Race Day or Highway, Posture Tips Worthy of the Checkered Flag

By Paul Rothbart

Memorial Day weekend is nearly upon us. The Monday holiday is the day we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Parades and ceremonies are held to mark the somber occasion. But people also take to the outdoors and their grills for the unofficial start of summer.

The entire Memorial Day weekend holds fun and adventure as beaches and theme parks open. For racing fans, it’s an incredible weekend as three of the biggest auto racing spectacles in the world are held on that Sunday.

The most famous race in the U.S., the legendary Indianapolis 500 celebrates Memorial Day with pageantry like no other event in America on the Sunday before the holiday. NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C., brings the day to a close. Over in Europe, the crown jewel of Formula One, the Grand Prix of Monaco, is held earlier the same day. That’s a lot of laps, passes (though not so much in F1), and high-speed fun for racing enthusiasts.

For the drivers, all that time behind the wheel may cause pain in the back, neck, and limbs. Although you are not likely driving an 800-horsepower behemoth at speeds approaching 200 mph, your driving position can be just as harmful to your spine and joints.

Posture Tips for the Car

Even driving to work or on errands can take a toll on you if your posture is poor. Once summer begins, many families take vacations that involve lengthy drives. Proper driving position is more important than ever; failure to maintain a good driving form can cause discomfort, or even damage, on these long trips that have you sitting in one position for long periods.

What can you do to keep from aching when you finally reach your destination? Here are some solutions.

Adjust your seat properly - There is a reason car seats are adjustable. It enables you to keep your body in a position that will put the least amount of stress on it. Your seat should be far enough forward that you can reach the steering wheel with your elbows slightly bent. You shouldn’t have to stretch to reach the wheel or pedals. Being too close will put too much bend in your elbows and knees and may cause pain. As well, being too close to the wheel increases your chances of being injured if the airbags deploy; you should be at least 10 inches from the wheel. If you can adjust the height of your seat, set it so your eye level lets you see the road, the mirrors, and the gauges without having to turn your head and strain your neck.

Lumbar support - If your seats have lumbar support, especially if it’s adjustable, take full advantage. If your seat does not have this feature, you can work around it. Buy a lumbar pillow or use a rolled-up towel. Place it in the curve of your lower back. The extra support reduces stress on the spine and may spare you back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Keep your knees below your hips - On those long summer road trips, make sure your knees are below your hips. If your knees are higher, the bulk of your body weight rests on your lower spine and pelvis. This could contribute to disc issues and pain.

Let your legs relax - Your knees may drift apart, opening your legs. Let that happen. Relaxed legs are important. If you try to keep your knees together and legs parallel, the muscles tense up, which can cause pain and put stress on the low back and cause neck pain.

Road trips are fun, but remember that poor posture can lead to aches and pains. Sit properly and enjoy your journey. Seeing a chiropractor both before and after a road trip can be beneficial. Chiropractic care can get your spine and joints aligned before your trip, thereby helping you avoid back pain and neck strain. You can also utilize chiropractic tips while driving.

Chiropractic Tips for Sitting and Watching TV

If you’re a racing fan, you are probably planning to watch one or more of these races. They are always exciting and have plenty of high-speed action. Bear in mind that sitting in your living room watching television for long periods can be as harmful to your body as driving for long stretches. Chiropractic tips for long trips are just as relevant for watching television for hours at a time as it is for sitting in the car for miles and miles.

So dig into the couch or your favorite chair with snacks, beverages and your rooting interest because we have you covered.

Proper Posture

It’s tempting to get cozy flopping into your favorite chair or onto the couch. This is a recipe for pain. Sitting up straight with your eyes aligned with the TV will keep your spine properly aligned and help prevent pain and disc damage. Keeping your feet flat on the floor, and your legs parallel, helps prevent damage to the hips and the lower body.

Get Up and Move Around

It’s important to stand and move around every hour or so. You're going to need snacks and beverage refills and use the bathroom a few times so make getting up a habit. During those NASCAR laps under yellow or when the safety car is on the track at Monaco are perfect times for this. You’re not going to miss any action; that’s what replays are for. Walk around the house or take a short stroll outside. In a 600-mile race at Charlotte, there’s going to be time for a stroll.

Stretch

Treating your race viewing as an exercise period is a good plan. Stretch before the race and plan to do a brief stretching routine about halfway through. Then, do some cool-down stretches at the end. This will help prevent tight muscles, cramping, and pain in your spine and joints.

Formula One: The Grand Prix of Monaco

The most glamorous and famous Formula One race is the Grand Prix of Monaco. It’s a 78-lap dash through the twisty streets of Monte Carlo. Each lap is just over two miles of hairpins, tunnels, tight squeezes, and barriers everywhere that can end your race in a hurry.

Formula One races don’t tend to run as long as either NASCAR or IndyCar events, but the action is intense, especially at Monaco, and you may find yourself tensing up frequently. The TV-watching tips will come in handy as you watch Fernando Alsono, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen.

IndyCar: The Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most famous, prestigious, and watched events in the auto racing world. It has a rich history and has been contested by scores of legendary drivers since its inception in 1909.

As a 500-mile race, it takes a long time. It generally runs about three hours. That’s about the same as an NFL game but it’s still a long time to sit in front of the television. Watching drivers race that close at those speeds can cause some anxiety; don’t be afraid to stand up and walk it off. You can still keep your eye on the screen to keep track of Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, and Pato O’Ward.

NASCAR: The Coca-Cola 600

In the U.S., no form of auto racing is more popular than stock cars, and that means NASCAR. Memorial Day Sunday features the running of the longest race of the year, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR races sometimes run as much as four hours and stock car racing features fender-to-fender, bumper-to-bumper, and aggressive racing as the competitors go hard to be the first to reach the checkered flag. It’s an exciting day of television but long and tense, so be prepared for what Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Kyle Larson bring to the show.

Watching Other Sporting Events

Spring is also a time for other sporting events. The NHL playoffs are in full swing with the conference championships happening around Memorial Day. Talk about intense! Hockey is a high-speed game with far fewer play stoppages than other sports, and playoff games often go to overtime. Or double overtime. Even triple. Your chiropractic television tips are essential here. If you are a basketball fan, the NBA playoffs are also heating up around this time. Rooting on your favorite team plunked in front of the TV can also be an intense experience. Major League Baseball is at the end of its second month and many fans will be watching their teams. Baseball teams play nearly every day and even with the new pitch clock, a game can last quite a while. This is another sporting event that requires care when watching.

Chiropractic Care

Sports viewing and chiropractic care were made for each other. Even if you follow the tips and do everything right, a long car trip or extended periods of watching television can still cause spine or joint pain. Consider visiting a chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic. They are trained to get to the root of the problem and make adjustments to the back, neck, and joints. They can align the spine and help relieve your pain. Regular chiropractic adjustments at The Joint may also prevent future pain and increase mobility. Many of your athlete heroes use chiropractic care, so why not try it yourself so that you’re in optimal condition?

Shortly after the invention of the second automobile, people decided to see who was faster. It has led to an exciting and popular sport run in many kinds of vehicles on many kinds of tracks.

Whatever kind of racing you prefer, enjoy your Memorial Day Sunday event. Just be sure to take steps to protect your body from pain and damage as you go through life. Remember, there’s a chiropractor nearby, and nobody makes it to the end without a pit stop.

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