Driving a stick shift can be much more exciting! However, you will need to be careful as it can indeed cause back pain.
Most cars are already not equipped with adequate lumbar support, which can be uncomfortable on long trips. Driving stick shift requires you to keep pressing the clutch, which adds even more strain to your lumbar and lower back. Long term, this could develop into chronic pain if left unchecked.
Here are some ways to alleviate back pain while driving:
Relax when you’re driving: Make sure your neck and shoulders aren’t tensed up and your elbows are slightly bent when holding the steering wheel. If you are holding the wheel tightly, try to loosen your grip a bit.
Adjust your seat: Make sure you don’t have to reach for the wheel, which can strain your lumbar, neck, shoulders, and wrists. Your back should also be right against the back of the seat, adjusted to 100 degrees.
Add some padding: If your seat isn’t padded properly, you could strain your tailbone. Add enough padding so your tailbone doesn’t feel like it’s digging into the seat with no support.
Take regular breaks: The longer you sit, the more pressure there is on your back. Split up your driving trip so that you can stand and stretch.
Aside from keeping your back in order, you should also ensure your car insurance
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