic imaging tools so that the doctor can examine and calculate any misalignments. The doctor can then discuss your options with you and help formulate a treatment plan.

The second step involves manipulations using gentle pressure. Unlike the jolts and twists of traditional chiropractic methods, doctors practicing the Blair technique utilize 3D technology to apply more precise corrections with low-pressure adjustments.

The final step is preventative; Dr. Elder recommends regular check-ups to ensure corrections hold and to nip any future problems in the bud. Contact Dr. Elder if foot problems have caused your back pain. The doctor's area of coverage includes Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.