{"id":37331,"date":"2019-03-10T06:00:50","date_gmt":"2019-03-09T21:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37331"},"modified":"2019-04-10T18:11:43","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T09:11:43","slug":"low-back-pain-information-share","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/low-back-pain-information-share\/","title":{"rendered":"Back Pain Solutions for Driving Enthusiasts \u2013 Tips for Office Chairs, Seat Positioning, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Comments on Back Pain Solutions<\/h3>\n

The other day, I wrote an article titled “My husband loves driving but suffers from back pain\u2014if anyone has recommended solutions, please share<\/a>,” and received many comments. Thank you all so much. Among them, some doctors specializing in back pain treatment even took the time to email me… while writing this Porsche blog, I realized that “a nationwide network of top specialists had naturally formed”<\/strong> (laughs).<\/p>\n

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Four Key Back Pain Solutions<\/h3>\n

Reading through your comments, I found that back pain solutions for driving enthusiasts generally fall into four categories<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

1. Adjusting Your Office Chair<\/h4>\n

\u201cSitting in an uncomfortable posture for long periods\u201d puts a heavy strain on your back. So, making adjustments to the office chair you use<\/strong> is a very important countermeasure. Often, office chairs are provided by the company and budgets are limited, so many chairs don\u2019t prioritize reducing back strain.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I learned that making adjustments and improvements within your own control is crucial<\/strong>, especially for those who spend long hours sitting at work.<\/p>\n

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Speaking of which, when I was a saleswoman, I also felt that the company chair was uncomfortable<\/strong>. Luckily, my desk was by the window with no one behind me, so I often sat cross-legged on the chair while wearing pantsuits year-round.<\/p>\n

At first, I would sit properly whenever someone passed behind me, but eventually I got so used to sitting cross-legged that I didn\u2019t care who walked by\u2014until one day my boss happened to see me and said,<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, you\u2019re a woman after all, that\u2019s not okay! (\uff9f\u0434\uff9f)!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I remember that well. (Totally irrelevant story, I know.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Back to the topic, here\u2019s a comment from a reader:<\/p>\n

I developed back pain because the chair I was assigned at work didn\u2019t fit me. It was uncomfortable and I couldn\u2019t stay in the same position for long<\/strong>. So, I reluctantly bought a memory foam cushion on Amazon<\/strong>. The cushion was quite thick, and sitting on it stabilized my hips and supported my tailbone area.
\nSince the cause of my back pain was clear, after using it for a while, my back pain improved<\/strong>. The chair hasn\u2019t changed, so I continue to use this memory foam cushion at work.<\/p>\n

If the chair doesn\u2019t fit, sometimes I place a thin cushion or folded towel under my thighs or put a footrest to raise my legs. At the same time, I consciously try to increase the natural forward curve of my lumbar spine and place a cushion behind my back, which helped ease symptoms. Although it might feel tough at first, this posture reduces strain on the back<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2. Adjusting Your Driving Seat and Using Seat Cushions<\/h4>\n

When driving an automatic transmission (AT) car for long periods, you tend to stay in the same posture more than with a manual transmission (MT) car<\/strong>, which can put more strain on your back. My husband actually said,<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I went on long tours in the Boxster, my back never hurt, but since I started long tours in the air-cooled car, my back started hurting.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Is it really the AT, or just the air-cooled seat issue…?)<\/span><\/p>\n

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To ease back pain while driving, some people use cushions on their seats or prioritize seat comfort when choosing a car<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

During the time my back hurt, I used a memory foam cushion in my Porsche.<\/strong> It did look a bit awkward\u2014black cushion on beige seats made it stand out. When I got back to the car at service areas and opened the door, I felt embarrassed and a bit discouraged.
\nBut comfort comes first. It stabilized my sitting position and gave me a slight sense of support. Most importantly, it made sitting more comfortable, so it was effective.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among the cars I\u2019ve driven, the Integra Type R (DB8) with its standard Recaro seats felt the least likely to cause back pain. Although it had manual adjustments and no lumbar support, I drove it for 170,000 km without any trouble<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

3. Adjusting Your Seat Position<\/h4>\n

Especially for long drives, it\u2019s important to properly adjust your seat position. Porsche even officially explained the importance of seat positioning<\/strong> in a YouTube video.<\/p>\n