[any23]

https://youtu.be/h3PZZyoXnKU

Above video discusses about repercussions of prolonged seating, add to it bad posture, few stretches have been advised to undo the side affects. At the end of video it says "Researches shows even half an hour of workout is not enough to undo the negative effects of prolonged seating and bad posture".

Back pain issues are common now a days and there are whole lot of reasons for the same, while researching I came to a literature where it says its very important how you get in and get out of your bed, it recommends to sit on the edge of the bed, lay down by your side maintaining natural spine curve and then roll to your back, to get out just follow the reverse order. One should never try to sit up straight and sit, this will put a lot pressure on lower discs. I never had back issues but I tried this trick and immediately I got a feeling that how much stress I was putting on my back just to get in and out of my bed. And it also shows that how important it is to do every activity consciously.

Coming to the topic of cars and pain -
1)In my VW polo I never had any niggles, but the moment I upgraded to Rapid I started getting right hand side shoulder, arm and neck pain. I found out that since in polo the rear leg room is very limited I used to sit much upright than in Rapid just to save legroom for rear passenger, whereas in Rapid I used to sit in much reclined position. My wife pointed out that I am too reclined while driving .

2)When I owned Polo I was much fitter than I am today, lately I realized that even my degraded physical health is because of prolonged sitting at office. I changed my seating habits at office, and focused more on quality me time which includes sports and daily gym. Being stress free is very important for overall health too.

Just for additional info - in my office all the chairs when you sit on them tilt to left side, this shows that how poorly people are sitting just to use the mouse placed on top of the table, and what must be happening with their spine. I tried the seating position shown in the video in office and have noticed that I no longer feel sore right arm at least from office.

At present since lockdown is gone I have started doing my gym sessions and I am feeling whole lot of improvement in my health and driving comfort, the primary reason I want to stay fit is my LOVE and PASSION for DRIVING. And I will appeal people to find some silly reason to stay fit in life.

[QuadraticAmoeba]

Thank you for this informative post. Let me share a similar experience with you.

Last year sometime, I injured my tailbone. This was a painful experience. Every time I sat down or stood up, it would hit me with a little wave of pain. Sitting for long would hurt a lot. I used to take Uber to my office and back - that 30-40 min ride, mostly on old Indicas used to be hell. The doctor told me that there is no treatment for this, just let it heal. This is the slowest place in the human body to heal and nothing can be done.

Well, it helped that I started to control my diet, do some exercise and lose weight. Also be more active, pay attention to sitting posture, stand up and walk around every so often and so on. All common and well known advice. Somehow, it worked. I am sure that the lockdown also helped since I was no longer putting pressure on my spine every day in small cars with poor under thigh support.

Moral of the story: take care of your body and health or suffer the consequences.

[B103]

I remember my tailbone pain started after a long drive of 600+ kms in a low slung Honda City. I sit and work most of the time and so that also would have not helped in the long run.

I am using a Cocyx seat (purchased from Amazon) while driving. Use this seat when sitting in the office also. It still hurts after a long drive. There was a time when I used to dread going to office meetings because I have to take the seat with me, without which my tailbone starts paining after 5 mins and I have to stand up.

Getting out of the driving seat is where it hurts the most. The front muscles of the hip probably contracts after 1+ hr of sitting in the driving position. When I try to come out of driving seat, the front hip contracts and tailbone hurts,

There are exercises available in Youtube to manage tailbone pain. Along with that, eat Vitamin D3 + Calcium after consulting a doctor especially you have Kidney stones. The bone damage may get repaired by the body if Vitamin D3 and Calcium is available. I used to have low levels of Vitamin D3 (and didn't know) and the effects were quite nasty. Without D3 (which comes naturally from Sun light), body will not absorb calcium either. Shelcal - 250 and Shelcal - 500 are the Calcium tablets with Vitamin D3 and is available as a Calcium supplement in all medical shops.

