7 Healthcast: Commuter back pain

Robin Gennarelli spends three hours a day in her car. She found the more time she spent behind the wheel, the more her back and neck hurt.

"My muscles were always bunched and being in the car for over an hour everyday going to and from work certainly didn't make it better," she said.

Commuter back pain is a common problem.

"It causes abnormal pressure in the low back that can cause the vertebrae to shift out of the normal position and that pressure on the nerve causes numbness, tingling pain in the low back and down our legs," said chiropractor Dr.Deken Smith.

Dr. Smith helped Robin make some adjustments to the way she sits in her car. The key is to make sure your knees are higher than your hips, and if traffic allows, use cruise control so you're not extending one leg out and putting pressure on your low back. Also, if your car doesn't come with lumbar support, add a supportive device to your seat.

"As you get in your car in the morning tomorrow, bring the seat forward so you're not extending to the steering wheel and putting your low back in harms way," says Dr.Smith.

Experts say bucket seats in sports cars are especially bad because your hips are too low, and that puts extra pressure on your spine.

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