How to avoid aches and pains while driving: 5 tips revealed
This is pain in areas such as their back, neck, shoulders and hips while driving.
To help them out, Helen O'Leary, director and physiotherapist at Complete Pilates, has teamed up with Cazoo.
Together, they have created a driver-friendly car guide on how drivers can best position themselves when driving, to avoid aches and pains.
How to avoid aches and pains while driving
Adjusting your seat
It's important to if you're driving a shared car to adjust the seat so it bests fits you when you're behind the wheel.
Helen explains: "First of all, you need to ensure that the seat is not pressing against the back of your knees - many cars allow you to lengthen or shorten the seat to achieve this.
"Seat height is also key - you should be sitting upright, similarly to in a desk chair.
"Finally, when thinking about the steering wheel height, you should ensure that your arms are slightly bent.
"Most modern cars allow you to adjust the seat exactly, so ensure you take time to set it correctly before each drive.'
Lumbar support
Supporting your spine is the most effective way to avoid RDS, which can be done fairly easily.
Helen says: "The easiest way to do this in a car is getting Lumbar support, or finding a way to support your lower back - for example through a cushion.
"Ensuring you have enough support in your lower back will help you sit up straight without overextending.'
Cruise control
If you have the option for cruise control in your car, then that can help reduce RDS.
Helen explains: "This feature can be incredibly useful for preventing pain. Having a car with cruise control means that you can take your foot off the gas and therefore not work your foot and ankle muscles constantly.
"This will help reduce the chances of a sore and tired foot and ankle, particularly those muscles at the front of your shin.'
Cars with options for this include a Volkswagen ID5, and a Ford Mustang Mach E.
Take breaks
It's important to take breaks from driving to give your body a chance to move and lubricate its own parts.
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Helen adds: "It is also worth taking time to stretch in this break, as it can help to prevent any further stiffness'.
Staying flexible beyond the car
It is important to maintain a good strength and flexibility routine to aid recovery after long drives.
Exercises Helen recommends include back extension, Reverse Nordics, sumo squat, high step up and book openings.
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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Woman died after brain tumour misdiagnosed as trapped nerve
Helen Arthur, 57, first became unwell on Good Friday in April 2019, experiencing persistent back pain and visual disturbances. Her GP put it down to a trapped nerve but Helen's condition didn't improve. After developing headaches, Helen had an eye test, and her optician thought she may have suffered a minor stroke, so sent her to hospital. A CT scan revealed a mass on Helen's brain and she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour. Helen Arthur died after aggressive brain tumour misdiagnosed as trapped nerve (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS) In May 2019, Helen underwent surgery to remove the tumour, followed by six months of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But a routine monitoring scan in 2021 showed recurrence and Helen underwent another course of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A a further MRI scan revealed multiple inoperable tumours had developed and her condition deteriorated too quickly to treat it. Helen, of from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, died in May 2022, three years since her initial surgery. Helen Arthur died after brain tumour misdiagnosed as trapped nerve. (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS) Helen's husband Brent Arthur said: 'We were told Helen had a brain tumour which was a complete shock. "The doctors said most people survive just two to three years. "Words left me, I was speechless. "We were told there would be a recurrence, but it took us by surprise, we thought we had more time." Helen Arthur died after brain tumour misdiagnosed as trapped nerve. (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS) After Helen's first CT scan, at Prince Charles Hospital in Wales in Merthyr Tydfil, which revealed a mass, she was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Brent recalled getting the awful phone call from his son, revealing the devastating news in May 2019. He said: "I wasn't feeling well so I went to bed and expected our son Benjamin and Helen to be home within a couple of hours. "I got a call from Benjamin saying I needed to go to the hospital. "Confused as to what could be wrong, I went. "That was when our lives changed.' After her surgery, plus six months of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it was thought to have been a success. Helen was monitored with quarterly scans as she continued to live an active life, and spend time with her family and grandchildren. In late 2021, one of these scans showed the recurrence. A further course of treatment was planned, and Helen underwent another course of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A further MRI scan in April 2022 revealed multiple inoperable tumours had developed. Just a week later, Helen's original pathology results showed she had a one-in-three million genetic mutation, which might respond to targeted medication. Sadly, by this point, Helen's condition had deteriorated, and treatment was not possible. Brent said: 'We were all shocked and devastated. "We spent as much time together as possible, with the children and grandchildren. "Seeing Helen decline was difficult for us all.' After she passed, Helen was survived by husband Brent as well as children Emily, 35, and Benjamin, 33, and grandchildren Penny, six, Nora, four, Isaac, three, and Rhoda, one. Helen Arthur 'lived for her family' (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS) Brent said: 'Helen lived for her family. "She was looking forward to reducing her work hours so she could help care for our grandchildren. "That's what hurts the most, she never got to enjoy the role she was so excited for. "All she ever wanted was to be a young nan, but this cruel disease robbed her of that." Brent and his family have now raised more than £5,700 for Brain Tumour Research, enough to fund two days of research at one of the charity's Centres of Excellence. On Father's Day on June 15, Brent completed a 10,000-foot skydive in Helen's memory. Brent said: "Our family has been robbed of a wife, mother and grandmother, and more funding is desperately needed for research. "Without it, other families will continue to face the same heartbreak we've been going through." Each year in the UK, around 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma, yet just 160 will survive five years or more. Glioblastoma accounts for one in three primary brain tumour diagnoses, and current treatment offers little in the way of long-term hope. Letty Greenfield, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: 'Helen's story is heartbreaking and all too common. "Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options and a devastating prognosis. "We are incredibly grateful to Brent and his family for honouring Helen's memory through their fundraising. "It's support like this that helps us push for better outcomes and ultimately a cure."