To alleviate tailbone pain, one has to sit upright rather than reclined backwards. So, the back support of the car seat should be towards the front (as seen in green arrow in the picture) rather than reclining towards the back seat. This will help tail bone to have lesser contact with the seat. Only problem I noticed s that the front hip muscle will contract even more in this posture.

I have heard from couple of people that when they upgraded from a low slung sedan to an upright vehicle like a SUV or Innova, they had considerable relief from the tail bone pain. In a low slung sedan, people generally push the driving seat backwards (as seen in the picture on the right) and there is a higher chance that tailbone may get in contact with the seat base than when sitting upright. This is my inference but I may be wrong. Please comment/share if you have other observations.

[JoshMachine]

I have been driving low CG sedans (Vento DSG/AT being the current car) for quite a few years but haven't encountered any back pain directly because of it. I am a conscious active lifestyle follower.
However, I must add in the same breath that, of late, I am finding the ingress and the egress a bit cumbersome in the Vento. I am 6' by the way.
This constant strain of getting in & out is there to stay, and I hope it doesn't get in the way of me continuing to drive the lovely sedans.

[sanjaybnv]

Folks,
I need your help in resolving seat issues I'm having in my Creta 2021 SX(O) AT.
I bought the car in April 2021 and had some trouble with the seats. Initially, I thought it to be issue adjusting to a new car (I used to drive Ford Fiesta where I never had back issues). But the problem started to become severe and severe everyday until a point that I really dread getting into the car. I've tried various back rest options, height adjustments, putting a coccyx cushion, and what not but nothing has helped.
When I checked with some local after-market shops, they say that it's because the way seat is designed. The seat has an angled design where the knee is up and the back is low. They say because of your height and body type (5 feet 6, 65 kg), if you straighten the seat, the problem will be solved. BTW, my Fiesta's seat were almost straight.
One person is saying that they will put some cushion underneath the seat fitting and straighten it. Has someone tried that? Can that help? Is there anything else that I can do? Please help!
I've spent about 20 lacs in the car and I'm unable to drive it because of this issue.

[jetsetgo08]

Originally Posted by sanjaybnv

Folks,
I need your help in resolving seat issues I'm having in my Creta 2021 SX(O) AT.

Before the seats are modified, please try to plug the depth/inclination of the seat by using a folded cloth or towel(yellow marked area of attachment), this should make it flat as a bench. If it works you can try modifying the seat later.

Off-topic: Telescopic adjustable steering wheel is a big boon. If we correctly adjust ourselves in the driving positions as suggested by YT videos, we would find ourselves far away from the steering wheel in almost all the cars.

[mohan41]

Has anyone tried this type of cushion which is slightly higher on the back side and also having a cutout so that tailbone will not come in contact with seat.

https://www.amazon.in/AccuSure-Tailb...9FLZXKK4&psc=1

[RoadMonkey]

I was the one who asked the original question in this thread and my answer in the Poll is "Yes". However, a lot of time has passed since then and I've learnt a lot more about the human body, muscles, but especially the knees and legs in particular.

I play badminton at the club competitive level and the frequent forward lunge/jump, especially in singles has given me a dull ache in the right knee, similar to the one I complained about in my left knee w/ the repetitive pressing of the clutch pedal. Perhaps I'm just cursed with weak joints? Not quite! I got a MRI done, there's mild tearing of the meniscus (cushion cartilage of the knees) and thinning of ACL, but nothing serious. What gives? What's the diagnosis? Why the repetitive knee issues?

The answer, my friends, is prolonged sitting. Yes, I know that's been mentioned many times in this thread before but I'm going to in more detail than just that and why I found more upright position helpful as opposed to a more low slung car.

When we sit for long hours, as I have for years, with minimal exercise especially stretching and leg workouts, our quadriceps (the front thigh muscles) and hamstrings (the back thigh muscles) basically become weak and tight. This means when we press the clutch pedal, rather than the muscles doing their job, an unusually high amount of load is falling on the knees. The same principles apply to the jumping lunge of badminton causing problems in my right knee.

