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Magnets are objects made from materials that are capable of stimulating magnetic reactions. Such reactions are created with the presence of a magnetic field. Examples of these materials are copper, iron, and steel.

The atoms of magnetic materials are arranged in units called domains. A domain is actually a set of numerous atoms that act like a small magnet. If the domains are placed against a strong magnetic field, they are made to move the way the magnetic field does. These domains tend to pull each other together, aligning themselves to become a strong magnet.

The concept of magnetism was first explored by a scientist named William Gilbert. He was the first one to realize that the planet earth is indeed a large magnet. He was also able to discover that magnets can be formed by using twisted iron. After him, a scientist named Hans Christian proved that there is indeed a relationship between electricity and magnetism.

There are basically three types of magnets: temporary magnets, permanent magnets, and electromagnets. Temporary magnets are those materials that elicit magnetic reactions when placed in even weak magnetic fields. However, these materials lose such reactions once the magnetic field is removed. Examples of these materials are Permalloy and soft iron. Permanent magnets, on the other hand, are those that exhibit magnetic properties even without the presence of magnetic fields. Examples are ferrites and alnico.

Meanwhile, electromagnets are built when large magnets are required to perform certain tasks. These magnets are made by placing a metal core inside a coil of wire that carries an electric current.

Today, magnets are used in several kinds of equipment, such as electric motors and generators. Temporary magnets, meanwhile, are used in telephones and televisions. Electromagnets are used in large vehicles like the Maglev train. This type of train operates without wheels. It moves by using a magnetic reaction between the track and the lower portion of the train.

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Source by Marcus Peterson

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There are several types of vessels which can be used for international shipping. Different types of ships are used for the various types of cargo that are transported. The design of each particular ship is a result of the specific needs of both people and businesses.

• Container ships – These ships only transport cargo that is packed into standard 20′ or 40′ containers. The containers are then stacked on the ship, one on top of another just like Lego’s. This is the main type of vessel used foe the international shipping of personal belongings. This form of shipping has significant security benefits since no one can see inside the closed container and it can be lock and sealed.
• General cargo ships – These ships transport various types of loose and even packaged goods. The numerous tons of fruits and vegetables are exported worldwide each year are transported on cargo ships. All major ports are well equipped to handle all types of cargo vessels.
• Roll-on/roll-off ships – Vessels that ship passenger cars, trucks, and tractors. The name roll-on/roll-off describes exactly the way the vehicles board the ship. Usually through a ramp that leads directly into the belly of the ship. Almost all international car shipping is done using roll-on/roll-off vessels.
• Bulk carriers – Bulks carriers are engineered for the shipping of large volumes of unpacked commodities. Business ventures in need of shipping commodities such as coal, rice, grains, and chemicals in bulk, will likely end up using a bulk carrier.
• Tankers – Tankers are for shipping liquids. For example oil tankers are used for shipping huge amounts of oil internationally.

All these ships do their business in basically two ways:

• Liner vessels – There are numerous shipping companies with liner vessels that travel along permanent routes. Their schedules are usually set like clockwork and, therefore, shipping costs are fairly predictable.
• Charter vessels – Charter vessels function according to the whims of the people or businesses that employ them. Their routes, point of departure, time schedules and costs are a function of market conditions. A good example of a charter vessel is an oil tanker. As a matter of fact, an oil tanker does not necessarily know what his final destination will be. Even while in transport the oil tanker can still be redirected to the highest bidder. The same is also true for other commodities.

This concludes our first article in our series on the use oceanic transport vessels for international shipping. Next time we will discuss how goods, commodities, or any items are actually carried on the ships.

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Source by Randall Phillips

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Buying a used sailboat can go one of two ways – it can either be a great bargain or it can turn out to be an enormous money pit. Of course, everyone wants to find that great bargain they can brag about to all their sailing friends. This article will help you understand the important things you need to consider when purchasing a used sailboat. If you are new to sailing and wouldn’t know a well crafted boat from an inflatable dinghy, consider bringing an experienced professional to help you inspect the boat. It will be worth the investment, and you’ll probably get an education in the process.

