RISK OF WHIPLASH DUE TO BAD SEATING POSITIONS

SOUTH EAST DRIVERS AT RISK OF WHIPLASH DUE TO



SOUTH EAST DRIVERS AT RISK OF WHIPLASH DUE TO BAD SEATING POSITIONS






Drivers in the South East who fail to wear seatbelts correctly are at risk of injury according to the British Osteopathic Association (BOA). While most people1 are fully aware that wearing a seatbelt saves lives, the majority are not aware that the way they sit in a car plays a huge part in their personal safety.



The results of a survey by the BOA2, released ahead of Back Care Awareness Week (11-15 October,) has found that almost one in ten (9%) of drivers in the South East sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash. To be effective, the belt should be sitting over the bones of the pelvis and not the stomach preventing internal injuries and in contact with the shoulder to prevent serious neck injury. Sitting too far from the belt can often lead to submarining - where the occupant slips under the belt which can cause catastrophic injuries.



Forty four per cent (44%) of all South East drivers do not drive in a position where their head is close enough to the head restraint or they sit too far back for their seatbelt to be effective, so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury. Furthermore, only 6.5 % of people adjust the head restraint regularly, despite the fact that most people travel in a variety of vehicles (as drivers, passengers and in taxis for example) and 45.7% said they never adjusted their head rest at all.



Head restraints work by catching and supporting the head in the event of a rear end crash and so reduce the chance of permanent soft tissue damage. A correctly adjusted head restraint should be as close to the back of the head as possible and as high as the top of the occupant’s head, meaning head movement in relation to their body is reduced as the car and seat is punted forward when hit from behind. In addition the drivers’ seat should be at the correct distance so that a properly positioned seat belt is low across the hips and pelvis, with the shoulder belt firmly across the chest and collarbone.



Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for the 8.2 % who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel. Drivers with a gap of less than 12 inches between themselves and the steering wheel when driving are at risk of receiving the full force of an airbag deploying in a crash involving the front of the vehicle.



Airbags have to inflate very quickly (some at over 200 mph) in order to protect the head and chest of drivers and passengers in the event of a frontal crash. Therefore an airbag needs enough space in front of the steering wheel in order to inflate properly. People who are shorter than around 5' 2” (1.57m) often sit too close to the steering wheel and may be injured by the inflating airbag. A safe distance is around 12 inches – the size of an A4 piece of paper placed lengthways.



Danny Williams, BOA Council Member, said: “While most of us are aware that seatbelts save lives, it’s fair to say that the majority of us don’t know that the way we sit in a vehicle also plays a huge part in our safety and wellbeing.



“The position of the head restraint, how far or close we sit to the steering wheel and how long we spend sitting at the wheel without having a break are can cause long-lasting neck and back injuries.”



Matthew Avery, Crash Research Manager at Thatcham, said: “Vehicle safety has moved on at a pace with numerous new technologies now available designed to help avoid or mitigate injury during a collision. Whilst many seats and head restraints perform well in protecting the occupant, this research goes to show that too many drivers are still subject to avoidable risks by not taking the time to adjust their head restraints correctly.”



- Ends -



For further information contact:

Kirsty Marshall

020 8964 0260 / 07980 649 501

kirsty@vp-pr.com





Notes to editors



About the British Osteopathic Association

The British Osteopathic Association (BOA) is the professional association for osteopaths in the UK, acting as an independent representative body whilst promoting osteopathy to the general public and government. Established in 1998 the BOA is committed to supporting, protecting and caring for its members and promoting opportunities for individual and professional development in osteopathic practice. There are nearly 4,000 osteopaths on the UK register who carried out over seven million treatments last year, and many of these are affiliated to the British Osteopathic Association. For more information and to search for an osteopath, visit the website www.osteopathy.org



References

1Esure survey published 30/6/2010 found 85% of women always wear seat belts compared with 73% of men

2The research for BOA was carried out online by Opinion Matters between 14/09/2010 and 20/09/2010 amongst a panel resulting in 1435 UK Adult respondents. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines

3The total UK motoring population based on DfT Transport Statistics - 33,522,106 motor vehicles currently licensed as at 2006. 14,816,770 is a projected figure based on the 1435 motorists surveyed



