How to get in and out of the car with lower back pain

Most of us don’t pay attention to how we get in and out of the car until it hurts. Lower back pain can make you dread getting into the car and it can make car trips miserable. A few tips can make it much easier on your back:

Getting in your car with lower back pain

To get in, lean on the top of your open door with one hand – your left hand if you’re getting into the driver’s seat and your right if you’re getting in on the passenger side – and hold onto the steering wheel with your other (if you are the driver). Put your closer leg in and slide onto the seat slowly. Going slowly with all movements should minimise back pain. Using the steering wheel for support will put less strain on your lumbar spine. If you need to, keep using the steering wheel for support as you lift your other leg into the car.

Another suggestion is to sit down sideways in the car seat first, leaving your feet on the ground. Don’t fall onto the seat. This can cause more pain in the lower back. When sitting down, support yourself with the objects around you – the door handle, dashboard, seat headrest, anything that will help you. When you’re seated, hold onto the steering wheel or safety handle and slowly turn your body to face the front of the car. Lift one leg at a time into the car.

Getting out of your car with lower back pain

To get out of the car with less pain, the movements are similar. First of all, don’t try to carry anything while getting out. Wait until you’re out of the car first. Hold onto the steering wheel or safety handle inside the car and turn your body slowly while using it as support. Move your legs out one at a time. With your free hand placed against the seat or on the side of the car, push yourself carefully up and out.

A second way to get out of the car is by keeping your body moving as a single unit. If you are exiting from the driver’s seat, move the seat back from the wheel. Gripping the steering wheel or dash with one hand and the seat with your other, keep your feet together and lift both off the floor, moving your legs and upper body together to turn. Your body should feel like it is spinning completely, without turning your spine. Put your feet on the ground and hold tightly onto the steering wheel and the edge of the car opposite the open door. Then keep your back straight and raise yourself up and out of the car.

Additional support

If you suffer from back pain when driving, you may want to try a car back support. E.g., the Dynaspine Back Support for Driving can be easily placed on your car seat to help promote a healthy posture in order to prevent back ache and for back pain relief. Dynaspine is lightweight and comes with a free carry case so you can take it with you wherever you go.