Low back pain among bus and coach drivers

Working long shifts as a bus or coach driver means prolonged sitting in a constrained posture. As a result, driving is associated with high risk of low back pain. As a driver, treating your posture problems should be a priority, as it might prevent you from working for long periods.

Why are bus and coach drivers at risk of developing back pain?

Posture problems and low back pain in bus and coach drivers are associated with both physical and psychological risk factors.

Physical risk factors

Most commonly identified factors include prolonged sitting and whole-body vibration exposure. Individual factors such as age, weight, height and general health status are also shown to be risk factors.

Psychological risk factors

Psychological stress can occur due to heavy traffic, passenger hostility, long working hours and short lunch breaks. This stress can lead to muscle tightness which can then cause posture problems.

Low back pain treatments

If you are suffering from lower back pain, it could be worth trying manual therapy. This is a treatment where your practitioner manipulates and moves your joints using skilled hand movements.

Depending on your specific symptoms you can decide between a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor, as their approach is slightly different.

• Physiotherapists look at how the nerves, muscles and bones in your body are affected and look at exercise therapy
• Osteopaths make sure all your bones, muscles and joints function smoothly together through manual therapy
• Chiropractors examine how your bones, muscles and joints affect your nervous system and general health and focus on manipulation of the spine

For more information on osteopathy, please visit our dedicated post.

Financial Assistance

Unfortunately, low back injuries can cause severe pain and possibly interrupt your work schedule for long periods. As a result, this could significantly reduce what you earn and put a strain on your budget.

We understand that our members are likely to experience aches and pains due to working on the buses or coaches daily. We try to encourage them to seek treatment for these conditions from registered practitioners at an early stage and try and prevent any future serious sickness.

This is why we provide members of our Sickness and Adult Savings Plans with reimbursements towards physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatments*. This means that after members had treatment and paid for it, we will reimburse 100% of the cost up to £200 per year. To find out more about our discretionary benefits, please visit our Dental, Optical & Osteopathic Claims section.

*Our members become eligible for Discretionary Benefits that include osteopathy grants after 12 months contributions have been paid into a Sickness or Adult Savings Plan.