BOA research statistics



National

• 54% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 54% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 62% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 18% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



East

• 44% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 58% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• One in ten drivers (13%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 16.2% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 55% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 51% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 66% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 13% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



London

• 45% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 45% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• One fifth of drivers (19%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 16% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 61% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 52% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle

• 61% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 18% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



Midlands

• 42% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 50% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• One in ten drivers (13%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 17% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 54% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 55% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 64% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 25% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



North East

• 35% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 51% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• Almost one in ten drivers (7%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for one in ten drivers 10% who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 52% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 52% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 56% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 13% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



North West

• 39% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 55.8% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• 14% of drivers sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 12% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 60% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 60% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 61% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 13% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



Scotland

• 46% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 47.4% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• 15% of drivers sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 8.2% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 55% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 57% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 59% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 22% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



South East

• 44% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 45.7% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• Almost one in ten drivers (9%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 17% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 44% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 51% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 61% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 22% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



South West

• 50% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 12% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 49.6% of drivers never adjust their head restraint14% of drivers sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• 52% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 53% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 60% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 14% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



Wales

• 40% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 52% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• One in ten drivers (10%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 14.3% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 49% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 43% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 60% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 12% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.



Yorkshire

• 54% of drivers do not have their head close enough to the head restraint so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury

• 53% of drivers never adjust their head restraint

• 16% of drivers sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.

• Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an airbag during an accident is also a very real possibility for 9% of drivers who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel.

• 62% of drivers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 57% of passengers do not have their seat at the correct angle.

• 64% of people do not have their head restraint positioned correctly.

• 24% of people sit in a vehicle for 6 hours or more a week.

Team Fine Fettle

Since my last blog, Team Fine Fettle have been working hard at local events.

Early on Sunday 5th September, the “Team” set off to set up for the Badger Half Marathon which started in Leatherhead and then over the beautiful countryside of Norbury Park and back to the start. An early start to set up the couches, and then a wait for the first runners to come in. The first runner Tim Elsey came home first in a new course record of 1.15.17. In the ladies race Rose Nicholson from Woking AC stormed to victory in an excellent 1.25.28.

Mel Healy, Joss Hudspith, Caroline Adderly and Helen Bullen where the therapists on the day and had their work cut out with almost two hours of solid post-event massage and injury support, once the main body of runners came across the finishing line. A hard morning with many tired runners as the course was a hilly one. We raised over £80 for the Rainbow Trust Charity.

 
Last Sunday saw the Fine Fettle Team out again at the Bacchus Half and Full Marathon event. This was the first time it had been run and the emphasis was on fun, as runners were encouraged to don fancy dress and sample wine en route.

Team Fine Fettle were once again manning the massage and injury support area and, much to my better judgement, I was actually doing the half marathon. Not only did I agree to run it, but somewhere along the line I decided with some friends it would be good fun to dress up and all run it together. This meant 9 cave girls on the run!!!

 

Us at the start

  

Supporting Chase charity

 

As I have a group of friends who are keen runners there were only two cave girls who had never run beyond 10 miles before with many of us marathon finishers at some point in our running careers. We all decided to run together and rebanded at every drinks stop for Jelly Babies and a snifter of wine!!! We then all ran on together... With the stops, singing and mucking about, we finally came home in just under 2hrs 30. A nice time to take time to enjoy the race and the surroundings. I do think we did surprise a few runners as being the largest group in fancy dress initially runners wanted to get in front of us… We are not a bad group of runners so it was fun to catch a few unawares and get back in front on the big hills!!!

Us at the finish!

Our finish was somewhat noisy and we think may have been heard in Dorking….lots of singing and whooping – we seem to have made many websites and papers since!!!

 
 Mel Healy, Jan Coheeney, Caroline Adderley and Debra all worked really hard nursing sore legs and helping reduce the symptoms of such a long and hilly course. Jan ended up blue after massaging an Avatar character (we thought he was a Smurf at first) who did the full marathon. He is running 6 marathons in 7 weeks and we gave him an honorary cave man outfit to wear on one of this forthcoming  marathons… Look out for him!  He promised to email us a picture so will blog it if we get it through!