Construction Material

The most important thing to remember with sailboat materials is to avoid wood. It is difficult and costly to maintain, in addition to hiding flaws that could be impossible to detect without tearing it apart. Fiberglass would be the best choice. While some claim that a fiberglass sailboat is “maintenance-free,” this is hardly true. Plan on spending a few days per year on maintenance which could include applying antifouling paint to the bottom (to prevent the growth of barnacles and algae), regular waxing of the topsides with a good marine wax to prevent oxidation of the gelcoat, varnishing any teak trim annually, regular inspections of the mast and rigging (about as regularly as you have your car tuned up), annual inspection of your sails by your sailmaker to repair any small rips or tears, and regular engine maintenance.

If you’re not a fan of fiberglass, you can also consider steel. However, be careful to inspect for rust. This is one problem you don’t want to have. There are also boats constructed from a material called ferro-cement. Ferro-cement is the least expensive construction for boats over 25 feet. This construction methods uses steel wires covered with a sand and cement plaster. But, unless you build this boat yourself, steer clear of these as they are typically built by amateurs.

Engine

Only consider sailboats with newer engines, as older or vintage engines will be difficult to find replacement parts for. While it might be enticing to own a vintage model, really evaluate how much time and money you are willing to spend on maintenance.

The most reliable engine test is the “Smoke Test.” Well-maintained diesel engines will blow small amounts of black smoke with some white – especially if started cold. However, steer clear of diesels that blow blue smoke or a steady stream of white smoke. While diesels are generally very reliable, they do require regular maintenance. Ask for maintenance records for oil changes, etc. Gasoline engines should be leak-free and have a bilge blower that operates correctly. Again, ask for maintenance records.

Sails and Rigging

The only way to make sure the sails are in good repair is to remove them from their bags and spread them out on a flat surface. Look for mildew, previously made repairs, worn spots, pulled stitches, and broken slides. Check that the winch operates smoothly. Inspect for worn pins and shackles, worn lines, broken blocks, and fraying wire. Hoist the sails, if possible, to ensure everything works properly.

Miscellaneous

Look for any leaks around hatches or portholes. These can be costly repairs to have to fix later on. Have someone who really knows electrical check the wiring. Again, this can be expensive to fix later, or even dangerous if a fire breaks out while on the water. Check to see if there are any wires banging around inside the mast – as this could certainly keep you up at night if you’re a light sleeper.

Conclusion

Just remember when you’re buying a used sailboat that you’re really in the driver’s seat. Most sellers are typically in either one of two scenarios: They are either upgrading to a bigger boat or they’re getting out of sailing altogether. Either way, they will be pretty motivated to sell. Don’t pay more than you need to. Start with a low offer and see if they counter. If buying through an auction website, don’t get caught up the passion of bidding. There are plenty of boats for sale, so if you don’t win the first auction, don’t give up.

Use a reliable sailboat transporter, to ensure your new purchase arrives in the same condition you bought it in. And, above all, enjoy your new boat. There’s nothing like a day on the water!

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Source by Lorraine Grant

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If you are delivering a load to a grocery warehouse there is a good chance you will need to use a lumper service. While there are other types of businesses that use lumper’s, they are usually associated with grocery warehouses. A lumper service is a company that warehouses use to unload the trucks at their facility. While most businesses employ the people that unload the freight from your truck some choose to use these lumper services. When you are at a warehouse and you hear the term “driver unload” this usually means that they use lumper’s. It is very rare that you are required to unload the freight yourself and no lumper service is offered.

