Bad Back

I have spinal spondylosis (lower back trauma), and am on a disability pension for it. We have a rodeo dual cab. I had my mechanic put a chock under the back of the seat to raise the back up about 2 1/2 inches to make the seat more "bench like". Its not as comfortable as the original seat but it makes me sit up more straight. I think it has made a difference. And if it dosent, you can always take the chock out. Hope this is of some help. Pete

G'day Greg, as a sufferer of arthritis in the back I know where you are coming from.
The best thing I have found is a portable lumbar support that sits on the seat
behind the lower back. It is a flexible light metal frame covered with a stretchy net.
Cost all of $10 but cant recall where I bought it. I'll do some checking & get back to you.cheers....oldbaz.

Hi

Took my truck to a motor trimmer and showed him exactly what I required.


He stripped the seat and fitted an internal air operated lumber support and made changes to the lower seat padding. Made a huge improvement so much so that we are doing the passenger seat next

Cost was $220-00 drive in drive out


Cheers Teza

Get professional advice. There are a number of devices on the market; the wrong one can make the pain worse.

Most lower back pain is unspecific, ie. a cause cannot be found. But you need a solution that works for your particular kind of pain and posture.

And some forms of pain do have a specific cause that you really must not ignore.

I do not have a chronic back problem, however I do get a very sore back after the constant sitting and end up at the physio when I get back home. They tell me no matter if you have a back problem or not, sitting is detrimental - add to that jarring over bumpy roads and its a pure recipe for pain. It's a fact of age that our back muscle degenerate. As a recreational triathlete, I have to run, cycle, & swim constantly (8-12hrs/week) to improve and maintain my performance but things like walking, yoga, stretching, sleep, diet, and core strength are just as important - this helps me avoid injury and keep muscles aligned. Everyone can do something to strengthen their core muscles, even if you have an existing injury. The worst thing you can do is sit - whether at home or in the vehicle so we have to move to make up for all the sitting! Preventative measures are better for the long term.

The best thing you can do for your back is make time in the day to walk. Ideally 3x30mins - a morning stroll, a midday stroll, and an evening stroll. But even once a day is better than nothing. We should all walk more, but it is more important than ever when you are driving/travelling for long periods for days/weeks/months on end!

Hi Greg - bucket seats in my old Hilux were a killer - replaced them with ford falcon seats that had a good tilt range as well as lumber support and height adjustment from wreckers about $100 for the two (1998 model from memory) bolted into existing slots -problem solved. Am looking at doing it again to my Navara as the seats kill my wife's back

Both Hubby and I have lower back problems, sitting for any length of time is not good. Chiro is where we go and have done for many a long year. I have always said the chiro has kept me on my feet, I broke my back when I was younger, not good in old age. We find the Patrol is good for our backs, that's why we bought a patrol instead of a LC, we couldn't sit in one of those for five minutes. Sorry LC owners, just the way we are. LOL I'm one who cannot under any circumstances have any supports of anykind behind me, the seat has to be straight or I'm in big trouble, I've also got scoliosis which is probably why I can't use the supports. Keep exercising is the best medicine, use it or lose it.........LOL

I love 4WDs because they seem to have seats that deal with my back problem. The opposite happens when I sit in the seats of saloon cars. The big plus of 4WD seats, as in the Pajero or my Patrol, is that they make you sit very upright whereas many saloon car seats seem to have you riding on a La-Z-Boy.

The line from your hips/knees/feet should form something near to a right angle at the knees. The spine should be as vertical as possible in the seat. The sides of the seat should support you in such a way as to stop you moving your spine horizontally and 4WD seats have those side supports that do that.

The addition of a lumbar support brings this all together and puts a nice curve in your spine about L4/L5.

Finally, when you get put of the car make sure you stretch. I see so many people get out of cars only to sit down immediately. Once you get out, walk around, stretch your spine, hamstrings and calves. It does make a difference to me.