Car, Commute Could Be Causing Back Pain

The daily commute can be a tedious nightmare for area drivers.

"I think we all start to see these reports that our commutes are just getting longer and longer, and because of this, I think people are finding they have more instances of low back pain simply because they're in the car so much longer," back specialist Dr. Jeff Phelps said.

The cartilage in the spine is like an organic shock absorber. The vibrations of vehicles can eventually wear that cartilage out.

"It's not unlike taking a piece of metal or a spoon and repeatedly bending that spoon back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until that spoon fails," Phelps said. "I think the majority of people generally complain of just a core, uncomfortable tightness in their lower back after they've been in the car for 30, 45 minutes, or something like that."