Is your car driving your pain? An osteopaths opinion



Whether driving a car, a bus, or a lorry or even as a passenger – you could be suffering driving related back pain.

In all these cases, osteopathy can help to reduce pain and your osteopath in Manchester can offer advice on back pain management, including simple exercises to prevent problems in the future.



Keep moving is advised by osteopaths -



It’s not just the driver who can stiffen up in a car. Passengers are often seated for long periods of time in a fixed position.

Movement is the key for car, driver and passenger.

As a passenger, try to alter your position from time to time and sit with your knees bent and thighs level and comfortable. Avoid sitting with your legs crossed; move them regularly.

For driver and passengers, stop regularly, ideally once an hour, especially when feeling tired.

Get out of your vehicle and walk around it several times.

Stretch like a cat, gently moving your arms around, bringing your knees up to your hips, and stretching your whole body.



Osteopaths ask any back pain sufferer to consider the following



Choose a car, with an adjustable lumbar support (and use it). Alternatively, keep a small cushion in the car to support your lower back. Choose a car with a higher kerb height to make getting in and out less stressful on the spine. Depressing the clutch increases the pressure on your back so choose an automatic to avoid this. Power steering also significantly reduces the load on the spine.



Driving can give you…



Neck Pain Headaches Eyestrain Shoulder Pain Wrist Pain Elbow Pain Back Pain Bottom Ache Hip Pain Knee Pain Foot and Ankle Pain



Is the car the right fit for you?



Sometimes, the design of the car itself can lead to back problems. If you have to drive particularly long distances, check out the cabin and layout of the controls with the tests set out below, and a comfortable motorway cruiser is gentler on your back

If the car can pass these four simple tests then there is a good chance that it is suitable for the particular driver. By using these tests a prospective buyer can make an informed choice of car and hopefully avoid ‘driver’s back pain’.

 

 

 



Try the following tests that our Manchester Osteopaths often mention

1. The Praying Test

- The driver places both hands together, pointing forwards. If the steering wheel is not offset then the driver should be pointing straight at the centre of the wheel. The danger of having an offset wheel is that most drivers tend to rotate the middle of the spine to compensate for its position, producing long term back strain.

2. The Fist Test

- With the seat in the normal driving position make a fist with the left hand keeping the thumb to the side of the index finger. It should be possible to insert the fist on the crown of the head. If it is only just possible to insert the flat of the hand between the roof and the head then there is insufficient headroom. The danger of having too little headroom is that the driver may compensate for the lack of height by slouching in the seat which puts a strain on the spine and thighs.

3. The Look Down Test

- With both hands placed evenly on the steering wheel look down at the legs. It should be possible to see equal amounts of both legs between the arms. Frequently the left leg will be visible but the right leg will be obscured by the right arm which may indicate that the shoulder girdle is rotated to the left in relation to the pelvis.

4. The Right Leg Test

- This test should be performed after you have stopped having driven the car for a short while.

Once again, look down and examine the position of the right leg. Is it elevated above the level of the left or has it fallen out towards the edge of the seat? Is the right foot roughly in line with the thigh as it should be, or has it had to come across towards the centre of the car?



5. The Kerb Height Test

- Swing the right leg out of the car as though getting out, and place the right foot on the ground. Try and ensure the lower leg (shin and calf) is in a vertical position.

Now look at the surface of the right thigh. It should be sloping down towards the knee. If it is sloping upwards (i.e. if the knee is higher than the hip) you will have difficulty when exiting this vehicle.

If the car can pass these 5 simple tests there is a good chance that it is suitable for that particular driver. By utilising the tests, a prospective purchaser should be able to produce a short list of suitable vehicles, from which they can then make a choice.



When driving



Car seats can be adjusted to suit your posture but make sure that you always:

1. Keep your seat reasonably upright, leaning backwards only at a slight angle.

2. Keep the headrest adjusted so that the centre of the headrest is level with your eyes. Don’t set the headrest too low as this can allow more serious injury in an accident.

3. When getting in, sit first then swing your legs into the car. When you get out, move the seat back before swinging your legs out.

4. Do you ‘ride the clutch’, resting your foot in the air? No wonder your ankles or calf muscles hurt.

5. To relax, raise your shoulders to your ears breathing in, and then lower them as you breathe out. You may want to do this at every red traffic light, or major junction.

6. Avoid reaching behind to get bags from the rear seat. Don’t be lazy. Get out and open the door.

7. Be careful when loading and unloading. Lift correctly.

8. Avoid lifting unnecessary weights. Get help to change a tyre.

9. Sit with arms gently bent at the elbow to the wheel and don’t lean forward out of the seat.

10. Wear a seat belt and make sure it is properly adjusted. Make sure children also have appropriate seat belts and cushions.



