Your daily commute is killing your back

The car is still the main method of commuting for US citizens. And while you’ve got to get to work to earn the money, you could be doing your spine a disservice in the process. It starts with tension, the anxiety of sitting in traffic on your way to work which translates into tight muscles that pull your spine out of alignment and spasm. It then moves to posture, which is poor because there is not a car seat in the world that supports your spine properly. The factors which contribute to your back pain are myriad which means that you need to proactive about preventing your spine from suffering on your daily commute. 

Mitigating pain on the daily commute

The golden rule is to stay conscious and aware of the way your back feels during your commute. Don’t ignore the stiffness and pain that accumulates as you sit for thirty minutes (more, god forbid), each way. Here are some ways to reduce pain and increase wellbeing on your daily commute:

• Adjust your seat so that you are not at a perfect, L-shaped 90 degrees. Don’t go to far back, but find the happy medium where you can rest with your head all the way back in the headrest, and you can still see the road. 
• Practice relieving tension in stop-and-go traffic, or at red lights: roll your shoulders, stretch your neck, etc.
• Stretch before you get into the car in the morning. Even 5 minutes will do wonders as your spine prepares for the day. 
• Invest in a lumbar support for your seat or just use a rolled up jacket.
• Avoid using armrests, especially if they are not at the right height. 

But if your commute is still causing you back pain, despite all of these adjustments, consider seeing a chiropractor. We help identify and correct the underlying factors which are causing your back pain, so that you can have a pain-free commute. Commuting is already stressful enough without adding back pain into the mix; if you are interested in finding out more, give our office in Westwood a call to schedule an appointment today.