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Grandmother, 57, dies after ‘trapped nerve' mistakenly blamed for her back pain and headaches
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GRAN passed away after her back pain was initially dismissed as a 'trapped nerve'. Helen Arthur, 57, first became unwell on Good Friday in April 2019, experiencing persistent back pain and visual disturbances. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Helen Arthur with her grand-daughter Penny Credit: SWNS 6 Helen, pictured with her husband Brent, was initially told her back pain was caused by a trapped nerve Credit: SWNS 6 But she was later diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour called glioblastoma Credit: SWNS Her GP put it down to a trapped nerve but Helen's condition didn't improve. After developing headaches, Helen had an eye test, and her optician thought she may have suffered a minor stroke, so sent her to hospital. A CT scan revealed a mass on Helen's brain and she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour. In May 2019, Helen underwent surgery to remove the tumour, followed by six months of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But a routine monitoring scan in 2021 showed the tumour had grown back and Helen underwent another course of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Another MRI scan revealed Helen had multiple inoperable tumours and her condition deteriorated too quickly to treat. Helen, from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, died in May 2022, three years after her initial surgery. Her husband Brent Arthur said: "We were told Helen had a brain tumour which was a complete shock. "The doctors said most people survive just two to three years. "Words left me, I was speechless. A mum dismissed her twitching eye as stress until discovering it was a rare brain tumour "We were told there would be a recurrence, but it took us by surprise, we thought we had more time." It comes after the NHS launched a new immunotherapy trial to treat glioblastoma and is seeking people to take part in it - after one patient saw his disease vanish. After Helen's first CT scan, at Prince Charles Hospital in Wales in Merthyr Tydfil, which revealed a mass, she was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Brent recalled getting the awful phone call from his son, revealing the devastating news in May 2019. He said: "I wasn't feeling well so I went to bed and expected our son Benjamin and Helen to be home within a couple of hours. 6 Helen with her grand-daughters Penny, on the left, and Nora Credit: SWNS 6 From the left, Emily, Benjamin, Brent and Helen - the gran spent lots of time with her family after her diagnosis Credit: SWNS "I got a call from Benjamin saying I needed to go to the hospital. "Confused as to what could be wrong, I went. "That was when our lives changed." Helen's initial surgery and six months of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy were thought to have been a success. She was monitored with quarterly scans as she continued to live an active life, and spend time with her family and her grandchildren. In late 2021, one of these scans showed the cancer had come back. Helen underwent another course of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy but an MRI scan in April 2022 revealed multiple inoperable tumours had developed. Just a week later, Helen's original pathology results showed she had a one-in-three million genetic mutation, which might respond to targeted medication. She never got to enjoy the role she was so excited for. All she ever wanted was to be a young nan, but this cruel disease robbed her of that Brent Arthur Sadly, by this point, Helen's condition had deteriorated, and treatment was not possible. Brent said: "We were all shocked and devastated. "We spent as much time together as possible, with the children and grandchildren. "Seeing Helen decline was difficult for us all." Helen is survived by husband Brent as well as children Emily, 35, and Benjamin, 33, and grandchildren Penny, six, Nora, four, Isaac, three, and Rhoda, one. Brent said: "Helen lived for her family. "She was looking forward to reducing her work hours so she could help care for our grandchildren. "That's what hurts the most, she never got to enjoy the role she was so excited for. "All she ever wanted was to be a young nan, but this cruel disease robbed her of that." Push for a cure Brent and his family have now raised more than £5,700 for Brain Tumour Research, enough to fund two days of research at one of the charity's Centres of Excellence. On Father's Day on June 15, Brent completed a 10,000-foot skydive in Helen's memory. Brent said: "Our family has been robbed of a wife, mother and grandmother, and more funding is desperately needed for research. "Without it, other families will continue to face the same heartbreak we've been going through." Each year in the UK, around 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma, yet just 160 will survive five years or more. What are the symptoms of glioblastoma and how soon do they show? Glioblastomas are the most common brain tumour in adults, while also being very aggressive and deadly. Brain Tumour Research says tumours increase pressure in the skull, causing headaches. Symptoms to look for are: Headaches Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Loss of balance Mood swings Problems speaking Problems with memory or concentration Seizures Impaired vision The symptoms can initially be quite non-specific, meaning they could be mistaken for lots of other conditions- even stress or a hangover. The brain controls so many different functions that symptoms can vary greatly depending on where in the brain the tumour is. Glioblastomas are very fast growing. Once found, experts can see them double within seven weeks. But, according to Dr Stephen Bagley, assistant professor of medicine at Penn Medicine, the first spark of glioblastoma in the brain remains something of a mystery to medical experts. One study concluded that a glioblastoma starts growing 330 days on average - almost a year - before a diagnosis. Another found that there are changes in immune function up to five years before a diagnosis, with markers in blood samples - but symptoms only occur three months prior. Glioblastoma accounts for one in three primary brain tumour diagnoses, and current treatment offers little in the way of long-term hope. Letty Greenfield, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Helen's story is heartbreaking and all too common. "Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options and a devastating prognosis. "We are incredibly grateful to Brent and his family for honouring Helen's memory through their fundraising. "It's support like this that helps us push for better outcomes and ultimately a cure."
