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SUV's bad for backs?

Headshot

I don't have the best of backs and I believe my Skoda SUV seats making it worse, so I was of the opinion of moving to a Volvo as they have orthopaedic designed seats and lumbar support.

I had my mind set on a new Volvo SUV but been doing some research and maybe i'm wrong to go down the SUV route as there not be best for backs?

High vehicles have a higher centre of gravity lots of bouncing and vibration? I certainly do feel the vibration in my Skoda SUV

Is there any general consensus in SUVs and back issues? Personally I think if the car has a proper suspension you should be okay?

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Irishphotodesk

Most modern vehicles have excellent lumbar support, what you may be experiencing is your bodys reaction to the seat being in correct position.

colm_mcm

To put into context, an SUV is an American yoke the size of a bungalow with cart springs. When you read about SUVs pitching from side to side, they’re not talking about the likes of a Karoq.

Not nitpicking one your use of ‘SUV’

colm_mcm

Irishphotodesk wrote: »

Most modern vehicles have excellent lumbar support, what you may be experiencing is your bodys reaction to the seat being in correct position.

Oddly, when I got my Skoda first, my back was killing me and I thought there was something wrong with the seats, despite them being bigger and having better adjustment and support than on the Civic it replaced.
Happy to say my back is better than it’s been in years now.

Henry Ford III

colm_mcm wrote: »

To put into context, an SUV is an American yoke the size of a bungalow with cart springs. When you read about SUVs pitching from side to side, they’re not talking about the likes of a Karoq.

Not nitpicking one your use of ‘SUV’

Most of our SUV's are actually crossovers which are higher riding versions of more normal vehicles.

_Brian

I damaged my back in a RTA many years ago to the extent I was off my feet for 18 months.

Seat height is a big deal for me. Need to get my seat height so I can sit up straight. Knees at 90%, back good and upright.

They other key is lots and lots of walking and stretching.

martian1980

What cars have people found good for back support for tall people (6’3+)?

colm_mcm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Most of our SUV's are actually crossovers which are higher riding versions of more normal vehicles.

Yep, and I’ve no problem with people calling Crossovers SUVs. They’re pretty ambiguous descriptions anyway.

kirving

For the most part, I cannot stand VAG seats.

From a Mk4 Golf with comfort seats, to a new Passat, after an hour my back is sore, and I have no other issues with my back. Others have no issues at all.

Volvo in my experience have been amazing as they tend to use cable tension for lumbar support, Ford and Merc are grand.

Can't say I've spent enough time in other brands to comment. Of course brand generalisations are wrong as there's a difference between a VW Up! and an Audi A8, but my own experience of middle of the road stuff, the VW design approach doesn't seem to suit me personally.

Leather is by far the best as you can make small movements and slide on the seat to get comfortable.

listermint

If you can do Yoga for a month to start. You will be trying to describe the back pain afterwards because it will be a memory.

Yoga is excellent for stretching and retraining and strenghtening the muscles.

Youll get none of this from a car seat selection.

biko

I used to have a bad back and drove SUV without a problem.
Rather than lumping all SUV together, look at individual brands.

Also, SUVs are actually better for your back as it's a better height to step in and out of.

freddieot

I had my hip replaced years ago and my back is also prone to give some minor issues. changed to a Santa Fe, then Kia Sorrento, the X5 then Kodiaq last year.

The Skoda seats are by far the best (although I only had standard seats in the BMW and sports in the Skoda) . There is a lot of adjustment on them but once you find the correct setting they are very comfortable.

Another issue I have is getting and out. One friend has a Celica and other has a 5 series. Nightmare for me to lower myself into these and get our again. I suppose it's partly because I'm used to just sitting into (on to) the SUVs. That's probably one of the reasons I personally would not go for a car in the future.

a

Barr

I always assumed SUV type vehicle was more suited to people with back issues . The higher driving positions/getting in and out etc surely is better than any equivalent "cars "

Mad_maxx

They're more suited to someone with a bad back

maddness

Is your car a manual? If so consider an automatic as every time you press a clutch pedal you are twisting your spine a fraction. Also put your seat base up high and if the adjustment allows, put the front of the seat base as low as possible. The idea is it get your knees lower than your hips.
Google car seat position for back problems.

Headshot

I read this

https://spinenation.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/best-cars-to-buy-for-people-with-bad-backs-the-ultimate-buyers-guide

But it's not completely against SUVs but large vehicles high off the ground

Belfast

Maybe you should consult a chiropractor about you back and they might have some advice on what cars is best for you back.
My sister changed from a Skoda Superb to a Skoda Karoq as was easier to get in and out of due back issues.
Swivel seats can be added if getting in or out of a car is an issue.
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ba_barabus

biko wrote: »

Rather than lumping all SUV together, look at individual brands.

This!

