October 29, 2018

5 Tips for Driving When You Have Arthritis or Back Problems

Here's how to make yourself more comfortable behind the wheel

Driver and passenger in car.

If arthritis or back problems make driving a car difficult and painful, you may fear you’ll have to stop driving. But don’t give up yet. With work and some modifications, you should be able to remain comfortably in the driver’s seat.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“People with arthritis that impacts their ability to function, including driving, should start by talking to their doctor about medications and other treatment options to help alleviate pain,” says Patrick Baker, MHS, OTR/L, CLVT, CDRS, an occupational therapist with Cleveland Clinic’s Driver Rehabilitation Program.

Baker also recommends going to a physical therapist or occupational therapist. “When you have painful arthritis, too much activity can exacerbate the pain, but doing too little will make it hurt even more,” he explains. “You have to strike the right balance.”

A physical therapist can work with you on exercises for stretching and strengthening. “With good muscle tone, joints can better do what they’re supposed to do,” he says. “You can also learn how to pace yourself, so you can take full advantage of your abilities without overdoing it.”

Advertisement

What you can do to make yourself more comfortable

There are simple steps you can take to minimize pain and accommodate limited range of motion when driving. Here are Baker’s top recommendations:

  1. Change how you get in and out of the car. To get in, face away from the seat. Sit and then swivel in. Do not twist your back. To get out, swivel out facing away from the seat. Scoot forward as much as possible. Use the door frame to assist, as needed. Devices, such as a strap with a handle, can be attached to the door frame for added support.
  2. Use a firm seat cushion to raise yourself up in the seat. This may also help you to see past the windshield of the vehicle, as well as the position of the vehicle relative to other objects.
  3. Help your stiff and painful hands out. Wear gloves (such as leather) that provide traction on the steering wheel to reduce the amount of grip strength required. Or use a padded steering wheel cover. You can also talk to an occupational therapist about joint protection strategies, exercises and splints.
  4. Compensate for your neck pain. Work with a physical therapist to improve range of motion in your neck and maximize flexibility in the spine. Also, when checking blind spots or reversing the car, rotate your upper and lower back to compensate for any neck limitations. Remember: Blind spot mirrors and side and rear radar detection can be helpful, but they aren’t a guarantee of safety. And when possible, park so that it’s not necessary to back up when leaving.
  5. Look for the right features when buying a new car. If it’s time for an upgrade, consider several features: Ease of getting in and out of the vehicle, power seating, radar detection (to the side, front and rear) and look for large mirrors on the outside of the vehicle.

Seek out a driving rehab specialist if you’re still uncomfortable

If problems with your back, knees, hips, hands or neck still make driving too uncomfortable, Baker recommends consulting a certified driving rehabilitation specialist. You can find one in your area on the website of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists.

“There often is more than one issue making driving more difficult, including medical conditions not related to arthritis,” he says. Certified driver rehabilitation specialists are occupational therapists trained to look at the entire person and make appropriate recommendations.

Advertisement

“Driving is the most hazardous activity we do on a daily basis,” Baker says. “It takes our whole body to do it — physically, mentally, visually — so we need to be at our best.” The goal of a driver rehabilitation program is to figure out how to keep you on the road for as long as it is possible and safe.

This article originally appeared in Cleveland Clinic Arthritis Advisor.

Related Articles

Person shoveling snow
March 14, 2024
Shoveling Snow? Tips To Prevent Back Injury or Pain

Stretch before heading outside, keep proper form and avoid jerking or twisting to throw snow

Patient at doctor office with physician checking their back
March 11, 2024
Is It Time To See a Doctor for My Aching Back?

It’s always a good idea to let a healthcare provider know about any back pain you’re experiencing, especially if it results from trauma or persists longer than three months

physical therapist working with patient on their back
March 4, 2024
12 Ways To Treat Your Back Pain Without Surgery

From physical and biofeedback therapy to nerve ablations and blocks, there are many nonsurgical options for managing back pain

Person rubbing painful wrists and hands on lap.
November 16, 2023
16 Hand and Wrist Exercises To Help Ease Arthritis Pain

Simple exercises like tendon glides and finger lifts can have a big impact

man running while wearing compression socks
August 16, 2023
Everything You Need To Know About Compression Socks

Safe to wear for most people, compression socks promote better blood circulation in your legs

Patient with back pain walking into doctor's appointment while doctor holds door.
August 1, 2023
7 Causes of Chronic Pain

Arthritis, migraines and endometriosis are common causes of chronic pain

person sitting up in bed and rubbing neck
June 27, 2023
Why You Wake Up With Stiff Joints

Some creakiness is typical after rest, but longer-lasting stiffness may be other issues

Variety of vegetables including a yellow bell pepper, tomatoes and eggplant.
March 15, 2023
Arthritis: Should You Avoid Nightshade Vegetables?

Research is inconclusive, so don’t stop eating tomatoes, potatoes and peppers just yet

Trending Topics

White bowls full of pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate and various kinds of nuts
25 Magnesium-Rich Foods You Should Be Eating

A healthy diet can easily meet your body’s important demands for magnesium

Woman feeling for heart rate in neck on run outside, smartwatch and earbuds
Heart Rate Zones Explained

A super high heart rate means you’re burning more than fat

Spoonful of farro salad with tomato
What To Eat If You’ve Been Diagnosed With Prediabetes

Type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable with these dietary changes

Ad