During Lunar New Year Holidays, Long Hours of Driving Harm Spine Health! Protect Your 'Back Safety' as Much as 'Safe Driving'

Daedong Hospital Spine Center, Stretching and Rest Every Hour Are Essential

Daedong Hospital Spine Center advises to take care of your back safety as much as safe driving during the Lunar New Year holiday.
[Image source=Clipart Korea]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Lunar New Year is approaching quickly. Although family gatherings will be significantly reduced this year due to COVID-19, those visiting their hometowns and paying respects at ancestral graves will still have to spend long hours behind the wheel.

Driving on congested highways and traveling long distances can stiffen the muscles around the neck and lower back, causing soreness and pain even in healthy individuals.

If you have spinal conditions such as a herniated disc, symptoms may worsen, so extra caution is needed during long-distance driving.

The spine, the body's main support, connects the neck, lower back, hips, and tailbone, forming the main skeleton and is surrounded by numerous ligaments and muscles.

When fatigue accumulates in the spine or ligaments and muscles weaken, spinal balance collapses, leading to pain.

Driving for extended periods in the same posture can impair blood circulation, causing tension-type muscle pain in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Additionally, when sitting, body weight is not properly distributed to the legs, resulting in more than twice the pressure compared to standing, which can cause spinal deformation.

According to Daedong Hospital Spine Center, for spinal health, it is best to sit by first placing your hips firmly on the car seat and then turning your knees toward the steering wheel.

Your thighs should be well supported by the seat, your shoulders should rest against the backrest, and the backrest angle should be between 100 and 110 degrees.

Gripping the steering wheel too close puts strain on the lower back and can transmit impact directly to the body in a collision. Holding the wheel too far away causes excessive shoulder tension. Therefore, while comfortably leaning against the backrest, extend your arms so that your wrists just touch the steering wheel.

If you have items such as wallets or keys in your back pockets, remove them. These objects can misalign the pelvis and cause lower back pain. If you usually experience back pain, use a lumbar support or roll up a towel to support your lower back, helping maintain its natural curve and preventing slouching.

When getting out of the vehicle, turn your knees first, then rise from the seat before exiting.

Jung Dong-moon, head of the Spine Center at Daedong Hospital and a neurosurgery specialist, advised, “Driving in the same posture for long periods causes muscle fatigue and stress, so it is recommended to take breaks and stretch at least every hour.”

Dr. Jung also advised, “If lower back pain persists, it may not be just driving-related fatigue, so it is best to receive appropriate treatment from a neurosurgery specialist.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.