It’s no fun to take a road trip and end up with back or buttock pain from the car seat! It’s no treat to fly somewhere and end up with swollen, sore legs when you get there from the flight!
And for those who commute to work or school more than 15 minutes each way, chronic myofascial pain issues arise quite commonly. Even numbness in the arms and legs and painful sciatica can develop just from sitting in a vehicle.
Does Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy have a solution for us? Is there a simple neat technique that can prevent or correct these issues?
Of course! Hence, this issue of Musculoskeletal Health Update!
There are 2 main problems that arise with sitting in a vehicle for extended periods or on a regular basis.
1. Chair Seat Victims:
When you are seated in a vehicle your knees are bent, shortening your hamstrings and often compressing them against the edge and bottom of the chair seat.
This position can cause bands of taut muscle to form and restricted blood and lymph flow to and from the legs. It can also activate any Latent Trigger Points (trigger points that are waiting to be activated to cause pain and dysfunction).
The longer you sit in the seat, the more likely you will develop symptoms from this restricted position and prolonged compression.
2. Chair Posture Victims:
Many chairs in vehicles foster poor posture. They tend to lack lumbar support (most vehicle seats) and neck support (airplanes especially), which encourages slouching forward, rolling forward of the shoulders, and forward head carriage.
Additionally, many times the arm rests are too low, causing us to lean to one side or the other, bending our spines for extended periods of time.
These postural flaws can cause trigger points in the low back, chest, shoulders and neck. Conversely, trying to keep your posture correct in a poor chair can require that you actively and continuously contract your low back and other muscles, adding to the myofascial dysfunction.
So How Can We Contradict these Conditions?
Easily! The simple technique demonstrated below only requires a couple tennis balls in a stocking and perhaps another simple self-care tool or two!
The amount of time you spend in that vehicle chair is a perfect time to perform self-care! The quick and easy tips below will not only contradict your Travelers’ Pain, but also help correct latent issues and prevent future problems for you!
Try this fun and easy self-care procedure. And please share this article with anyone you know who travels!
*The information in this article is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition and does not substitute for a thorough evaluation by a medical professional. Please consult your physician to determine whether these self-care tips are appropriate for you.
