Did you know that around 16 million adults suffer from chronic back pain? If you have ever sat in a car for hours you might agree that the stiffness in your back after a long drive is not fun. We have put together a few ways you can alleviate back pain on your next road trip.
Keep reading to learn our top tips for long car journeys.
1. Lower Back Stretches
Every time you stop for gas, a break, or a snack take the time to do some lower back stretches. You can do a couple of stretches where you reach for your toes and this will alleviate and stretch your back. You can also put your hands on your lower back and then do a gentle lean back onto your hands.
The morning of your drive, take some time to do a few minutes of stretching. This will help you relieve any stiffness you might have before you even go into your car.
2. Get Comfortable
Before you hit the road you want to make the car as comfortable as possible to help keep back pain to a minimum. You might want to bring a small pillow or a small cushion to help support your back. Put the pillow on your back around the ribcage area to make sure you get the support you need.
Also, put your headrest in a position where you can lean back against it and let your muscles relax. Keep in mind that this will not feel comfortable or even natural at first but trust us – it will keep you from straining your back during a long road trip.
3. Cold Packs
Take a cold pack with you or an ice pack because back pain usually comes along with some inflammation. Wrap a cold pack inside a towel and then apply it to your lower back to numb any sore tissues and reduce inflammation.
You can bring a cooler with reusable ice packs or buy some instant ice packs at a pharmacy. These are great to keep around for a long car journey in case your back starts to bother you.
4. Visit a Chiropractor
Another way to alleviate back pain is to visit a chiropractor before and after your trip. A chiropractor can give you relief care as well as wellness care, where they give you a maintenance plan to help prevent pain.
These chiropractic services can really make a difference especially if you take long trips often and already suffer from back or lower back pain.
Ready for Your Next Long Drive?
We hope that now that we went over a few tips on how to alleviate back pain after a long drive, you can get better prepped for your next trip. It is important to make a long road trip more comfortable so that you can enjoy your final destination instead of sitting around in pain.
Did our blog post come in handy today? Please keep browsing health section for more helpful tips.
