Does Commuting Cause You Neck Pain?
By Tom Herrin
Commuters are everywhere. Many people commute for hours each way every day. We often like to live in suburbs or rural areas and don’t mind paying the price for commuting. Sometimes the price is more than money. Many times we suffer neck and/or back pain from the hours we spend behind the wheel. Truckers experience the same kind of problem, particularly when they drive long hauls. It is not a pleasant feeling. In many cases, chiropractic can provide relief from much of the pain and suffering.
I’m Driving, Not Lifting
Driving has its own problems that relate to physical pain. A driver spends most of his/her time looking straight ahead, turning their heads only occasionally. A truck driver may be doing some lifting, but most commuters are just driving. Sitting in one position can be hard on the body. There is little or no exercise. Stretching is not possible either. No activity is increasing blood flow, which is essential to keeping the body functioning properly. All this may be combined with the stress of driving in traffic where you are constantly on guard for other drivers. This tension causes the muscles to do just that, which puts additional limits on function.
Inertia May Play A Part
The tendency of something to stay as it is unless acted on by another force is the general definition of inertia. Once the joints of the body begin to slip out of their alignment, they tend to stay that way if the muscles are not working to correct their positioning. Commuters are placing themselves under pressure from tense muscles. This causes more stress on nerves that travel through the spine. Those small aches become big problems. The effect on the individual is a certain amount of misery. This is compounded by the knowledge that it all happens again on the trip home in the afternoon, only to be repeated the next day. This is almost a textbook definition of stress.
The Role of The Chiropractor
A chiropractor can relieve a lot of these problems caused by extensive driving. A chiropractic adjustment can relax the muscles, move the vertebrae back into their correct place, and restore better circulation that goes with all of it. Once you have tried an adjustment, you will find out what others already know. Relief is possible. Your chiropractor may also suggest some exercise that you can do to help keep things working better. The Joint Chiropractic has plans that require no insurance and no appointments. They are open days and evenings, weekdays and weekends and have more than 360 locations. Try them out today and make that commute seem a little more bearable.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.