One of the most overlooked areas of our lives that can be causing us pain is the time we spend behind the wheel driving. Driving creates stress in all parts of our bodies and it can only be a matter of minutes before it starts affecting our posture, our neck and lower back, wrists and even ankles and knees. Even the slightest changes in how you drive can make a huge difference.

Here are driving ergonomically tips:

Remove everything in your pocket. Before you even get in the call remove everything from your pocket. Anything that can add pressure points to your flesh while you drive.

Find the right seat position. What you do is to move your car seat all the way in the back, get in and begin adjusting until you feel comfortable. Have the seat adjust to around a 100 degree angle which decreases pressure on your lower back.

We all need to use seatbelts now. If yours is to tight or uncomfortable, add pick up some soft, thick fabric or even spongy pipe insulation and wrap it around your seatbelt. You can even order seatbelt covers online.

Get adequate back support. If not, supplement it with a foam back support. Most car seats are uncomfortable and don’t offer enough back support. It would be wise to invest in a lumbar support pillow. In the meantime simply roll up a towel and put it in the curve at your lower back.

Adjust all mirrors to fit your body. You shouldn’t have to crane your neck to see what’s going on around you. If you have blind spots in your vehicle buy yourself a small mirror to add to your dashboard to help you see.

Try not to do anything in your car but drive. Bending over writing notes, working on your laptop or eating can cause spine and neck movements that can lead to severe pain which you want to avoid.

Keep items you may need while driving in the front seat not the back. You don’t need to be twisting and reaching at awkward angles.

When gripping the steering while in your car keep both hands on the wheel unless you need to shift gears. You can change you hand positions here and there to reduce fatigue and keep blood circulating in them. Try to avoid getting stressed and gripping to hard on the wheel which can cause tension in your hands muscle, decrease circulation and sometime cause numbing.

You should be in a position while driving that keeps your shoulders stress free and relaxed which also involves keeping your arms loosely at your sides.

When you’ve reached a destination are have items you need to remove from the trunk, give yourself a moment to loosen up after you get out of the car. Even do a few stretches to avoid straining your back by getting in the trunk.

If you are on a long driving trip, take frequent breaks; get out of the car and stretch. Take a quick walk if possible. Kept it loose. It’s also a good idea to rest your eye for a bit. Perhaps take a lunch break.