Traveling long distances in the car can take a toll on your back.
The American Chiropractic Association suggests how to keep back pain at bay during a car trip:
- Adjust your seat so you're sitting comfortably close to the wheel, with your knees just higher than your hips.
- Use a back support.
- Take regular breaks to rest.
- Stretch your toes, leg muscles and shoulders as you drive.
- Keep hands on the steering wheel at the 3:00 and 7:00 positions, alternating occasionally with the 10:00 and 2:00 positions.
- Keep a relaxed grip on the wheel, occasionally tightening, then loosening, your hold.
Health Tip: Signs That You May Have a Herniated Disc
A spinal disk becomes herniated when the inside contents bulge out from a weakened portion of the disk and put pressure on surrounding nerves.
The resulting pain may affect the leg, foot or hip if the slipped disk is in the lower back. A herniated disk in the neck can cause pain in the upper back and shoulders.
The ADAM Encyclopedia says painful symptoms of a herniated disk tend to worsen:
- After you have been sitting down or standing for a long period.
- During the night.
- When you laugh, cough or sneeze.
- When you walk, even a short distance.
- When you bend over backward.
No comments:
Post a Comment