I often suffer back pains after driving and have a lot of trouble finding a comfortable seating position. I'm 5' 11" and medium build and have owned and driven many cars and found the same problem so I don't think it's related to any particular car.
Are there any websites out there which comment on the correct seating position? I have been unable to find anything as of yet. It's also quite difficult when you can only tell the affect of your last seat movement when you're driving the car, and the blessed seat adjusts in all manner of directions.
Any advice/websites gratefully received.
Dan J
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Dan,
refer to thread "Back pain re: VW seats!", from around 21/01/02.
HJ makes some good recommendations.
(BTW, how does one copy the whole thread address after doing a search?)
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Ian,
As you might guess Mark told me how to do this. Do your search and when you find the post you want right click and select "open in new window".
That will show the full address in the address bar and you can copy/paste into your new post.
David
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In the cars I've owned 3 have had no adjustment for the seats apart from fore and aft position. 1 had electric adjustment for everything except the headrest. It's the only one that gave me backache.
If you share the car you will find adjustments the other person has made to lumbar support will give a back ache after an hour or so at the wheel. Not sure why - seems the most difficult setting to get right and you can't tell it's changed instantly (doesn't stop you reaching the wheel or pedals).
Piers
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Dan
I share your problems with back pain and car seats, and I've cured it. I bought an "Otobak", which is an inflateable lumbar suport that just slips over the backrest. It cost about £60 and the position of the air bladder can be adjusted so that it supports just where you need it. I've used it in three cars now and I wouldn't be without it.
HTH
Ian
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Dan,
My current car came with a special booklet telling you how to adjust the seat for best posture etc. Surprised me no end, it is one of those things you think is so simple it feels like a bit of an insult to be told how to adjust the seat.
Whilst the seat is harder than I would like I've had some pretty long drives with no back pain so I'll go and dig it out and post the sequence it recommends you follow later today.
Unless someone beats me to it of course.
cheers,
Stuart
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Try the Driving Ergonomics website from Loughborough University at
www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/cd/docs_dandt/research...m
Also the Car Seat Data website run by an Osteopath who is also a motoring enthusiast. This one gives me back pain just reading it. There was a feature about this in the Independent motoring section last year.
www.car-seat-data.co.uk
Cheers
Michael
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I have noticed that the last car I had that I was able to achieve a comfortable seating position in was also that last car that didn't have an airbag.
Whether this is a coincidence or not I couldn't say.
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Dan, I had a back problem aggravated by driving a while ago. I'm a similar height to you and I used to drive with the seat almost as far back as it would go. My occupational physio said this was the problem.
Now sitting closer to the wheel I haven't had a recurrence despite some 400-mile trips. Sitting closer to the wheel allegedly gives better control of the car too.
hth
Phil
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