Why do your legs hurt while driving? Leg pain while driving occurs when the nerves on your back and legs are compressed and pinched over a long duration with minimal movement. While driving, your right leg is more prone to aches and soreness as it's doing all the work from controlling the brake and accelerator.
When you drive, you're in a prolonged static position, which can cause stiffness and discomfort — particularly in your knees, shoulders, and low back. However, stretching before, during, and after your drive can have a significant impact in how you feel.
This is due to compression of the nerve or stretching of the blood vessels that supply the nerve. Even slight blood flow decrease supplying the nerve can be enough to affect the nerve impulses and cause the leg to feel like it is 'falling asleep.
One of the muscles that is frequently overused when driving are the peroneal & tibial muscles on the outside of the lower leg. The peroneal longus & brevis muscles flex the foot downwards as well as evert the foot. With the frequent use in stop & go traffic, the peroneals tire out and become tight over time.
You get shin splints from overloading your leg muscles, tendons or shin bone. Most often, the activity that causes the injury is high impact and repetitive exercise of your lower legs. This is why runners, dancers, and gymnasts often get shin splints.
If you're experiencing front of leg and shin pain, you may have caused trauma to the area or the muscle directly by: Falling. Increasing workout intensity or duration. Striking the lower leg.
It may take time. Bourne has had patients take two months to overcome a driving phobia, and others take two years.
This usually happens when a driver has not slept enough, but it can also happen because of untreated sleep disorders or shift work. Prescription and over-the-counter medications can also cause drowsiness, and alcohol can interact with sleepiness to increase both impairment and drowsiness.
Long drives can also cause sleepiness because of the effects of task-related fatigue. Task-related fatigue may happen when a person is either over- or under-stimulated while driving. This means that familiar or monotonous drives may lead to drivers feeling sleepy behind the wheel.
Make an appointment with your health care provider if:
You have pain during or after walking. You have swelling in both legs. Your pain gets worse. Your symptoms don't get better after a few days of treating them at home.
Drivers are more likely to suffer from plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis of the right foot because of repetitive plantar flexion (downward motion) of the foot when pressing the gas and brake pedals. This condition is particularly common in people who have a lack of flexibility of the calf muscles.
Blood clots can form in your legs if you sit for long periods of time. This is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (AKA: Truckers Leg Syndrome) and the dangers could lead to serious injury or death regardless of your current health status.
What is Driver's Foot? Driver's foot describes a condition where your foot cramps when you drive. Other symptoms include heel pain, pain in the ball of your foot or pain in your big toe and across the top of your foot. Usually, the pain develops on long drives or when you're stuck in heavy traffic.
Legs: As mentioned, your legs should be out in front of you, with your knees and hips as close to being aligned as possible. Never drive with your hips lower than your knees. Your knees should be slightly bent, but your feet should still be able to reach the pedals easily for good control.
Combining running and walking with strength training and other forms of aerobic exercise like swimming, elliptical training and cycling can add variety to your workout and can greatly improve your performance. Sports like soccer and basketball are great for improving leg power as well.
Leg Pain Can Indicate Risk for a Heart Attack or Stroke
Peripheral artery disease that causes leg pain can be indicative of heart issues. People that have PAD are at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced.
Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.