Back pain on long journeys.

[langers_sydney]

Quick one

Love going for long drives but everytime I seem to get after an hour or so pain in my upper back and shoulders and sometimes on longer drives it gets quite bad…..

Seat is almost vertical (just off) and my wrists are on top of the wheel blah blah……Any tips for seat adjustment, am I too low, maybe I should raise the seat…..? Anything else?

Ta

[Flaps]

Maybe move the seat back into a more relaxed position?

[PeterHBne]

Sitting too far from the wheel - if you arms are straight out your shoulder, back and arm muscles are having to work to hold them there - hence the pain after time.

Arms should be bent at the elbow and the forearms doing most of the wheel work.

It will feel weird at first if you are used to sitting well back but the ease of control is worlds apart from arms and legs straight out.

[RhysQ]

Sitting too far from the wheel - if you arms are straight out your shoulder, back and arm muscles are having to work to hold them there - hence the pain after time.

Arms should be bent at the elbow and the forearms doing most of the wheel work.

It will feel weird at first if you are used to sitting well back but the ease of control is worlds apart from arms and legs straight out.

i'm not sure if you happened to read his post at all but he did mention that his seat is almost upright and his wrists rest on top of the wheel etc. etc. meaning that he wouldn't be too far from the wheel at all, in fact, it's the advised seating position for maximum comfort and driveability.

[PeterHBne]

Seat upright doesn't relate to closeness to the wheel - seat may be pushed back tpwards the back of the car - I also assumesd wrists on steering wheel means with arms stretched out - this may not be the case.


The other thing is you have to push your bum right into the back of the seat so the curvature of the seat matches (largely) your spine.

[nick1234]

When the motorway/ highway goes downhill for a while, I just shift into neutral and let the car roll, which allows me to take my feet off the pedals (and saves petrol). Therefore you can move your legs in the footarea and relax your muscles.

When going straight at lower speed I grab the bottom of the steering with one or both hands and the car just drives smoothly along and is easy to steer. I've got a 4-spoke wheel btw. Holding the wheel on the top I only do in bad wheather, on terrible roads or in curves (for stability). I can do up to 1000k's per day like that but wouldn't advise more than 800 due to fatigue and all that.

I take one break per 1 1/2 hours always and just walk around, wipe the windows or something.

[ralphk]

Depends which car you have...as they say stop and get out every 2 hours or more often if required not only helps with fatigue but alleviates the sore back etc etc

[Spoddy]

When the motorway/ highway goes downhill for a while, I just shift into neutral and let the car roll, which allows me to take my feet off the pedals (and saves petrol). .

I'll try not to me emotional here...

Doing that is dangerous as if the car does become unstable or something interferes with the car of circumstances change the car is pretty much out of control.
A mate of mine is in hospital with a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, cuts and bruises (he is a cyclist) having been hit by someone doing just that. They lost control (no drive to the wheels to bring it out of a swerve, spun and hit the cyclist.

Please keep the car in gear, stay in control. Please

PS and hold the wheel correctly.

[morbo2000]

When the motorway/ highway goes downhill for a while, I just shift into neutral and let the car roll, which allows me to take my feet off the pedals (and saves petrol).

If your car is EFI then it is probably using more petrol by doing that. Engine braking doesn't use as much fuel (practically none) as idling.

[pologti18t]

Polo has a reach adjustable steering wheel. Try adjusting that in conjunction with changing the seatback angle.

Also, never coast in neutral.... bad bad bad. Always hold the steering wheel at the 9 and 3 oclock positions.

Cruise control is your best friend on long trips. Can't stress how good it is at relieving fatigue and stress (ie watching speedo!!)