Stretching after getting out of a car after a long road trip is undoubtedly one of the most natural feelings that we do. But why is that?

In many commercials promoting a new car, most would boast about many of the new and innovative features as well as their comfort. However, you don’t hear them mention anything about ergonomics. Most car are fitted with a bucket seat which aims to recreate the comfiness of sitting in a recliner. Unfortunately, what most wouldn’t know is that being seated in that specific position could one of the causes contributing to low back pain.

When seated in a bucket seat, the curve in our lumbar spine is straightened and causes a shift in our biomechanical patterns. This shift can then cause our ligaments in our spine to stretch which as a result causes our muscles to contract and spasm in an attempt to stabilize the lumbar region which in the end could cause local discomfort or pain.

There are many ways to prevent this from happening. One way is to invest in a lumbar support for your car. These supports vary in range with the same goal in mind of maintaining the lumbar curve. If you can’t find a lumbar support, a cheaper option is to have a rolled-up towel behind the low back which will also assist in preventing the straightening of the lumbar curve.

Come ask the team at Bellara Chiropractic regarding the different ways in which you can improve your car seat to ensure you are maintaining a strong and healthy spine.