What is the Correct HGV & Truck Driving Posture? [Ultimate Guide]

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.

How is back pain caused when driving?

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.

Other pains?

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.

Five 30-second tips for better truck driving posture

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.

• 1. Shift your weight in your seat and vary sitting positions every 30-60 minutes to spread the load on your body to different muscles.
• 2. Change hand positions on the steering wheel often and gently squeeze and relax the hands from time to time.
• 3. Use a foam steering wheel cover to minimise the effects of vibration.
• 4. Use a gel seat cushion to dissipate the weight of your body and further mitigate road vibration.
• 5. When taking a break, make sure to stretch a little and walk around before getting back on the road.

How to adjust your vehicle seat correctly for better posture

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.

Seat height:

Your knees should rest lower than the hips and be angled slightly downwards.

Reach:

Keep your elbows as close to your sides as possible to minimise strain on the wrists, shoulders and elbows.

Reclining:

A reclining position for the back is a good thing, so long as your legs and back are at an angle of approximately 110°.

Leg reach:

You should be able to depress the pedals fully and comfortably.

Lumbar support:

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.

Further truck driving posture tips

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.

HGV Services with The Windscreen Company

The Windscreen Company provides leading HGV windscreen replacement and HGV windscreen repair services across Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and the West Midlands.

Whatever kind of vehicle you drive, we have the glass to repair your chip or crack and make the vehicle roadworthy again. To find out more about our brilliant, 24-hour service, contact us today.

The Windscreen Company

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The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.

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