Choosing Truck Seats For Drivers With Knee Pain
Every truck driver knows that the job can take its toll on your body, and chronic knee pain is a common complaint among truck drivers. A common, painful knee condition called patellar tendonitis is even sometimes referred to as Trucker's Knee.
Choosing a truck seat with features that minimise strain on the knee joints can be a huge help, especially on long, multi-day journeys. Whether you are procuring new seats for your company, or you are an owner-operator looking for a new seat for your rig, look for truck seats with the following useful, pain-preventing features:
Fully Adjustable Positioning
In most cases, knee pain suffered by truck drivers is caused by constantly pressing down on the pedals to accelerate, brake, and operate the clutch. Over time, this constant pressure can strain the tendons and muscles in the knee joints, causing painful inflammation and microscopic tears in soft tissues.
The strain of long periods of pressing the pedals can be alleviated if you are seated in the right position. Moving your seat backwards and raising its height will allow your legs to stretch and extend, preventing your knees from seizing up. On the other hand, moving lower and closer reduces the distance between you and the pedals, minimising the pressure you have to place on them.
Different positions can be more or less comfortable in different situations, so you should choose a truck seat that can be adjusted across several planes of movement. Adjustable height and forward/backward positioning are most important, but lateral (side-to-side) repositioning can also help take the strain off your knees. Tilting seats can also be useful for laying back and stretching your legs and knees during downtime.
Consider investing in a seat with fully electronic positioning controls. These seats move at the touch of a button and are much safer to adjust while driving than manually positioned seats.
Seat Suspension
Your truck is fitted with shock absorbers to prevent damage caused by bumps and potholes, and your knees deserve the same protection. Shocks and vibrations caused by driving over uneven roads can travel through the pedals and up your legs, damaging your knee joints and aggravating any pre-existing pain.
A truck seat fitted with mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic suspension will help to absorb shocks passing through the driver's cab. Seat suspension can provide protection for your knees, as well as your back, hips and shoulders.
Mechanical suspension is cost-effective but usually provides less protection than pneumatic or hydraulic suspension. Hydraulic suspension is the gold standard and is fitted to the most expensive, top-of-the-line seat models.
Back And Lumbar Support
Choosing a seat with good back support to protect your knees might not make much sense until you remember that the knees and back are both connected to the sciatic nerve. This long nerve starts at the small of your back and runs down your legs and through the back of each of your knees.
This connection means that damage to your back can cause pain in your knees and vice-versa, a phenomenon known as deferred pain. Protecting your back from the strain of long drives can be a surprisingly effective way to lessen knee pain. Look for a seat with adjustable lumbar support and backrest bolsters. Adjustable shoulder supports can also help support your spine and minimise problems with deferred pain.
For more information about truck seats, contact a local supplier.