When you have a “driver unload” dispatch consider:

The company that you drive for may allow (or even encourage) you to unload the truck yourself. Your company will usually pay you to unload the truck instead of using the lumper service. Of course there’s a catch. They will pay you a fraction of what they were going to pay the lumper’s. The guy using the forklift may charge $175.00 to unload your truck, while your company may offer you $40.00 to unload it with a pallet jack. After you unload the truck you may also be required to break down the load. When the product is loaded into your truck it is loaded in a way that allows them to put as much in the truck as possible. Most warehouses don’t want the product stacked as high so you are required to “break it down”. To do this you must move some of the product off the top of the pallets you just unloaded onto empty pallets.

If you want to unload it yourself make sure you check with your company to find out exactly what steps you need to follow to get paid. You are usually better off letting the lumper service do the work for you. Your time could be better spent resting for the next run.

When you check in at the receiving window they may ask you if you want to use a lumper. They will tell you at the window how much they charge to unload the truck or they will point you in the direction of the lumper. Find out from the lumper how much they are going to charge for your truck. Some warehouses will charge an additional fee for broken or bad pallets. You want to know what the final fee is going to be before you call your company up with the info. Most trucking companies want you to call them with the price the lumper wants before you authorize the lumper to unload your truck. Follow your companies procedures, as you do not want to pay for a lumper out of your own pocket. You will need to get a receipt from the lumper if you want to get reimbursed. When paying by check most trucking companies consider this transaction to be a cash advance. They will take the money out of your check if you do not turn in all the paperwork they require. This may not seem fair but trust me, they will deduct the amount from your check. Get your receipt: follow your companies procedures.

A lot of the lumper services will want you to pay before unloading your truck. You can pay cash but are better off using the checks your company has provided for you. If you pay by cash you may have to wait a few weeks to get reimbursed. There is no point in loaning your company a few hundred dollars for a couple of weeks. After you have paid there is nothing much left to do but wait. Sometimes you may be asked to count the freight as it is being loaded or unloaded. The lumper can let you know if you need to go back inside after unloading. If you’re lucky the lumper may bring the paperwork out to your truck after unloading.

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Source by Keith Hutton

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What good is a waterproof car cover if it doesn’t allow your car to breathe underneath it? There are a lot of things that can happen to a car if it does not have enough breathing space underneath car covers of your choice. Covers for cars are important especially when you do not have a garage. However there are some covers that are good for cars and then others that may further damage them. This is where the argument between which cover for cars is better, the breathable covers or the non-breathable fully water proof covers come in.

What makes the breathable covers better for cars? Why should you avoid the non-breathable waterproof covers for cars? Here are some pros and cons that each of these two kinds of car covers has. These might help you decide which among them to choose from when you decide on buying a good, high-quality cover that can thoroughly protect your precious automobile.

• One of the pros of getting a breathable cover for vehicles is that it quickly dries up any condensation or moisture that forms in the car as it does its job of covering it. Moisture can easily corrupt the parts of the car that are made of steel, leading it to rust so easily. It can also slowly eat up the paint job on your car when the car is moist for a long period of time, perhaps even after the rain has gone. Any car owner would like to avoid this which is why they would choose to get the breathable car covers over the non-breathable water proof ones. 100% waterproof covers for cars do not have any room underneath it left for cars to breathe from.
• A breathable cover does not protect a car from water or moisture like how the 100% water proof covers do. This is the only con for breathable covers for cars although many would still prefer these because of their ability to dry the moisture quickly before any type or kind of corrosion occurs in the car. Your car would still get wet even if you decide to go for the breathable covers.
• 100% waterproof covers can lead moisture and condensation to form and remain on the car after rains, leading the these wet or moist portions of the car to slowly corrode. This is something that one needs to take note when choosing between a car cover that is fully waterproof and those that allow your car some breathing space. It is important to zero in on the moisture that may or may not form on your vehicle with its cover on because this is what easily destroys its paint job and such. You’ll have to choose wisely between these two kinds of covers when you want your car to continue looking new in the following few days, weeks and even months.

