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"THE HEART OF THE MATTER"
a special program of the National Emergency Medicine Association (NEMA)

Week: 574.1

Guest: Sandra Hall, Phys. Therapist, Southwestern Medical Ctr., Dallas
Topic: Car posture tips
Host/ Producer: Steve Girard

NEMA: Car posture tips...coming up...

SPOT: For 15 years, the National Emergency Medicine Association has worked against stroke, heart disease and trauma. Join the effort, call 800-332-6362.

NEMA: Driving a lot? How do you feel after another long commute or trip? Well, Sandra Hall, a physical therapist at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says you can avoid aching muscles, and possible problems by sitting correctly in the car...

HALL: ...you actually want to have the back of the seat tilted back a little bit and that just relieves some of the stress on the structures in your lower back. Then you want to slide the seat forward so that you don't have to reach for the pedals or the steering wheel.

NEMA: And some automation can help....

HALL: if at all possible if you're not driving in high traffic situations, is to use the cruise control. And when you use the cruise control that allows you to readjust your posture more readily you know then when you're having to keep your foot you know right on the accelerator all the time also.

NEMA: And Sandra says a good thing, just like at work...

HALL: ...is taking frequent breaks when you're in the car - or you know if you're going to be driving for 3 or 4 hours, stop every 30 to 45 minutes and move around a little bit.

NEMA: Hall says two other things that help is holding the steering wheel on the bottom to avoid stress on the shoulders and arms, and put a small pillow behind the small of your back if you don't have good lumbar support seats. I'm Steve Girard at The Heart of the Matter.