Stop Hip and Back Pain Getting Out Of Car With This Simple Trick

How To Get Out Of A Car Or SUV Without Hip Or Back Pain

In order to prevent hip and back pain when getting out of the car, I'll break it down into a few steps:

1. Getting your legs out of the car
2. Getting your body out of the car
3. Standing up straight and walking

Step 1: Getting your legs out of the car without hip or back pain

The first step is getting your feet outside of the car.

If you step out of the car with one leg before twisting your body and shoulders, it's going to cause your spine to twist. But your lower back wasn't made to twist.

This can cause you put one leg out of the car but your back wasn't made to twist. So if you have to twist like that to get out of the car, it may give you trouble, especially if you've been on a long drive and your muscles have kind of stiffened up.

Instead, lift your first leg just slightly out of the car, and then turn your whole body so that both legs are outside the car and you're facing outwards.

Step 2: Getting your body out of the car without back or hip pain

Now you'll notice you have a little bit of a drop to get out of the car.

That can be scary, especially if you're already in a little bit of pain or if you're uncertain about your balance.

To prepare for the drop, grab onto the door frame and start to lower your feet down.

You want to land in a slightly forward bent position.

This will feel counter-intuitive because you'll probably be afraid of falling forward.  Your natural instinct will probably be to slide your feet down first.

However, if you just slide out of the car, then your back is already in an extended position.

This jams the joints in your spine together, and that can be really painful for people with degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis.

So again, even though it feels strange, you want to slide your feet down to the ground with your trunk slightly bent forward.

This allows you to land with your hips and back in closer to the same angle that  you've been sitting in while driving.

You should be holding on to the door to balance yourself, so that will keep you from falling forwards even though it may feel like you might.

Step 3: Standing up straight and walking without hip or back pain.

Now that your feet are on the ground, hold on to the door, take a small step parallel to the door using the leg that is farthest away from the door. (That will be your left foot on the driver's side and right foot if you're on the passenger's side.  At least in the United States.  If you're reading this from the UK, then swap that.)

Now roll your pelvis underneath of you.

That will allow you to straighten up without hyperextending your lower back.  Y

If you've been driving for a really long time, you may need to take a few steps in order to walk comfortably when you first stand up.

So that's how to prevent hip and back pain when getting out a high car or SUV.

Read this post on 5 Tips To Prevent Back, Hip, And Knee Pain Getting In And Out Of A Low Car

 Your Sitting Posture When Driving Matters

Another really important factor is how you sit when you're in the car.

You want to try to get your backrest as close to 90 degrees as possible. By doing this, your back will be supported the entire time you're driving.

That way, you're not using your trunk muscles and hip flexors as postural muscles so they won't get as stiff while driving.

Learn 5 tips to prevent back pain and sciatica when driving.

Need More Help For Back and Hip Pain?

If you live in the St. Louis area and you need more help for back and/or hip pain, we'd be happy to help. Just tap the button below to request an appointment with one of our specialists.

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