Sam Furr Road Traffic: How Stressful Driving Impacts Your Neck and Back

/ Lakeside Chiropractic of Lake Norman/

Sam Furr Road / Hwy 73 traffic isn’t just frustrating—it’s physically stressful. Long commutes, stop-and-go driving, and poor seating posture quietly strain your neck and spine every day. Learn how traffic stress affects your body, how improper car seat posture makes it worse, and what simple adjustments can help protect your neck and back.

If you drive Sam Furr Road (NC-73) in Huntersville, you already know the routine—heavy congestion, frequent stops, tight merges, and tense commutes during peak hours. While traffic stress is often brushed off as “just part of life,” your body doesn’t ignore it—especially your neck, shoulders, and lower back.

Over time, stressful driving combined with poor seating posture can contribute to chronic discomfort, stiffness, and even nerve irritation.

Let’s break down why.

How Traffic Stress Affects Your Neck and Back

1. Muscle Tension from Stress

Stress triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, causing muscles—especially in the neck and shoulders—to tighten. In stop-and-go traffic, drivers often subconsciously brace their bodies, keeping muscles contracted for long periods.

Result:

  • Tight neck and shoulder muscles

  • Reduced blood flow

  • Headaches and upper back stiffness

2. Prolonged Static Posture

Driving keeps your spine in a fixed position, often longer than your body is designed to tolerate. When traffic slows, commute times increase—meaning your spine stays loaded without movement.

Result:

  • Spinal joint compression

  • Disc pressure in the lower back

  • Increased fatigue and soreness

3. Poor Car Seat Positioning Makes It Worse

Many drivers unknowingly sit in ways that strain the spine:

  • Slouched posture

  • Head pushed forward toward the steering wheel

  • Seat too far reclined or too upright

  • Steering wheel positioned too high or low

Over time, this posture stresses spinal joints and supporting muscles—especially in the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) spine.

How Improper Sitting Affects Your Neck and Back

Improper driving posture can lead to:

  • Forward head posture, increasing strain on neck muscles

  • Flattened lumbar curve, stressing spinal discs

  • Uneven shoulder loading, contributing to muscle imbalance

  • Nerve irritation, potentially causing pain, numbness, or tingling

Research shows that sustained poor sitting posture increases spinal load and muscle fatigue, especially during prolonged driving sessions.

How to Properly Sit in Your Car Seat

A few small adjustments can significantly reduce strain during your daily commute:

Seat Distance

  • Sit close enough so your knees are slightly bent

  • You should reach the pedals without locking your knees

Seat Height

  • Your hips should be level with or slightly higher than your knees

  • This supports your natural lumbar curve

Seatback Angle

  • Recline the seat 100–110 degrees

  • Avoid sitting fully upright or excessively reclined

Lumbar Support

  • Use built-in lumbar support or a small rolled towel

  • Support the natural inward curve of your lower back

Headrest Position

  • The headrest should support the middle of your head, not push it forward

  • Your ears should align roughly over your shoulders

When Traffic Pain Becomes a Pattern

If your neck or back pain:

  • Builds throughout the workweek

  • Feels worse after commuting

  • Comes with stiffness, headaches, or limited movement

…it may be a sign your spine isn’t handling daily stress well.

Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper spinal motion, reducing joint irritation, and helping your body adapt better to everyday stress—including long, frustrating drives.

Schedule an Appointment

If traffic stress is taking a toll on your neck or back, help is available.

Make an appointment with Dr. Joyce Battaglia, DC, CACCP
Lakeside Chiropractic
 https://LakesideChiro.com/appointment

Credible Sources

  • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Ergonomics.

  • Mayo Clinic. Office Ergonomics: Your How-To Guide.

  • Harvard Health Publishing. The Real Impact of Stress on the Body.

  • European Spine Journal. Effects of Driving Posture on Spinal Load and Muscle Activity.

  • Cleveland Clinic. Forward Head Posture and Neck Pain.