Now that you have learned moisture is an important factor to note when buying car covers, then you can start looking for the right cover to buy. When choosing between the two kinds of car cover, make sure that you know your car well and how moisture can affect it in a certain period of time. Getting any of these two covers can help you maintain the good condition of your vehicle.

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Source by John P Silver

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Electrical power interruptions are quite common in every place especially after a heavy downpour or a severe storm. To counter these power outages a search has been done to find a reliable and economic alternate source of electricity.

A power inverter serves this purpose. It is a device that is used to convert direct current to alternating current. It works by converting 12 Volt DC power into 110 volts AC. Power Inverters are great tools to run household appliances from a car or any other DC source in areas where there is no electricity. There are several types of power inverters available in two categories – The True Sine Wave Power Inverters and the Modified Sine Wave Power inverters.

True sine wave power inverters provide utility grade power. These inverters are expensive and can power almost anything including laser printers and fax machines. A sine wave inverter is recommended to operate higher-end electronic equipment. Modified sine waves are the most common types of power inverters. A modified sine wave inverter can adequately power most household appliances and power tools. It is more economical, but may present certain compromises with some loads such as microwave ovens, laser printers, clocks and cordless tool chargers.

Simple inverters make use of oscillators driving a transistor to create a square wave, which in turn is fed through a transformer to produce the required output voltage. While Advanced inverters have started using more advanced forms of transistors or similar devices such as thyristors.

Inverters are used in a wide range of applications, from small power supplies for a computer to large industrial applications to transport bulk power. A few of the most widely used applications of Power Inverters include running television sets, microwaves and other household appliances and charging cell phones, laptops from a car’s cigarette lighter outlet and running power tools from a 12 volt battery on jobsites where electricity isn’t available.

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Source by Josh Riverside

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Global financing and exchange rates are major topics when considering a venturing business abroad. In the proceeding I will explain in detail what hard and soft currencies are. I will then go into detail explaining the reasoning for the fluctuating currencies. Finally I will explain hard and soft currencies importance in managing risks.

Hard currency

Hard currency is usually from a highly industrialized country that is widely accepted around the world as a form of payment for goods and services. A hard currency is expected to remain relatively stable through a short period of time, and to be highly liquid in the forex market. Another criterion for a hard currency is that the currency must come from a politically and economically stable country. The U.S. dollar and the British pound are good examples of hard currencies (Investopedia,2008). Hard currency basically means that the currency is strong. The terms strong and weak, rising and falling, strengthening and weakening are relative terms in the world of foreign exchange (sometimes referred to as “forex”). Rising and falling, strengthening and weakening all indicate a relative change in position from a previous level. When the dollar is “strengthening,” its value is rising in relation to one or more other currencies. A strong dollar will buy more units of a foreign currency than previously. One result of a stronger dollar is that the prices of foreign goods and services drop for U.S. consumers. This may allow Americans to take the long-postponed vacation to another country, or buy a foreign car that used to be too expensive. U.S. consumers’ benefit from a strong dollar, but U.S. exporters is hurt. A strong dollar means that it takes more of a foreign currency to buy U.S. dollars. U.S. goods and services become more expensive for foreign consumers who, as a result, tend to buy fewer U.S. products. Because it takes more of a foreign currency to purchase strong dollars, products priced in dollars are more expensive when sold overseas (chicagofed,2008).

Soft currency

Soft currency is another name for “weak currency”. The values of soft currencies fluctuate often, and other countries do not want to hold these currencies due to political or economic uncertainty within the country with the soft currency. Currencies from most developing countries are considered to be soft currencies. Often, governments from these developing countries will set unrealistically high exchange rates, pegging their currency to a currency such as the U.S. dollar (invest words,2008). Soft currency breaks down to the currency being very weak, an example of this would be the Mexican peso. A weak dollar also hurts some people and benefits others. When the value of the dollar falls or weakens in relation to another currency, prices of goods and services from that country rise for U.S. consumers. It takes more dollars to purchase the same amount of foreign currency to buy goods and services. That means U.S. consumers and U.S. companies that import products have reduced purchasing power. At the same time, a weak dollar means prices for U.S. products fall in foreign markets, benefiting U.S. exporters and foreign consumers. With a weak dollar, it takes fewer units of foreign currency to buy the right amount of dollars to purchase U.S. goods. As a result, consumers in other countries can buy U.S. products with less money.

