How to adjust your car seat to prevent back pain.

A new study from eBayMotors.co.uk has found that 48% of all British drivers suffer from what is being coined as a Repetitive Driving Injury. Ergonomic experts believe that drivers can develop long term joint, muscle and spinal injuries simply because they do not know how to adjust their seat. Why not take 2 minutes to read our latest blog on How to adjust your car seat.

 

81% suffer from foot cramps,

74% suffer from lumbar pain,

74% have a stiff neck, and 73% a headache.

6.5% hurt after only 15 minutes of driving

while 9% only need to drive 22 miles before symptoms start.

 

Five easy steps – How to adjust your car seat.

1) If your car seat does not have an integrated lumbar support you should purchase one. Adjust the lumbar support so that the curve of your spine is evenly supported. Don’t overdo it; it should be a nice, gentle, even support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) You may not realise that you can actually adjust the height of the driver’s seat. This can dramatically improve your driving ergonomics and comfort.

Raise the seat so that you have a good view out the windshield, but not so high that your legs will interfere with the steering wheel. You may need to re-adjust your leg room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) It is easy to become too laid back or uptight in the driver’s seat. Recline the back between 100-110 degrees. This angle supports your upper body while maintaining and upright and attentive posture. If you don’t have a huge protractor handy then recline the seat so that your shoulders are no longer in line with your hips but are solidly behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Tilt the seat so that it supports your bottom and your thighs evenly. You don’t want pressure points at the end of the seat. Make sure your thighs extend passed the seat so that the back of your knees do not make contact if at all possible. Your legs and pelvis should have ample ability to move and shift position. This will relieve pressure points and keep blood circulating during long drives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) Adjusting the Driver’s seat in your car for proper leg room is rather easy. Your legs should not be scrunched up, nor should you have to reach with them to use the pedals. Slide the seat so that you can operate the pedals with just your foot and your thigh is relaxed and supported. You should also be able to pick up your foot when operating the pedals without any discomfort. Your knees should be slightly bent. Locking your knees can cause reduced circulation and may lead to you becoming woozy or even passing out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to adjust your car seat to prevent back pain.