Jan working out how not to get too “blue” on the day!!



Had Jan now become an Avatar too??

Team Fine Fettle once again was a roaring success and with the expertise of both Osteopathy and Sports Therapy, and provided a full-on service for all the post-event runners. Once again, they raised money for the race charity – Chase and raised over £160 on the day.  Next event for Team Fine Fettle is the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Bikeathon on Sunday 26th September. We're looking forward to it as Mel Healy is taking the warm-up and seems to think we will all be doing it with her????!!!
Now back to my week off… First one since opening and I have to say I am finding it hard to keep away from the clinic…I did pop in today but was soon sent away until Monday…
Thanks for following us and catch up again soon

Helen Bullen

Owner/Director of Fine Fettle and Osteopath

Ali's Big Ride

It all started one blustery day back in May not long after Fine Fettle had opened its doors in Bookham, Surrey. Two lovely ladies came into the practice armed with posters looking very sheepish and a little worried about asking if we would put a poster up for them. I was in the practice that day and read through the poster, “of course we can put your poster up but”……. The two ladies looked slightly worried but then I continued “we can do more than just put your posters up!”

Let me explain that the poster was for Ali’s Big Ride http://www.alisbigride.co.uk/ . Alistair was a brave and incredible boy who impressed everyone he met with his courage, his fight, his desire for life and his natural ability to bring humour to all situations. Unfortunately in December last year, Alistair, aged 6 died of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia. So in his memory his father and nine of his father’s closest friends came together to undertake an amazing fundraising (Royal Marsden) adventure in the form of a cycle ride from John O’Groats to Lands End, starting July 16th and travelling 866 miles over 10 days, dressed as some of Alistair’s favourite superheroes – Batman, Mr Incredible, Zorro, Bicycle Repair man, Bananaman, The Thing, Cooperman, Red Ranger, The Mighty Thor and Captain Underpants.

 

Here at Fine Fettle we have a group of fantastic, highly qualified and generous practitioners who were all willing to give support to the challenge. They all stepped up to the mark in providing free massage and therapy treatments for all the riders in the weeks leading up the adventure. They worked as a team giving them nutritional, training and injury prevention advice for their training schedule.

Now although we would love to claim we did lots of hard work, it was nothing compared to the amount of training and self dedication that the group of superheros put in and what a mammoth effort to cycle the length of the country.

As part of our support I agreed to provide Osteopathic and Sports Massage support to them on their trip down the country. So on Monday 19th July, I spent 7 hours on a coach travelling to meet the guys after 400 miles of cycling in 4 days, in Carlisle. I left London in the scorching heat but arrived to gail force winds and pouring rain in Carlisle. The guys all arrived safely but they were weather beaten as it had been windy and wet since the start. A few of them wondered if they were just cycling under the same cloud travelling the same way.

So at 10.30 pm I was still fixing and patching and treating any injuries or aches and pains. They had a few! Unfortunately one of them was suffering from a suspected stress fracture so a trip to the Carlisle casualty unit was in need.

The next morning they were all up bright and early and ready for another day. I was to return to practice in Bookham to treat my regular patients and then return to Bristol to meet them again on the Tuesday. The funniest thing that morning was one rider who had hit a bridge the day before and had broken his brakes. True to form Cycle repairman came to the rescue with an elastic band and off they all went!

Most up to date bike repair kit…. Look closely!

Hels and the guys in Carlisle.

On Thursday 22nd July, after a full day in practice, I drove up to Bristol to treat and fix again. There were lots of sore quads so I showed them all how to strap their thighs to alleviate some of the pressure on their overused muscles. They were still in high spirits - a testimony to their courage and determination. It was still raining on them each day!! The only real injury was a case of acute achilles tendinitis. Always an interesting one to treat, as the squeaking of the inflammed tissue always makes me smile. Anyway, I used massage and dry needling to the area and the superhero was able to continue the journey down south. A late night drive home for me before practice my patients in the morning!!

I am glad to say that the guys reached Land’s End on their target day on Sunday 25th July 2010. Although I was not able to travel to meet them I understand that a good time was had by all especially the families that had travelled to meet their loved ones.

Helen Bullen

Owner/Director of Fine Fettle and Osteopath