Fluctuating currencies

Many things can contribute to the fluctuation of currency. A few are as follows for strong and weak currency:

Factors Contributing to a Strong Currency

Higher interest rates in home country than abroad

Lower rates of inflation

A domestic trade surplus relative to other countries

A large, consistent government deficit crowding out domestic borrowing

Political or military unrest in other countries

A strong domestic financial market

Strong domestic economy/weaker foreign economies

No record of default on government debt

Sound monetary policy aimed at price stability.

Factors Contributing to a Weak Currency

Lower interest rates in home country than abroad

Higher rates of inflation

A domestic trade deficit relative to other countries

A consistent government surplus

Relative political/military stability in other countries

A collapsing domestic financial market

Weak domestic economy/stronger foreign economies

Frequent or recent default on government debt

Monetary policy that frequently changes objectives

Importance on managing risk

When venturing abroad there are many risk factors that must be addressed, and keeping these factors in check is crucial to a companies success. Economic risk can be broadly summarized as a series of macroeconomic events that might impair the enjoyment of expected earnings of any investment. Some analysts further segment economic risk into financial factors (those factors leading to inconvertibility of currencies, such as foreign indebtedness or current account deficits and so forth) and economic factors (factors such as government finances, inflation, and other economic factors that may lead to higher and sudden taxation or desperate government imposed restrictions on foreign investors’ or creditors’ rights). Altagroup,2008. The decisions of businesses to invest in another country can have a significant effect on their domestic economy. In the case of the U.S., the desire of foreign investors to hold dollar-denominated assets helped finance the U.S. government’s large budget deficit and supplied funds to private credit markets. According to the laws of supply and demand, an increased supply of funds – in this case funds provided by other countries – tends to lower the price of those funds. The price of funds is the interest rate. The increase in the supply of funds extended by foreign investors helped finance the budget deficit and helped keep interest rates below what they would have been without foreign capital. A strong currency can have both a positive and a negative impact on a nation’s economy. The same holds true for a weak currency. Currencies that are too strong or too weak not only affect individual economies, but tend to distort international trade and economic and political decisions worldwide.

Conclusion

Hard currency is usually from a highly industrialized country that is widely accepted around the world as a form of payment for goods and services. A hard currency is expected to remain relatively stable through a short period of time, and to be highly liquid in the forex market. Soft currency is another name for “weak currency”. The values of soft currencies fluctuate often, and other countries do not want to hold these currencies due to political or economic uncertainty within the country with the soft currency. Many things can contribute to the fluctuation of currency; a few of these things are inflation, strong financial market, and political or military unrest. The decisions of businesses to invest in another country can have a significant effect on their domestic economy. In the case of the U.S., the desire of foreign investors to hold dollar-denominated assets helped finance the U.S. government’s large budget deficit and supplied funds to private credit markets.

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Source by Rob Zillla

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Closed-circuit television camera systems (more widely known as CCTV camera systems) are universally used to transmit the signals of a video surveillance camera trained on a particular area to monitoring systems in another area. There are many advantages of having CCTV cameras in your home, business or in public areas such as traffic intersections, major highways, train stations and airports. Here are the top five advantages of CCTV cameras.

