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The holiday season is coming, and chances are good that you’ll be spending a lot of time behind the wheel between the typical commute, shopping trips, and visiting friends and family. If you spend a lot of time driving, you find yourself with a stiff neck or a sore lower back. These stretches can help you stay pain-free so that you enjoy more of the goodness that the holidays have to offer.
Try the simple neck tilt to avoid stiffness and soreness. Gently lower your right ear toward your right shoulder and hold for about 15 seconds. Switch sides to relieve tension on both sides of your neck. This stretch can also help relieve tension in your upper back and shoulders.
To stretch your back while seated, try a gentle seated twist. Keep your feet planted and slowly twist your upper body to one side, holding for a few seconds before switching sides. This helps promote spinal mobility without needing to exit the vehicle and can prevent and relieve lower back pain.
Another effective stretch is the chin tuck. Sit up straight and pull your chin back, creating a double chin effect—hold for five seconds before releasing. This helps counteract that forward head posture from hunching over the steering wheel.
If you're stopped at a gas station or rest area, take a moment to stand outside the car. Look left and right slowly while keeping your shoulders relaxed—this will help improve neck mobility after hours of driving. You can also try bending over and touching your toes, arm windmills, and other full-body motions and stretches.
If you deal with back pain or neck pain while driving long distances, Wills Chiropractic can help. Our clinic in Rochelle, IL, offers chiropractic care, massage therapy, and other services and products that can help you get through the holiday travel season with less stress and pain. Schedule your appointment today, and we’ll get to work for you so that you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year!
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