Driving often and without proper periods of relaxation, can cause muscle and joint injury.  Studies say that the most likely cause of long term spinal degeneration associated with trucking is from the vibration of the road which will never be totally removed.

      So, you need to do as much as possible to reduce or eliminate those things that are hard on your spine which you have control over.  The spine again is healthiest when it has full range of motion.  Use it or lose it definitely applies to the health of your joints.  When you are able, you have to offset the sitting position of your work by extending or arching your back.  Walking as often as you can (even short 15 min walks) and do back stretches.  Another important safety tip, is to not jump out of your rig and immediately bend to lift or tug on something.  Take a few minutes and walk around the truck and loose up.  Unless of course you like the bent-at-the-waist waddle you will likely have.

     Your diet is real important to the health of your spine, like any other area of your body.  Healthy foods build stronger bones and ligaments that can withstand more stresses of the road.  Artery clogging foods, specially containing high fats and hydrogenated oils, will have negative affect on the smaller arteries that feed the nerves and ligaments around the spine no longer supply the areas with blood flow.  The disc are supplied with the nutrients to remain healthy only by movement of the body and spine 'pumping' these fluid nutrients into and out of the area.  Again it all comes back to proper movement!!  Without movement discs herniated or degenerate depending on your age.  Smoking can accelerate the pattern of blood vessel disease affecting spinal and other tissues.  Do not believe me?  Ask a long term smoker about Bob Dole's problem - ED, erectile dysfunction, and see if he has a good poker face.

"THE DOCTOR OF THE FUTURE"

     The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease".  - Attributed to Thomas Edison, healthy is not by chance.  You have to make the effort to want to be healthy as you age.  To do that, you have to do things now to reduce the risk of injury, disease, and spinal stress (subluxations).

     Keep this in mind when consideration care choice.  According to a Duke University study, only 15% of Medical procedures are fully researched as to their effectiveness or safety.  Yet, for decades safety and effectiveness were the arguments medical lobbyists used to "convince" the insurance industry and government officials that Chiropractic care was not worthy of being included in insurance plans.  The same professor of the Duke study stated that only 1% of drug ads in Medical Journals were completely accurate.  So be very cautious when taking medications.  Be sure to ask for a copy of the drug manufactures side-effects advisory that is included with all drugs especially if a Physician gives you "samples".  Prescription drugs kill 125,000 Americans every year with an account for 10% of all hospitalizations.  Don't make them your first choice for care or wait until they seem to be your only choice!

     You all know the hazards of the road.  Those can be magnified by the use of drugs, the combination of drugs and some foods, and irregular sleep patterns to mention a few.  Treating the cause of spinal pain or chronic discomforts instead of masking it with drugs in your case may mean life or death on the road.  We have all seen the results of sleepy  or drugged drivers.  Truckers are being singled out.  Sure there are a lot of other drivers out there, especially the elderly, under the influence of medication that impair, but they are not driving rigs that are capable of rolling over most other vehicles.  So, take care of your body.  Get the necessary maintenance on your body's framework, your spine.

     Anything that moves needs special attention on a regular basis and the human body is not an exception.  If your front end is out of alignment those expensive tires will wear quickly.  If your spinal joints are out of alignment it will start to show signs of wear.  Extend the life of your rig and your other livelihood, your spinal health, by taking the time to service your body while your rig gets a drink or serviced.  Do not resort unknown use or regular drug relief unless absolutely necessary and do not wait until things are so severely painful that you are disabled to the point of not being able to work.  Remember back surgery has one of the highest failure rates of any still performed procedures.

EASIER SAID THAN DONE?

      You are right to a point.  But, there is a move to make all types of conveniences readily available to the trucking industry.  You have probably all seen on-site hair salons, fast food franchises, theaters, etc.  Maybe a Dentists office.  What is more important to the trucking industry on a regular basis, and so far long overdue as an onsite convenience.  You could realize the benefit of a care that Chiropractic care has returned injured workers to productive work at least twice as fast as Physical Therapy or hospital-based care at one third the cost.

ON-SITE CHIROPRACTIC CARE

      Definition of on-site Chiropractic Care Facilities - care delivered at a location which includes other services such as, convenience stores, diesel fuel, restrooms, and food.  There are a few on-site Chiropractic facilities available now. 

      It is up to you the truckers, those responsible for moving much of America's goods and services, to demand this service be made available to you.  Remember the public's protests when Chiropractors were jailed (refer to chiropractic history www.clukeychiro.com/about.htm).  Their voices were heard.  Make the requests.  Have your employer start putting pressure on service plazas to add a Chiropractic care facility on site. 

Adequate Health Care Should Not Be A Luxury!