1. Protect Customers and Staff

When you own your business, whether you know it or now it becomes your responsibility to look after your staff as well as your customers. With CCTV cameras you can help protect both employees and clients/customers in a number ways. The primary way is protecting them physically. If they are attacked inside of your establishment you can turn over video of the attack to the authorities to help them find the assailant. CCTV can also stop crime from happening in the first place (see below) and can clear up any misunderstandings if money or merchandise goes missing.

2. Protect Your Company from Lawsuits

On the flip side, CCTV cameras can also help you protect your company from customers. We’ve all heard the stories of customers purposely putting glass or pests in their food in order to get a free meal, or purposely spilling water and slipping in it in order to sue a company. With a CCTV camera video surveillance system you can monitor any fraudulence going on, and prevent you or your employees from being accused of false accusations or phony lawsuits.

3. Monitor Employees

As much as you want to say you completely trust your employees, there’s always one bad apple that ruins the bunch. Unfortunately, it’s usually necessary to monitor your employees and make sure they aren’t stealing from your company – whether it’s office supplies, top-secret company information, client lists, store merchandise, extra free food or meals, or money from the till. With CCTV you are not only able to make sure your employees are staying honest, but you can see which of your staff are working the most efficiently and reward them accordingly.

4. Lower or Stop Crime Completely

As mentioned above, CCTV cameras can prevent crime simply just by being there to identify any suspicious activity. Whether used in your home, restaurant, store or office building, by recording a crime that is occurring, you can help catch the perpetrator, and get that criminal off the streets, helping to reduce crime not only in your area, but in your city or county as well. In addition, most criminals are hesitant to commit illegal activities if they know they are being watched or filmed, so you could help stop crime altogether.

5. Monitor Traffic and Public Areas

Last but not least, CCTV can be used to monitor traffic, identify traffic jams and record car accidents. CCTV is especially useful in hit-and-run accidents where a driver must be identified. CCTV cameras are also advantageous for public safety, as they keep a close eye on large crowded areas, such as the airport, subway, train station, etc., which are too big to monitor by authorities on foot.

With all of these beneficial advantages of CCTV, is there any doubt that you need one for yourself? Consider installing a CCTV camera system in your home or business today.

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Source by Sarah Simmons

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I’ve reviewed so many cars over the past six months or so, that I may have been guilty of getting used to the thrills and spills of driving fast ones. If this is the case, my assignment this week brought me back down to earth – very slowly might I add – with a bump. The car in question is the Volkswagen Fox – the baby of the German manufacturer’s fleet.

The car has a 0-60mph time of…wait…for…it…17.5 seconds. Top speed is 91mph and no, there isn’t a turbo attached to the puny 1.2 liter engine. Yet to lambaste the Fox for being slow and unexciting is to completely miss the point of the car. The giveaway is in the model name of the car I tested – the Volkswagen Urban Fox. You see in this time of petrol prices soaring, roads becoming more congested and the car being the global warming villain, the Fox could well be where the smart money lies when it comes to getting around town.

I don’t like to use the word ‘cheap’ but there’s no other way to describe the Fox, with prices starting at £6,430 to be precise (in the UK I should add). To get four brand new wheels onto the road, with a Volkswagen badge adorning your car for this money is quite simply a remarkable feat. The cost saving doesn’t end there either, with the Fox falling into insurance group one – the cheapest banding around. Fuel consumption almost looks made up with combined urban and extra urban figures of 46.3mpg.

Blimey this is starting to make a lot of sense. The Fox is quite tall too, so despite the diminutive length, the driving position is not too dissimilar to that of a larger 4×4 vehicle. The advantages of making the car tall, aren’t limited to the driving position, as headroom and legroom are also boosted by the extra inches up top. There’s plenty of glass around the car, making all round visibility excellent and parking a doddle.

Outside of its favored habitat things do go a bit awry with the Fox – particularly on the motorway. Now before you shout “the little thing’s not meant for the big roads!” if we’re being objective, there’s going to be occasions when you’re going to leave the big smoke and hit one of the multi-laned snakes cutting through the country. By-passing (no pun intended) the 0-60mph time, the Fox is – and I hate using this word as much as ‘cheap’ – slow. An overtaking maneuver requires the forward planning of a chess master and snooker champion all in one. Changing from fifth gear to fourth made little difference to my forward motion and worryingly, nor did a further shift down to third.

