NORWALK, CT - Dr. Erik Slovin of Slovin Chiropractic Center in Norwalk. Connecticut today announced he will donate lumbar support cushions for the Norwalk police cars to Lieutenant Michael Paul, head of the Norwalk Police car fleet on January 27 at 1 pm.
"Being seated is not conducive to good lower body circulation. Sitting places a large amount of stress on the lower back and being seated increases lumbar spinal pressure dramatically. Proper back support makes a huge difference- says Dr. Erik Slovin.
Research has found three major factors for low back pain while driving: vibration from the engine, the seated position itself and the length of time that we drive. A recent study by a large national car insurance company found the following:
• 61 % of the time, the driver and passenger's headrest position was set improperly increasing their chances of whiplash.
• 50% of study volunteers slouched or hunched over the steering wheel.
• 33% of the drivers had back pain while behind the wheel.
• 25% tilted their heads or shifted in their seats each time they had to look into the rear view mirror.
Says. Dr. Slovin. "The lumbar spine, your lower back, naturally resonates at a frequency of 4-5 Hertz. Distortion of these frequencies can result into higher spinal loading, compression, in the lower back, causing an increased chance of low back pain. Although you can not change the vibration of your car's engine, you can reduce the effects of the vibration with reduced driving times and better back support."
Dr. Slovin recommends the following tips when driving to help reduce your back pain while in the car: The Seat
Make sure you sit with your back and bottom all the way against the back of the seat. This will help make you maintain the natural curvature of the spine and minimize the stress on the spinal ligaments.
The Backrest
First relax back into your seat, place the seat at about a 10-15 degrees incline from the vertical position. If this feels unnatural to you then it probably means that the backrest is not upright enough. This can result into neck strain and / or coccyx (sitting bone) pain. Move the backrest more upright or if that doesn't help you can place a small towel against the mid-spine, between the shoulder blades.
The Headrest
Your headrest position is the only thing in your car that will help protect you from whiplash injury. The top of your headrest should be approximately two inches above the top of your head, and the back of your head should lie against the back orthe rest giving better support in case of an accident.
Seat - Pedal Distance
You should not stretch or twist to reach your car's gas and brake pedals and your legs should not be straight when pushing the throttle or clutch all the way down. It is suggested that you have your knees bend about 45 degrees while driving Wpossible.
The Arm Position
Your arms should be as relaxed as possible, elbows bend around 20-30 degrees. If your steering wheel is adjustable have it in the mid to lower position (make sure the wheel does not partially obstruct the instrument panel), this will help to reduce the stress on your shoulders.
Take Breaks
Taking a break helps your back and reduces mental fatigue. It's a good idea to get out of your car for at 0
least five minutes once every two hours. This will not only help reduce muscle stiffness and soreness, it will help keep you focused and awake when you're back behind the wheel.
About Dr. Erik Slovin
Graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science, Psychobiology, followed by a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Fife University College of Chiropractic. He completed his post doctoral training at Harvard University. He is a graduate of the The Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Program, presented by the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. Dr. Slovin is certified by both the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners Physiological Therapeutics and has been honored with the America's Top Chiropractor Award as well as the Gonstead Chiropractic Certification Award and Chiropractic Excellence Award. He is a member of the International Chiropractic Association.
Dr. Erik Slovin publishes the nationally distributed monthly newsletter for attorneys Chiro-Legal News and the monthly newsletter for doctors Insights Into Chiropractic, and is a contributing author of the recently published book Neck Pain, Neck Pain, You Don't Want It, You Don't Need It. Additionally, he has been the author of a monthly health column published in The Flour newspaper since 2002.
