At the Pain Relief Massage Clinic on the Gold Coast, some of our regular clients are truck drivers, bus drivers or even airplane pilots. They are stuck in the driver’s seats for hours and it’s almost impossible to stay pain free or discomfort-free.
People who drive for extended periods of times, such as professional drivers, know how painful it can become if done excessively. They often have problems most commonly with their lower back, shoulders or neck, but other problems that may occur are headaches, foot cramps or swelling of the legs. These symptoms as well as any injury that occurs due to spending too much time driving is called a Repetitive Drive Injury.
You don’t need to be a professional driver to get such a discomfort as it can happen to anyone who doesn’t drive as much, but who is simply going on a road trip and will be spending many hours driving. A good idea would be to have someone with you who can take up part of the driving and save you a lot of pain, but that’s not always possible and professional drivers don’t have that option.
Fortunately, there are several tips that can help you minimize the discomfort or stay pain free while driving and avoid any strains and injuries that might occur during this activity, even when performed for hours.
It is normal to feel pain and discomfort when you are stuck in the same position for a long amount of time, and sometimes, without realizing, we go for much too long before we actually stop to stretch our body. This is why, if you are planning a long drive, you should use your alarm clock and pause every hour for a quick stretch.
If you are worried you might not make it on time to your destination, note that this stretch should take no more than a few minutes, but it’s an important step to stay pain free and avoid putting a strain on your body. Even before you start your driving, you should do some stretching exercises to help prevent any back or shoulder pain. This is very important since driving is associated with bad circulation and it might help you prevent more serious issues that may occur in the future.
Another common problem that is associated with driving injuries is bad posture. The majority of people have trouble maintaining good posture while driving which causes a multitude of problems later in life and may be the main reason why they experience pain while doing this activity. Some keep their shoulders forward, others keep their head too forward or their back slumped, all postures that put a tremendous strain on your lumbar and shoulder area.
But before working on your posture, make sure that your car seat has been set correctly so that you can sit comfortably, with your back straight and enough room to keep your arms on the wheel in a comfortable position, you shouldn’t feel the need to move your body forward as it will increase the stress on your back and neck. Lower back support is a must. A rolled towel placed between your lower back and the back rest works very well.
How to avoid stiffness – while driving, you can also try to change your position a bit or move a little from time to time to make sure that there isn’t too much pressure on the same point. For example, putting too much pressure on your lower back will cause pain which can be quite severe and even debilitating for some.
Another aspect that you need to evaluate is also your driving style; good posture and driving style shouldn’t cause pain, even during prolonged hours, so note the areas where you feel stiff or where you feel pain and consciously adjust your position while driving in order to re-learn to have a better posture.
Professional drivers might also benefit to do some changes in their daily life if they develop certain pains due to their occupation. There are many issues related to excessive driving that can be easily prevented with a few changes. Some great ways to prevent pain, circulation problems, stiffness and repetitive strain injuries as well as to improve overall health is to start having a regular exercise routine, get enough sleep every night on a comfortable bed, stretch more or visit a massage therapist regularly. These activities will not just improve your posture but also your life quality as well as preventing any issues while driving.
If you tend to suffer from any kind of pain, stiffness or ache while driving on the Gold Coast, click and visit www.remedialmassage-goldcoast.com.au and have a treatment at least once a month. Regular clinical massage on the Gold Coast will keep you going.
Pain Relief Massage Clinic Gold Coast
192 Brisbane Road, Arundel Gold Coast QLD 4214 Australia
Phone: (07) 5537 7886