
Written by Jan Vickery
A chartered physiotherapist and ergonomist, Jan is head of clinical operations for AXA Health’s specialist Health Services division
Back pain is a common health problem. According to the NHS website, back pain is the biggest single cause of disability in the UK, with lower back pain alone responsible for 11% of total disability among the population. And the risks increase with age.
This is an issue for employers as well as the general public. According to the UK Health and Safety Executive, 37% of all work-related illnesses in 2018-19 were musculoskeletal disorders, which include back pain. What’s more, they estimate that 6.9 million working days were lost in the same time period due to musculoskeletal problems.
Back pain is often not caused by anything in particular, but staying active can help to prevent it. This means that people who spend a lot of time driving can be particularly prone to the problem.
"It really pays to get to know your car and learn how to adjust your car seat – that way you can help avoid long-term muscle, joint and spinal injuries."
Jan Vickery, our Lead Physiotherapist at AXA Health.
Here Jan takes a look at the effect driving can have on your back and how to prevent problems.