Dr. Clark's Guide To The Ideal Driving Posture in Austin TX

Did you know that the average commute is approximately 30 minutes one way? That’s one hour a day or almost 10 days per year! Sitting behind the wheel for prolonged periods may cause muscle fatigue and strain over time. That’s why we’ve created a guide to the ideal driving posture at our clinic in Austin TX.

Driving Posture in Austin TX

This is Dr. Clark’s guide for the ideal driving posture.
These seven easy adjustments to create the ideal driving posture can help lessen those effects.

Feet
Rest your left foot on the foot rest whenever possible to support your pelvis and back.

Knees
Position your seat so you have a 120-130 degree bend in your knees when in a neutral position. Improve blood circulation by keeping a two-finger-gap between the bottom of your seat and your knees.

Hips
Bring your seat height up so your hips are level with your knees and your seat bottom is horizontal. Using a cushion or wedge can also help decrease turbulent road vibrations.

Lower Back
Raise the back of your seat to a 100-120 degree angle to avoid disc compression. Adjust your lumbar support (if available) to rest comfortably in the arch of your back. Buy a support if necessary.

Neck
Adjust the headrest so it’s even with the back of your head. Sit with your shoulders and head back to lengthen your spine. Your head should be somewhat tucked, like you’re slightly holding a ball under your chin.

Arms
With your shoulder blades against the seat, you should have an easy 120 degree bend to your elbows. For airbag safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises sitting with your breastbone at least 10 inches from the steering wheel. Hold the wheel at 10 o’clock and 3 o’clock to give your shoulder and neck muscles a break.

Adjust Mirrors
Once in the appropriate position, be sure to adjust the mirrors if your visibility has changed.

Driving a vehicle can be more detrimental than sitting or standing job functions when it comes to repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). In the UK, the frequency of injuries has been significant enough that they have even coined the term “Repetitive Driving Injury” (RDI) to describe injuries associated with driving.This is because of the prolonged sitting, constrained postures and low-frequency whole-body vibration from sitting in the vehicle. Much like office ergonomics, it’s important to take proactive measures to ensure the comfort of your driving and the prevention of RSIs.

Remember, bad posture can result in chronic pain, making you vulnerable to more injuries. Fortunately, with these tips for the ideal driving posture, you can alleviate these posture-related discomforts and risk for injury.
At Discover Chiropractic we want to help you steer clear of injury! Call us at 512-288-7000 if you have any questions!