Get Rid of Neck Pain While Driving, Now
By: Dr. Tiffany T. Butler | February 13, 2023 | Read Time: 7 minutes
“One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up.” (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Driving is a complex task that requires mental focus, balance, and coordination. To drive effectively you need normal function of your spine, torso, and extremities. The longer you drive the more likely you will experience fatigue both, mentally and physically. While driving you must constantly move your head to – check your blind spot, change lanes, look in your mirrors, etc. Therefore, this type of repetitive head movement can lead to microtrauma, especially if you are driving for a long period of time.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, United States drivers spend on average 55 minutes a week driving daily. Driving, similar, to sitting at a computer can be perceived as a sedentary duty, although performing the actual task is complex.
Most people experience neck pain while driving because of one or more reasons:
- Repetitive head movement
- Improper position of the head restraint
- Improper position of shoulder strap (of a seatbelt)
- Poorly designed head restraint
5 Ways to Relieve Neck Pain While Driving
#1: Perform Neck Exercises and Stretches
Performing simple neck exercises and stretches before and after you drive, will help to build muscle strength and endurance, as well as increase joint flexibility. Click here for neck exercises and stretches. If you experience neck pain after driving for about 20 minutes, chances are you need to work on strengthening your neck muscles to reduce fatigue. Oftentimes, when our muscles are fatigued, and if we continue to perform an activity (e.g. driving) the muscles may become tight and/or spastic, which can cause a decrease in neck movement and neck pain.
#2: Re-Adjust Your Head Restraint
Most people don’t readjust or change their seat position. The purpose of the seat restraint is to prevent the neck from hyperextending in the event of a sudden stop. For example, in motor vehicle accidents, the common areas injured are neck pain, which is commonly called whiplash syndrome. Whiplash syndrome is excessive flexion and excessive extension of the head and neck, resulting in soft tissue injuries of the neck (e.g. neck muscles strain and/or neck ligament sprain). The best head restraint position is to make sure the top of your head aligns (or at the same level) as the top of the head restraint. This position will help to ensure that the center of the head is in the middle of the seat restraint.
#3: Keep Your Against the Head Restraint
Unless, you are changing lanes, checking your mirrors or blind spots, you want to keep your head rested against the head restraint. This will reduce excessive movement of the head and neck when making sudden stops; in addition to placing unnecessary strain on the neck and upper back muscles.
#4: Keep the Shoulder Strap Off Your Neck
Most cars come with an adjustable seatbelt that will allow you to raise or lower the seatbelt holder. The shoulder strap should rest comfortably across your chest between the breast area, it should not touch your neck. To reduce neck pain and/or skin irritation from the shoulder strap portion of the seatbelt, consider using raising the seatbelt holder to a comfortable position and using a shoulder strap cushion. In addition, proper use of seatbelts, both the strap and the lap belt, are essential to reducing soft tissue injuries commonly seen in motor vehicle collisions such as neck injury, shoulder injury, and chest injury.
#5: See a Chiropractor
If you performed all the actions above and you still experience neck pain, it’s time to see your local chiropractor. Driving can take a toll on the body, especially if you spend your drive long and often. The act of driving can cause not only neck pain, but it can also cause shoulder, lower back, hip, and knee pain too. Chiropractors specialize in soft tissue injuries such as muscle strain and sprains that have resulted from trauma, injury, or from daily activities such as driving and prolonged activities. In addition, if you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision and suffered from body injury, get an evaluation from a chiropractor to discover how chiropractic care can help you recovery from your injuries.
Dr. Tiffany T. Butler (aka “The Pain Doctor”) is a chiropractor, author, and entrepreneur. She leads Harmonious Living Chiropractic: Fitness & Wellness Center, a pain management practice, in offering healthcare solutions that focus on patient-centered care. Her team consists of individuals who are passionate about improving patient outcomes by providing chiropractic care, in conjunction with therapeutic procedures. Their services have helped hundreds of people find pain relief and improved their quality of life. To learn more about Dr. Butler visit https://www.drtiffanybutler.com/dr-butler/ Connect with Dr. Butler on social media #drtiffanybutler @drtiffanybutler
