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What is the Correct HGV & Truck Driving Posture? [Ultimate Guide]
Reading time 4 minutes
Categories Driving Tips »
We are hiring! Are you an experienced technician? Join our outstanding team »
What is the Correct HGV & Truck Driving Posture? [Ultimate Guide]
Reading time 4 minutes
Categories Driving Tips »
Driving long hours can have a negative impact on your health but thanks to a few simple tips, we’ll have you driving happy in no time.
Follow this HGV driving posture guide to learn more about why your body isn’t thanking you for hours of sitting at the wheel and how to combat the ill effects of bad posture and, of course, how to correct it.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that sitting down all day can’t be that bad for your joints and muscles. However, you’d be wrong. When we move regularly – walk, lift and do simple things like climbing the stairs – our bodies have a positive reaction to this exertion. It gets the blood flowing around the body by dilating smaller capillaries, which delivers more oxygen and gives gentle exercise to all the muscles.
Unfortunately, a sitting posture is not good for the body over a period of many hours, especially when inside a shaking, vibrating HGV or truck. We naturally assume a ‘C’ shape in the spine and our muscles don’t get as much blood flow and oxygen. This leads to sore muscles and under-exercised tendons, ligaments and joints.
Bad circulation is likely to affect other parts of the body as well as the back. Legs, feet and arms are liable to become sore when exposed to vibrations and when lacking a wider range of movement than what is possible when driving.
If you’re having a break at a service station and need a quick way to fix your posture right now here are our 30-second tips. Read them, use them and enjoy better, healthier driving.
A majority of problems with back pain and bad posture stem from the fact that there is little training regarding the right seating adjustment. Here are some pointers to help alleviate your sore back.
Your knees should rest lower than the hips and be angled slightly downwards.
Keep your elbows as close to your sides as possible to minimise strain on the wrists, shoulders and elbows.
A reclining position for the back is a good thing, so long as your legs and back are at an angle of approximately 110°.
You should be able to depress the pedals fully and comfortably.
The middle of your back is called the lumbar region and it contains a set of muscles that require support when sitting for long periods of time. You can provide this support with a dedicated lumbar support product or with a rolled up towel.
Stay hydrated and eat high-quality foods to improve your body’s ability to adapt to the rigours of regular driving. If your body doesn’t have the right tools, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and water, it will not heal itself.
You’ll feel the benefits of gentle stretching when out of the cab almost instantly. Dedicate some time to learning a few clever stretches and you could be saying goodbye to back pain sooner than you think.
The body is a machine and like all machines, without proper use and maintenance, it won’t work properly. So, keep your levels topped up and your body moving and you’ll have no trouble.
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