Remember



Prevention is better than cure. Sit properly, drive relaxed. Osteopaths can advise on posture. Osteopaths treat neck and back pain – and a great many other things as well. If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a road accident osteopathy can help relieve the pain of injury, especially whiplash-type injuries. Osteopaths are often asked by solicitors to write medico-legal reports on accident

victims, to help them claim compensation.

 



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If you suffer from painful knees when bending, it could be the result of a number of conditions. You could be suffering from arthritis or you could have a torn ligament or torn cartilage.

Who gets Knee Trouble?

Anyone can have knee trouble. You already know this is possible. Though it is commonly associated with advancing age, knee trouble is not something strictly relegated to the elderly. On the other hand, in younger people, painful knees are typically the result of participating in high-impact sports such as running, basketball or soccer (and the list goes on).

No matter what your age, painful knees can prevent you from enjoying activities that you may currently love.

Why Treat Knee Trouble?

Nobody wants to have to suffer through knee pain. One way people start to deal with their knee pain issues is by diminishing their activity levels. – Sometimes, this is not the most optimal way of dealing with your knee pain problems. Staying active can be good for your body both physically and mentally (Speak with your physician for medical advice on this topic).

If you have knee trouble, then you should face this problem, instead of hoping it goes away. The good news is you do have options when it comes to treating painful knees.

What Options Exist For Helping To Treat Your Knee Pain Problems?

Some of the treatment options for painful knees when bending include medication, surgery, knee braces or physical therapy. Each one of these treatment options can help manage the pain, but some are more appropriate than others depending on your condition.

- Medication: Medication can help, but some forms of medication can have addictive properties or are only a temporary answer to your knee pain problems. Many doctors today are hesitant about prescribing pain medication because of their addictive qualities.

- Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is preferred by most doctors but is not always appropriate for all knee problems. If your knee pain is brought on by a tear in the ligament, sometimes an unsupported knee in a physical therapy session would only serve to aggravate the condition.

- Surgery: Sometimes surgery is a person’s only option. Unfortunately, it has to be the most invasive of all the options that we have discussed here. Despite this fact, surgery can be very helpful. It is also costly, may not be successful and has a long recovery period.

- Knee Braces: Knee braces are one of the most affordable and effective ways in which you can protect and support your knees. Knee braces are easy to use and will help support the knees when you are bending so that you do not put unnecessary pressure on the joint. Many athletes use knee braces to prevent serious knee injury, especially when participating in high impact sports.

If you suffer from painful knees when bending, you should not ignore it, nor do you necessarily want to curtail your activities because of the pain. Talk to your doctor about the options that are available to you and use a knee brace as a way to help support your knees when bending.



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Physical pain is a sensory that you experience and it is an unpleasant feeling caused by bodily harm. Pain is your body’s defense that gives a reaction and painful stimulus. Natural behavior stops you from doing the same painful thing again in a harmful situation. Pain in only based on the person experiencing it. There is different toleration of pain for every person. What one person thinks is the worst pain can be a mere bother to another.

There are two levels of pain, acute pain, which doesn’t require medical treatment. This type of pain only requires rest or over the counter medication to relieve aches and tension. Then there is chronic pain, which does not go away and requires medication and medical attention. This is no longer a symptom, when it becomes ongoing it becomes an illness.

Two specific types of pain are joint pain, and muscle pain, these are very common.

Injury affecting any of the ligaments and tendons surrounding the joint is joint pain. This can also harm your cartilage and bones. Pain is a feature of joint inflammation also known as arthritis.

Joint pain is a serious issue. It makes everyday tasks unmanageable. It almost feels like an endless struggle. There are so many important joints that we take for granite. Hip pain, knee pain, even elbow pain may effect the stiffness and swelling. Just walking, climbing the stairs, bending down or even stand for a long period of time becomes stressful and painful. Millions on people deal with this type of pain everyday. A study shows that about 60 million people suffer from joint paint daily, no matter what field of work. It ranges from body builders all the way to school teachers!

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease; it’s type arthritis specifically on the joint. This is when spurs form onto the joint causing major pain. There is a decrease in lubricant between the cartilages and bones. It is excruciating pain when bone on bone rubs, or bone on cartilage. When there is less protection it demotes your flexibility and movement.

Exercising regularly will help restore muscle tone. You can try walking, riding your bike, or swimming. These are good aerobic activities that will help the aches in time. Also a good idea is a physical therapist. They can teach you how to stretch, tone, and do different aerobic exercises that will make you feel better and be pain-free. Studies show that exercise reduces muscle pain by 25%. Starting slowly is the key and gradually work your way up to your goal, don’t try any heavy aerobic activities or lifting of weights if injured or while in pain.

Make sure to try to get the right amount of sleep and rest, and try to reduce your stress levels. Yoga, light exercise, meditation, and keeping a healthy body are excellent ways to help relive everyday tensions. You can also get temporary relief from pain with Pepper Cream by bell. It relives pain immediately or within minutes. It works by preventing nerves from transmitting pain messages to the brain.



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