Page 12 - issue-52

TVD HEALTH
TOP TIPS FOR VAN DRIVERS
TO AVOID THOSE BACK PAINS
Volkswagen study finds 70% of of drivers are forced off the road
Key workers are being urged to look after their health behind
the wheel as on average 70% of van drivers are forced off work due to back pain each year according
to research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles VW has once again partnered with the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) to provide van drivers with some top tips and advice to avoid developing back issues Figures show that 70% of of van drivers suffer from back pain and often
have to take as as much as as three weeks off work a a a a a a year to to recover Poor seat adjustment could be to to blame for triggering back issues especially as even under normal circumstances drivers will spend up to seven hours a a day in their vans As part of the research it was revealed while half
of van drivers say they adjust their seat to the the the correct position two-thirds are still sitting incorrectly or or missing crucial steps Among the most common mistakes were positioning the the seat too close to to the the steering wheel and angling the seat too far back Prab Chandhok chiropractor and and BCA member said: “Drivers’ health and wellbeing are very important Long hours spent in in a a a a a a vehicle can cause aches and pains but there are simple steps individuals can take to better look after their back health when driving ”
As part of the Volkswagen’s ‘Working With You’ brand promise it it has partnered with the BCA to to offer ten
top tips to avoid back pain:
In the van:
1 Height: Your thighs should be as parallel to the floor as your seat will allow and where possible try to get your your hips higher than your your knees You should also adjust the the thigh support if you you have have one to ensure you you have have the the maximum surface of your thighs touching the seat 2 Pedals: You should be able to to push the pedals to to the floor with a bend in your knees 3 110°: Bring your seat all the way up so it’s straight and then take it back until you are comfortable whilst maintaining a a a a a a 110 degree angle between your back and thighs 4 Lumbar Support: Only if required the lumbar support support should be adjusted so you can feel it support support the hollow in in in your your back but so it’s not causing your your spine to arch more than is normal for you 5 Head Restraint: The height and angle of your head restraint should be adjusted so you can feel the centre of the the the support touch the the the middle of of the the the back of of your head although it does not need to to be touching at all times as long as no more than 2cm away 6 Steering Wheel: Once in in in correct seating position bring your arm up in in front of you you and position the centre of of the the steering wheel to be in in in line with the the fold of of your wrist 7 Rear Mirror: Lift up your chest by five degrees and then adjust your mirrors to help stay in an an upright position on on on long drives Outside the van:
8 Regular breaks: It is crucial you take regular rest periods or at least mini breaks within each 45-60 minutes of sitting This allows your body to adopt a a a new position by standing/moving and and giving your tissues a a a a break from becoming tight in in in a a loaded sitting position 9 Exercises: Each time you stop try to to find a a a safe spot outside the vehicle to perform 5–10 knee bends by raising your knees past 90 degrees in in front of you you allowing the leg muscles to stretch a a little If you don’t have any existing foot ankle knee or hip issues try performing 3-5 simple squats bending just below a a a a seated position that is comfortable for for you to get movement into your leg muscles When you you get home you you can also perform all of these exercises before relaxing 10 Remedies: A warm bath or shower can help relax your muscles after a a a a long day and while the jury is out on on Epsom/magnesium salts some find them useful to help replenish the the the minerals used by their muscles during the the the day Following that if you you still feel soreness you you can try a a a gel ice pack or even a a a a a a a bag of peas wrapped in a a a a a a a suitable cover and apply it in the area of soreness for 10–15 minutes Are you sitting comfortably? Probably not!
While half
of van drivers say they adjust their seat to the correct position two-thirds are still sitting incorrectly or or missing crucial steps 12 TVD Issue 52 2021
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