As a rule I generally find Skoda seats uncomfrtable unless they are in the high spec models, VW seem to get the better seats in the mid range models.

My Avensis has brilliant seats but it's the highest spec, go for low spec and they mess my back up.

Ford seats as a rule however leave me crippled.

Not all seats in all cars are the same.

Belfast

Headshot wrote: »

I read this

https://spinenation.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/best-cars-to-buy-for-people-with-bad-backs-the-ultimate-buyers-guide

But it's not completely against SUVs but large vehicles high off the ground

good article, but the cars mentioned are cars in America.

What car has best seats for my bad back?
https://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/what-car-has-best-seats-for-my-bad-back-im-buying-a-car-with-my-parents-advice-30699710.html

Mad_maxx

Belfast wrote: »

Maybe you should consult a chiropractor about you back and they might have some advice on what cars is best for you back.
My sister changed from a Skoda Superb to a Skoda Karoq as was easier to get in and out of due back issues.
Swivel seats can be added if getting in or out of a car is an issue.

might as well consult a horoscope

chiropractors are quacks

NSAman

Bad back? Forget the crossovers.. time to get a Dodge Ram 1500..lumber support plenty of room and a great driving position for those long journeys...this is from someone with terrible back issues.

bazz26

A bad back is a very general term and it would depend on the individual's back problem as to what they find comfortable or uncomfortable. Volvo seats are some of the most comfortable out there including their SUV crossovers, however some people with back injuries/problems feel more comfortable in a firmer seat. OP needs to go test drive the various models, maybe try and get an extended test drive for a few days or weekend from a dealer to see how your back copes.

Belfast

Mad_maxx wrote: »

might as well consult a horoscope

chiropractors are quacks

That is rather a sweeping statement.
The one I went to in Glengormley Belfast I found to be very good.
He was trained in Australia.
How Chiropractors Are Trained In Australia
https://amberlaris.com.au/further-information/how-chiropractors-are-trained-in-australia/
I sure there other medical practitioners that one could go to about back problems and cars.

Superfoods

Headshot wrote: »

I don't have the best of backs and I believe my Skoda SUV seats making it worse, so I was of the opinion of moving to a Volvo as they have orthopaedic designed seats and lumbar support.

I had my mind set on a new Volvo SUV but been doing some research and maybe i'm wrong to go down the SUV route as there not be best for backs?

High vehicles have a higher centre of gravity lots of bouncing and vibration? I certainly do feel the vibration in my Skoda SUV

Is there any general consensus in SUVs and back issues? Personally I think if the car has a proper suspension you should be okay?

The problem is not the SUV/Crossover. The problem is the Skoda. They have awful seats.

Most Crossover are better for backs because you are not bending etc getting in/out.

screamer

The key to it is that your hip needs to be higher than your knees when seated to take the pressure off your back. I don’t have an SUV or whatever they’re called. I have a people carrier sharan and a newer Toyota Land Cruiser both are great for me and my bad back. Borrowed a family members car recently when mine was being serviced and it was god awful to sit that low again in a car.

Green farmer

Have owned alot of different car brands over the years including some luxury brands , but most comfortable car I ever had was a previous generation citroen grand picasso. Always found that whatever way citroen set up the car, I never got a sore back from it. Even after long journeys of several hours, no issues. The new C5 crossover is meant to be comfortable as well ?

Wildly Boaring

I had to get rid of a Kuga after 9 months due to my back.

Knew after 2 that it was a problem but suffered on just in case I'd hurt my back elsewhere
(Causation not equal correlation)

Anyway a physio reckoned that the more upright position was harder on my lower back.
I reckoned that going through bends hard in a wallowing Kuga was making me brace my back continually.

I have a bad back from a youth of labour, weights and sport injuries. I am also 6 foot 3.

Car before was a 5 series, 3 series before that, Leon FR now. Though I hurt my back from time to time these cars have not exasperated it.

When driving SUVs / crossovers my physio recommended getting the seat as laid back as possible with the piece under your ass sloping up from ass to knees. (Doctors differ and patients die)

Belfast

These guys do back support for the home, office and car.
https://back-shop.com/

YellowBucket

The most important thing is the type of seat and whether the car actually fits your body size. We're not all the same height, so some car seats just aren't great for certain shapes of people.

I know I have found certain luxury cars, including Audi absolutely horribly painful on my lower back, and I can't get comfortable in them without pillows, while I've found a C-HR very comfortable.

I would suggest sitting in the seats, seeing what you think of them, and where the pressure points are.

Even in a given type of car, you can well have multiple seat options which can be very different depending on whether it's a basic or deluxe options and even sometimes the deluxe options can be less comfortable than the basic ones. For example the luxury packs can just mean more leather and a 'sportier' seat which can actually be quite hard on your lower back.

It's all highly subjective.