I have consulted a ligament specialist regarding my issues and he has basically prescribed me 2 things, which I'd like to share with the forum members.
1) Strengthening and stretching of the leg muscles.
a) Quads - Straight leg raises, sitting or lying, then stretch. Wall sits are also very good.
b) Hamstring - Hamstring curls and stretch.
c) Calves - Standing heel raises and/or skipping, of course, stretch
d) Glutes - Bridge and other exercises

You should search for the correct form and posture for performing these exercises

2) Collagen & protein rich diet
a) I've been prescribed collagen supplements for aiding in the cartilage rebuild. Protein in general helps the joints and muscles grow. One can look up the appropriate sources as per their dietary preferences.
b) Omega 3 fatty acids. There aren't any rich food sources for this except fish or fish oil capsules. Seeds etc are a good vegan alternative but I don't think that is as extensive as fish oil.

Now, in addition to what I've been prescribed, I'd also like to add a couple of points of my own.

1) Core strength
Bridge, yoga, plank, whatever is your favourite exercise. We lose our core strength due to poor posture and prolonged sitting.

2) Light exercise
Walking, anything that gets your knees moving, cycling, swimming, increases the synovial fluid or the "lubrication" of your joints. Try to avoid doing things that could put pressure on your knees if you struggle with a dull ache/pain. I personally also enjoy a bit of warm sesame oil massage on my knees for instant relief.

Now, as to why an upright car felt easier to drive than a low slung one. It's the difference in how the respective muscle groups are engaged and how that puts an uneven pressure on the knee joint. The solution, however, isn't changing the car but strengthening your legs appropriately. Driving a low slung, manual, turbo petrol car is one of the few joys of driving we must not miss out on!

[hajaar]

I am pretty unfit person - on my journey to getting better though. I suffer from severe lower back pain - one because I ruptured a disc about 5 years back and the other because I had a huge paunch.

When I drove down to Coimbatore, a couple of months back, there were a couple of things that really helped me. One was to take regular coffee/loobreaks - roughly 1.5 hours in between. The other was to stretch my hamstring, glutes, shoulders and most importantly, the lower back using lunges.

Plus, it helped that I had been working on my core in general. I find that seat and cushions cushions are not worth the hassle (I have used a ton of them) and they only ease the symptons a little and do not address the root cause. Of course, this is applicable only if you have decent seats (most cars do).

The driving position makes up the other part of the equation. You could be super fit and if the position sucks, it is not going to help and vice versa.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by hajaar

The driving position makes up the other part of the equation. You could be super fit and if the position sucks, it is not going to help and vice versa.

Absolutely!

I love being seated at the lowest with a slightly more than average recline angle while driving spiritedly.

But doing the daily mileage I do, I have realized raising the seat height by a couple of inches and reducing the recline angle a bit works best to avoid any back or neck ache.

[Artyom]

Last week on my trip to Rajasthan I was driving my cousins Honda City Diesel MT and 40 minutes into driving and my neck & back started to hurt.

I always thought that sedans and lower GC cars are more comfortable but i was proven wrong thrice.

After reading this thread I tried to deduce why it happened with me.

I have come to a conclusion that its the lower seating position clubbed with a relatively hard clutch which lead to the discomfort in my neck ,back and left knee.

My own drive is a Creta 2019 MT and I have driven it 16 -19 hours straight without any discomfort.

I always keep the seating position at the highest where the hip and the knee are in a straight line.

I think thats the key which can save you from all this pain provided you are not suffering from any health issues.

[dipdawiz]

Not even a low-slung car, in my Seltos, I felt the need for better lumbar support. No discomfort for 2~2.5 hours drives, but in a couple of cases I had to push for 4~5 hours of driving with just two-three 5-6 minute breaks in between. In those cases, I felt lumbar support and lower back support were not good enough, and I was feeling lower back pain after the drive.

