Aches and Pains
Discussion
Hello,
I'm 5'7, 24 year old guy. I have recently purchased an MR2 MK3 on sunday, this is the first car of this car I've owned as before its been a Yaris and a Punto! Everything is reat, love the car, test drive was great, hour and a half drive home was great, however since then I've been getting an ache/pain in my right arm, mainly right shoulder from driving and it becomes uncomfortable after around 5-10 minutes. Left arm is fine and I don' t really have any other problems apart from feeling a bit uncomfortable.
I've never been in the low slung position while driving before so could that be it? I've tried adjusting the seat and steering wheel but as its something really odd (to me) I'm really sure how to adjust it so I'm kind of just trying things out.
Could anyone help with this or is there an ideal seating position for this kind of car? I really don't want to get rid of the car at all and apart from my right arm/shoulder I don't really have any issues.
Cheers!
I'm 5'7, 24 year old guy. I have recently purchased an MR2 MK3 on sunday, this is the first car of this car I've owned as before its been a Yaris and a Punto! Everything is reat, love the car, test drive was great, hour and a half drive home was great, however since then I've been getting an ache/pain in my right arm, mainly right shoulder from driving and it becomes uncomfortable after around 5-10 minutes. Left arm is fine and I don' t really have any other problems apart from feeling a bit uncomfortable.
I've never been in the low slung position while driving before so could that be it? I've tried adjusting the seat and steering wheel but as its something really odd (to me) I'm really sure how to adjust it so I'm kind of just trying things out.
Could anyone help with this or is there an ideal seating position for this kind of car? I really don't want to get rid of the car at all and apart from my right arm/shoulder I don't really have any issues.
Cheers!
Coulld that cause the ache? The ache feels like the kind of ache when you're holding something up for a long while, like shopping. It's okay when I put my hand down on my lap or rest it. I thought for a bit that the steering wheel might too high but I've lowered that then I thought maybe the steering wheel was pulling on me so I was having to pull back slightly but, even though the actually steering wheel is a little of centre from the looks of it the car travels in a straight line fine.
I will check for that though, thanks.
I will check for that though, thanks.
Are the pedals offset at all? For some reason my Mk 1 MR2 used to destroy my right knee and right shoulder after an hour or so - I guess I was twisting / straining somehow to get comfortable.. I had to get rid because of it sadly..
Having said that it could hopefully just you getting used to it?
Having said that it could hopefully just you getting used to it?
OP, this sounds very much like a driving position issue to me - should be easy to sort.
Start by setting your seat height as low as you can manage whilst maintaining a good view oiut of the windscreen and side windows. Then adjust the seat on it's runners so that, with the clutch fully depressed, your left leg is still slightly bent. Then adjust the angle of the seat backrest and wheel until you're in a position where you're slightly reclined and with your arms fully outstretched and your shoulders against the seat back, you can rest your wrists on the top of the wheel.
Steering wheel height should allow a good view of the instruments and the centre should be about level with your chest.
When you're driving, don't grip the wheel too tightly - just maintain a light grip and try to keep your body relaxed. It's quite common for drivers to tense their lower back and buttocks when they're feeling stressed or going outside their normal comfort zone. That can manifest itself with neck, shoulder and even arm aches, so keeping the whole of your body relaxed when driving is very important.
Don't lean forward in your seat - try to ensure your back, from your backside up to yoir shoulder blades, stays in contact with the seat back. Also, relax your left leg away from the clutch - on the clutch footrest preferably if it's got one - whilst not using the clutch.
Start by setting your seat height as low as you can manage whilst maintaining a good view oiut of the windscreen and side windows. Then adjust the seat on it's runners so that, with the clutch fully depressed, your left leg is still slightly bent. Then adjust the angle of the seat backrest and wheel until you're in a position where you're slightly reclined and with your arms fully outstretched and your shoulders against the seat back, you can rest your wrists on the top of the wheel.
Steering wheel height should allow a good view of the instruments and the centre should be about level with your chest.
When you're driving, don't grip the wheel too tightly - just maintain a light grip and try to keep your body relaxed. It's quite common for drivers to tense their lower back and buttocks when they're feeling stressed or going outside their normal comfort zone. That can manifest itself with neck, shoulder and even arm aches, so keeping the whole of your body relaxed when driving is very important.
Don't lean forward in your seat - try to ensure your back, from your backside up to yoir shoulder blades, stays in contact with the seat back. Also, relax your left leg away from the clutch - on the clutch footrest preferably if it's got one - whilst not using the clutch.
I'm a lot older than you, & have developed mild Carpal tunnel syndrome. My hand will get very sore if I spent all day hammering nails or some such. No problem if I do half a day every day, so I have to pace my self.
It started playing up in my left hand when driving. It was only a couple of years later when I bought a TR7 I found it only happened with some cars, & not in the 7.
Then I bought the Honda S2000, it didn't cause the problem either & the penny finally dropped. I had no trouble if the wheel was exactly straight in front of me. If it was even slightly offset to the left, or at a slight angle to my body I quickly developed pain.
It still took a little while to realise that with the offset wheel I was cocking my left wrist when turning right, & doing most of the steering with my left hand.
It is very hard to stop doing something you are doing unconsciously. I would uncock that wrist 50 times in a 25 kilometre drive, but find it cocked again every time I thought of it in the problem cars.
It took over a year to train my unconscious not to do it, but I have finally won. I no longer have that problem.
It might take a while to find what you are holding tensed in your MR2, but I expect that will be your problem. If you can drive a car you have had no problem in, you might be able to see what you are doing differently.
Good luck with it, it is not east to find out, but you should win eventually.
It started playing up in my left hand when driving. It was only a couple of years later when I bought a TR7 I found it only happened with some cars, & not in the 7.
Then I bought the Honda S2000, it didn't cause the problem either & the penny finally dropped. I had no trouble if the wheel was exactly straight in front of me. If it was even slightly offset to the left, or at a slight angle to my body I quickly developed pain.
It still took a little while to realise that with the offset wheel I was cocking my left wrist when turning right, & doing most of the steering with my left hand.
It is very hard to stop doing something you are doing unconsciously. I would uncock that wrist 50 times in a 25 kilometre drive, but find it cocked again every time I thought of it in the problem cars.
It took over a year to train my unconscious not to do it, but I have finally won. I no longer have that problem.
It might take a while to find what you are holding tensed in your MR2, but I expect that will be your problem. If you can drive a car you have had no problem in, you might be able to see what you are doing differently.
Good luck with it, it is not east to find out, but you should win eventually.
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