The tall sides also act as a pair of very large hands that grasp hold of every gust of wind or buffeting from a passing lorry, making the Fox a wee bit skittish in the outside lane. However, once off the motorway, the Fox feels far more assured navigating country twists and turns, thanks to a longer wheelbase than most in its class and wider track. In fact, rather than welding the accelerator pedal to the floor, a gradual motion combined with a neat gearbox brought great rewards in the great outdoors.

Parked up against it’s rivals the Fox sits comfortably in the ‘not ugly’ bracket but struggles to make it into the ‘pretty’ range either. As with Volkswagen’s other small hatchback the Polo, the Fox is subtly styled compared to its rivals, in this case the Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107. Yet there is something more grown up and civilized about the Fox when viewing it alongside the almost immature stylings of the other city cars.

An interesting fact for your next pub chatter – Volkswagen are committed to reducing the environmental impact of producing cars and are keen to promote recycling and greener vehicles. In the case of the Fox, it’s built in Brazil where the Curana plant grows. Fibers of this plant from the pineapple family are mixed with a recyclable synthetic material which makes the material for the roof lining and rear parcel shelf. No the car isn’t edible.

The Fox has been manufactured using the latest laser welding technology which means it’s a very rigid car helping it garner 4 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests and features ABS as standard. Optional extras include alloy wheels, air conditioning and a CD player.

The Fox has a big fight on its hands, not necessarily from its competitors, but from the car it replaces – the much loved, and cute Lupo. Either way, the evidence is clear. Next time I get behind the wheel of a 2.0 liter turbo’d monster, I’ll be wishing I was a far sensible human being and was driving a Volkswagen Fox.

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Source by Gareth Jones

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A lot of us experience lower back pain whilst driving. A number of researches have investigated the relationship between driving and Back Pain, which uncovered uncovered some interesting results. One finding is a comparison of drivers in the USA and in Sweden found that 50% of people questioned in both countries reported low back pain.

So what is the connection of driving and back pain?

So far research has found three factors for low back pain whilst driving. The first one is the vibration from the engine (something that you can not change), the sitting position is the second factor and the third one is the length of time that we drive.

Scientists at laboratories have researched the effects of vibration of our body whilst driving. The Lumbar Spine(lower back) naturally resonates at a frequency of 4-5 Hertz and from research they found that this natural frequency can be distorted. This distortion can result into higher spinal loadings (compression) in the lower back, therefore causing an increased chance of low back pain. As mentioned before you can not change the vibration of the engine, but what you can do to reduce the effects of this on your lower back is to drive shorter periods at a time.

It is a lot easier to get comfortable in your seat when the car is stationary, a bit like sitting in a normal chair. But once you start driving the body will be subject to various forces like accelerations and decelerations, lateral movements from side to side and whole body vibrations.When we sit on a chair our feet, when on the floor, are used to support and stabilise the lower body. Whilst driving our abdominal muscles can not provide enough stability to our upper body and arms when turning the wheel. This will result in a significant increase of torsional stresses in the lower back, which in return will significantly increase the risk of low back pain.

To start with we should address one more important issue first – we all are guilty when it comes to adjusting our car seats correctly! In 2004 one of the largest car insurance companies (I won’t mention a name, after all you may think I am paid to write about this), released the findings of a research into how we sit in our car. (about 2.000 people were involved in this).

The research resulted in the following –

• The headrest was found to be in an incorrect angle when driving of 61% of people involved in the study. This will increase the chance of ruptures of the spinal ligaments or worse when involved in an accident.

• 50% showed a slouched or hunched position over the steering wheel.