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- North Wales Live
Woman robbed of seeing her grandchildren grow up after being told she had trapped nerve
A mum-of-two diedy from an aggressive brain tumour after her symptoms, which included back pain, were initially diagnosed as a trapped nerve. Helen Arthur, 57, from Merthyr Tydfil, first fell ill on Good Friday in April 2019, when she began to suffer from persistent back pain and visual issues. Her GP attributed the symptoms to a trapped nerve; however, Helen's condition failed to improve. Following the onset of headaches, an eye examination led to her being sent to hospital over concerns she might have had a minor stroke. Subsequent CT scans uncovered a mass on Helen's brain, leading to a diagnosis of glioblastoma, a relentless and terminal brain tumour. In May 2019, Helen underwent an operation to excise the tumour, which was then followed by half a year of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. Despite this, a routine scan in 2021 revealed the cancer's return, prompting another round of therapy. Later MRI scans showed the emergence of multiple untreatable tumours, and Helen's health declined too rapidly for further intervention. Helen sadly died in May 2022, three years post her initial surgery. Her husband, Brent Arthur, said: "We were told Helen had a brain tumour, which was a complete shock. The doctors said most people survive just two to three years. "Words left me, I was speechless. We were told there would be a recurrence, but it took us by surprise, we thought we had more time." Following Helen's initial CT scan at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, which detected a mass, she was moved to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Brent recounted the harrowing moment he received the call from his son in May 2019, breaking the grim news. He recalled: "I wasn't feeling well, so I went to bed and expected our son Benjamin and Helen to be home within a couple of hours. I got a call from Benjamin saying I needed to go to the hospital. "Confused as to what could be wrong, I went. That was when our lives changed." Helen underwent surgery and six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which initially seemed successful. She maintained an active lifestyle while being closely observed with quarterly scans. However, a scan in late 2021 revealed the cancer had returned, leading to another round of treatment for Helen, combining radiotherapy and chemotherapy. An MRI in April 2022 showed multiple tumours that were inoperable. Shortly after, it was discovered Helen had a rare genetic mutation potentially treatable with specific drugs, but her health had already declined too far for treatment. Brent said: "We were all shocked and devastated. We spent as much time together as possible, with the children and grandchildren. Seeing Helen decline was difficult for us all." Following her death, Helen left behind her husband Brent, along with children Emily, 35, and Benjamin, 33, plus grandchildren Penny, six, Nora, four, Isaac, three, and Rhoda, one. Brent said: "Helen lived for her family. She was looking forward to reducing her work hours so she could help care for our grandchildren. "That's what hurts the most, she never got to enjoy the role she was so excited for. All she ever wanted was to be a young nan, but this cruel disease robbed her of that." Brent and his relatives have since collected more than £5,700 for Brain Tumour Research, sufficient to support two days of investigation at one of the charity's Centres of Excellence. On Father's Day, Brent undertook a 10,000-foot skydive in Helen's honour. Brent said: "Our family has been robbed of a wife, mother and grandmother and more funding is desperately needed for research. Without it, other families will continue to face the same heartbreak we've been going through." Annually across the UK, approximately 3,200 people receive a glioblastoma diagnosis, though merely 160 will live beyond five years. Glioblastoma represents one in three primary brain tumour cases, with existing treatments providing minimal long-term prospects. Letty Greenfield, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Helen's story is heartbreaking and all too common. Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options and a devastating prognosis. "We are incredibly grateful to Brent and his family for honouring Helen's memory through their fundraising. It's support like this that helps us push for better outcomes and ultimately a cure."