Used this lower back support from Grin Health (make sure it's the memory foam one, they have one with hard foam that takes away thigh support) and felt it helps a lot. It's small enough not to take away thigh support, nor is it uncomfortable for the upper back. It's so good it always stays in the driver's seat, and I can feel it is better to have it always, it increases the comfort many folds for any duration of the drive.

[RoadMonkey]

Originally Posted by Artyom

I have come to a conclusion that its the lower seating position clubbed with a relatively hard clutch which lead to the discomfort in my neck ,back and left knee.

My own drive is a Creta 2019 MT and I have driven it 16 -19 hours straight without any discomfort.

I always keep the seating position at the highest where the hip and the knee are in a straight line.

Yes the sitting position definitely helps, but that's because it affects how the difference muscles are engaged as you press the clutch pedal. If you work on the legs, appropriate stretching and strengthening, pressing the clutch should ideally not cause any problems regardless of the position - as long as the knee is at the same level as hips when the clutch is pressed, you will not experience any issues.

Originally Posted by dipdawiz

Not even low slung car, in my Seltos, I felt the need for better lumbar support.

I do not want to sound presumptuous about your health but I experienced similar problems and tried out many cushions for lumbar support - but with stronger leg muscles and the right position, you should not be feeling any load in your back in the first place. Pressing clutch transfers to the back when the muscles do not have enough strength to press consistently and thus, we rely on the bone structure/joints to press instead of the muscle strength.

Due to my problems, I even researched a lot on ways to press the clutch while minimising the stress on the body. We have a Torque converter automatic now but I still love driving a manual car and thus have tried my best to find ways to continue driving one.

The ideal technique for your leg and back is to press the pedal with your foot and calf muscle. Rather than pushing your entire leg, do it with the strength or mechanism you'd use for the calf raise. For this, you'd need to practice doing it for a bit and generally work on your calf muscles.

Core strength + working on the lower muscles from the glutes to the calves shall alleviate most of the problems mentioned in this thread, as long as the appropriate position of the knee wrt hips is maintained while pressing the clutch.

This isn't just my view, I've consulted half a dozen orthopaedic surgeons, and ligament specialists over the last couple of years and this is the knowledge I've accumulated from them.

[Dead_Pedal]

For me, the Civic seems more taxing on my back than the Jazz. I can just walk into the Jazz and settle down. The Jazz/City also have the advantage of more comfortable and wider front seats. The Civic on the other hand has front seats that are narrow with sub-par lower back support and without electric lumbar support.

However, what seems to be triggering the lower back discomfort is the process of getting in and out of the Civic. I really have to slouch to get into the car and then it's a drop onto the seats which isn't very ideal for someone with a back trouble. The slouching, bending down, holding onto the steering wheel for support is all adding up to the pain. I'm about 174cm tall and I can see the sunroof of the car while standing right next to it which explains how low slung the car is.

I'm also keeping the seat at the highest possible setting of late and planning to add a cushion to further increase the seating height.

[Alterlife]

Hi folks!

I've had my Honda City for near two years now. I dread getting into it every time because it causes me a significant amount of back pain.

For context, I'm a tech guy in my 40's and have spent most of my time at a desk. Part of the blame is on me for my bad core strength, but I can't help but believe that part of the problem is the extremely bad 'fit' of the seat.

I'm 5' 7", quite frail and to me, it feels like the car is just built for a person of a different shape. When I sit in the drivers seat, I feel like the seat is poking me in the back, the headrest is pushing my neck forward at an un-natural angle. Thighs do not make contact with the seat if I'm sitting normally with my knees facing forward so I end up bending them slightly.

I've tried adjusting the car seat to various positions following youtube, I've raised and lowered the seat tried various levels of recline... Nothing helps. More than 30 minutes in the car and I start feeling pain that will need a day's recovery.

It is also very specific to this car. Ertiga, Venue, Celerio are all cars that I've driven for fairly long distance with no issues.

I really like the car otherwise . Does anyone have recomendations for getting the seat of their vehicle replaced in Bangalore?