• About a third of the drivers had back pain whilst driving.

• 25% tilted their heads or shifted in their seats each time they had to look into the ‘rear view mirror’.

• Wearing unsuitable footwear or clothing happened to 34% of the drivers.

Please find below a list of 10 ways that can help to improve your seating position, make your driving experience more comfortable.

The Seat

Make sure that your bottom sits all the way in the back of the seat – where the base and the back of the seat meet. This will help to make you sit more upright and maintain the natural curvature of the spine, minimizing the stress on the spinal ligaments. If your seat has a lumbar roll built in have this all the way out – most cars with lumbar support that i tried do not allow enough support fom this lumbar roll, therefore it would be best to have it all the way out.

The Base length and Height of the Seat

The base of the seat should never touch the back of your knees and the front of the base should be slightly higher then the back, helping to provide more support and allowing you press the pedals without changing your spinal posture.

The Backrest

First relax back into your seat, place the seat at about a 10-15 degrees incline from the vertical position. If this feels unnatural to you then it probably means that the backrest is not upright enough for you. This can result into neck strain and / or coccyx (sitting bone) pain. Move the backrest more upright or if that doesn’t help you can place a small towel (folded in three) against the midspine, between the shoulder blades.

The Headrest

Have you ever noticed when watching an American movie that the headrests are often missing from the seats – it makes me crinch each time i see this (ooch). So much for giving a good example to our children. The position of your headrest will not only help to minimise the injuries of an accident but also to help to allow a better posture. The bony bit at the back of your head (known as the ‘inion’) is a good guiding point, the headrest should be level with this. There should be about 2.3 cm’s (1 inch for the non -metrics) between the back of your head and the headrest, when you are in the sitting position as described earlier. This to absorb shock as much as possible. This allows for the ligaments and the muscles of your neck to control the posture of your head better and giving better support in case of an accident.

Seat – Pedal distance

Make sure you have the distance between seat and the pedals so that when operating the pedals this does not cause you to over strech your legs or twist your body in any way. Thus your legs should not be straight when pushing the throttle or clutch all the way down. Obviously your knees should not be bend to the point you cannot easily move from one pedal to another. It is normally advised to have your knees bend about 45 degrees.

The Arm position

Your arms should be as relaxed as possible, elbows bend around 20-30 degrees. If your steering wheel is adjustable have it in the mid to lower position (make sure the wheel does not partially obstruct the instrument panel), this will help to reduce the stress on your shoulders. Your hands should be positioned at ’10 past10′ and not as is suggested left hand at 9 o’clock and right hand at 3 o’clock.

The Armrests

If your seat has armrests then it is advised to use these. As a guidance you should position the armrests so that they gently support the elbows, any more will cause the shoulders to rise and increase the change of straining your neck.

The Mirrors

These should only be adjusted once you have positioned your seat as described above. If not sure then please revisit the information again how to adjust your seat. The mirrors should be adjusted to allow you to freely look into them without the need of having to move your head much. you either have adjusted the mirrors incorrectly or you are to close to the steering wheel.

Adjusting Seat at intervals

This sound great in theory but for most of us this may be akward whilst driving. For those who have electric seats it is easier (although it always advicable to stop first), just reach for the buttons to adjust the seat without the need to take our attention of the road. It is said that you should be doing this every 30 mins. to reduce the incidents of back pain. This allows to change the pressure that is placed on the spine is varied regularly. Once arrived at your destination it would be good to strech! (don’t worry if it looks funny, soon everybody in the carpark will join in – you can be proud having started a new ‘healthy’ trend)

Have breaks

We all have seen the ‘take a break’ sign along the roads, helping you to avoid falling asleep behind the wheel. Taking a break helps your back as well, so when you need to take a rest you can have a strech at the same time to help your back. An hour maximum is the current thinking, although these tips should be taken as a general rule. This is a good time to adjust your seating position!

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Source by Arjen Bootsma