Back brace or shoulder braces for driving

From someone who has broken their back in two spots and had to have it operated on. Stretch, stretch, stretch. Did I mention you should stretch? Lol. Work on core strength exercise too. Keep your legs loose and you will feel better when you are sitting for long periods of time. I never really noticed and problems until I started running a line haul and being in the truck for 14 hours a day but just working on core exercises and keeping the hammys loose fixed it right up. I also find that sitting with the seat perfectly upright helps too, granted I imagine everyone will have a different position that they are comfortable with but that's what works for me.

 

Generally braces have an opposite effect. Longrun anyway. They make muscles weaker by not using them. I used to always stretch shoulders back, these days I don’t do excercises like I should. But proper stomach and back excercises will help the most. Belly gets soft Driving. One day standing, working on something, I feel a noticeable improvement. That’s the good news. Excercises will give almost immediate results. Proper back excercises can be found easily. They work.

 

I agree with Rideandrepair in that you just have to build the necessary muscle by gradually maintaining a good posture for extended periods of time. Initially you may not be able to endure a good posture for hours at the wheel, but as you practice it, you’ll develop the muscles to do it without struggling.

I think installing a temporary thin mirror on the passenger side window may be helpful in reminding the driver to keep proper posture.

 

What I do is get into the captians chair behind the wheel and settle. Chair is adjusted a thousand ways until I fit without stress or strain.

Then the steering wheel gets a good grip on the left side. That's the primary arm for control. The other arm even though I am right handed is for shifting and everything else.

What I try not to do is slouch or settle TOO comfy. Sleepy time is nigh.

The body is fit in those days from constant loading to and from the floor twice daily for years. The spine finally rotted in places and I started losing bonemass early on past 38 and that was the high water mark to visit doctors and see what else will need working on.

But I do not try to slouch or settle too much into those nice chairs.

 

Lots of good advice here.

I wore a corset with metal bars inserted for months to help keep my spine straight and relieve some of my pain while driving.

Problem is, you become dependant on it and you're not using all your muscles to keep you upright, it can actually make your back weaker than it is.

Stretching is great, do it every time you stop the truck.
Be conscious of your posture, set your seat properly, lots of info online about it.
Pull over every 2 or 3 hours for a tinkle and some stretching.

You can exercise behind the wheel, isometrically.
Plant your feet firmly on the floor and do a pelvic tilt, like boinking you old lady, and tense the rest of your muscles, make them work.
Tilt your pelvis and hold it for as long as you can, repeatedly throughout the day, think of it as getting paid to exercise or sit at attention all day.

Be smart when you work, don't be lazy.
Instead of bending to pick things up, do a pelvic tilt and squat.

Take a lesson from our Mexican, African, Asian, Middle Eastern and female friends whose backs are generally in better shape than our own.

You'll often see them squatting with their feet flat on the ground.
The average overweight and out of shape North American male can not do this unless they study martial arts, yoga, tai chi, are athletic or do regular stretching exercises.

Try doing a full squat with your feet flat on the ground, bet your heels come off the ground before full squat.
If you can keep your heels down, your back is probably in pretty good shape.

Stretch, practice posture and the pelvic tilt, exercise while you drive and when you stop, it's worth it.

I've had back surgery also, look after your back because it can make you real miserable.
If you get to this point and require surgery, don't be in a hurry to go back to work.
Take as much time as you need to heal, or find a light duty job, because the pain and suffering you might experience is not worth it.

 

Hes right about the fitness of our dear neighbors of that type of Cultural origin coming to live in America. They are pretty fit. I got a lesson one day in dojo way back when when Mr Little came along. Oh about 5 foot, roughly 8 pounds. I got predatory I thought I could take him and wipe that little one ...

Sensei picked up on it. (Body language gave me away..) he motions me and points to a side room known for all out combat. Rarely used. Mr Little came in. Rendered honors to each other and had at it.

It was like wrestling with a solid brick outhouse. I put some beef into it and tried to capsize him but I got thrown proper. (Had it coming...) Sensei says big boy need learn small fight not big attack.

As much as I hated the daily thrown I got learning and sometimes it was useful. I left martial arts behind a long time ago particularly with that leg, I'll just draw and be done with it. HA...

I never learned whatever became of Mr Little. I would not worry about him too much.

 

100 % agree, the pelvic tilt, lifesaver. After surgery, need to heal proper to avoid scar tissue. Haunting Me now, after 20 yrs. L4/L5 discectomy. Another good one involves laying flats down on stomach, spread arms and legs like an x , then raise left arm and right leg together, lower, repeat right arm, left leg.As if being controlled by a puppeteer, if that makes any sense Lol This was shown to Me by a good physical therapist. He said my stomach was strong, but back muscles overlooked. Common mistake, it helped a lot. Back pain, nothing to play with. I don’t care how strong you are. Bring you to your knees. Put you out of work.