(lifepr) (Selsingen, 30.10.2012) The "luxury" of ergonomic car seats - a prerequisite for supporting your back while sitting - has just become available to even more drivers. Rewarding the homework done by VW, Aktion Gesunder Rücken e. V. awards the AGR seal of approval to the innovative ergoActive seat installed in the new Golf model, as it has already awarded the seating system of the large Phaeton model.

Not a day goes by without my car

These days daily life without a car is unthinkable. Despite steadily increasing fuel and maintenance costs only few people are prepared to do without a car. That is because mobility plays an important part in today's life. Over 40 percent of all Germans drive their cars more than one hour every day, commuting to and from work and taking trips in their leisure time. And they do so even though, according to physicians and therapists, sitting in a car is the unhealthiest sitting posture possible.

The posture of the body while sitting at a desk is blamed for back and shoulder pains, tense muscles and general discomfort. Sitting down for hours at a time, not enough exercise and the one-sided strain on the body will definitely cause these physical symptoms. Yet most people do not know that sitting in a car tops all other unhealthy sitting postures. A car seat that is not properly adjusted or is simply not a high-quality seat can trigger the same or even more severe conditions as an improper posture at the office and may even considerably affect your safety while driving. That is why it is so important to adjust the driver's seat ergonomically to the human body.

More comfort for drivers

Car drivers greatly benefit from the ergonomic seats provided by the automotive industry. As the British Chiropractic Association has found out, that also applies to car operators who only drive short distances. Unfortunately not all car manufacturers have realized yet what "healthy sitting" really means. Daimler, Opel and Volkswagen are pioneers in this field that deserve our praise!

All three manufacturers have actively committed themselves to the issue of "back problems" and offer exemplary solutions. The ergoActive seat is the youngest "member" in the range of AGR-tested car seats. It is offered as an option for the new Golf 7. The seat provides ergonomic driving comfort and lets the driver select between 14 different variations when adjusting the seat, backrest and headrest. Its integrated massage function that relaxes tense muscles in the back, neck and shoulders provides even more comfort. Volkswagen clearly signals with this new car seat: Ergonomics in the car are an important contribution to your health - and not only for limousines. The new seat technology of Volkswagen, which has been taken apart by an interdisciplinary committee with excellent test results, has truly earned the AGR seal of approval. Therefore the ergonomics of the ergoActive seat fulfils even the highest expectations. This also makes car operators who drive a lot more aware of the issue of comfortable rides. Moreover, trained sales personnel should advise potential buyers to properly adjust the driver's seats because most drivers have no idea how to adjust their seats to prevent painful back problems and do not know the preconditions a good seat must meet. Only a perfectly designed seat will fulfil these conditions.

By now the motor press has started to make its readers more aware of that issue and to take the importance of ergonomic sitting into consideration in technical articles. While details, design and performance potential used to be the focal points in the past, the question of ergonomics is getting more and more attention now. There is a growing demand for it.

What you should look for

In order to guarantee a comfortable sitting position to the driver even while driving long distances, the car seat should meet the following criteria: a firm basic structure of the upholstery (slightly shaped like an S) that supports your spine will provide sufficient stability. Since not everyone has the same body size, you should also pay attention to the seat measures. The height of the backrest and the size of the seat must be large enough. A headrest provides additional safety. The possibility to individually adjust the height, depth and slant of the seat are important. A 4-way lordosis support (that stabilizes the iliac crest) must provide extensive and individual support to the lumbar vertebrae. All adjustable elements must be within easy reach. There are car seats available that come with a massage and memory function, a climate control system as well as adjustable framing on the backrest and seat cushions.

It's just a matter of adjustment - 9 points for a healthy back

Yet no matter how innovative a car seat may be, it can only avoid back pains if the driver adjusts it properly to suit his or her individual needs.

How to optimally adjust your car seat:

1. Slide back until your buttocks touch the backrest of the driver's seat. Now adjust your seat so that your legs are at a slight angle when stepping all the way on the pedals.
2. The backrest must tilt in a way that allows you to touch the steering wheel with slightly bent arms. To do so, the backrest should be adjusted at an angle of approx. 110 degrees.
3. You only need to adjust the head of the backrest if the regular form of the backrest does not support your shoulders sufficiently.
4. The correct height of your seat: Sit as high as possible. A few inches of space between your head and the car roof are fully sufficient.
5. Adjust the tilt of the seat so your thighs rest on the seat and you can step all the way on the pedals without great effort.
6. When adjusting the seat length, there should be a space of two to three fingerbreadths between the back of your knee and the front edge of your seat.
7. Adjust the headrest so that your head, not the back of your neck, is supported. Headrests that are too low can cause severe injuries to your head and neck vertebrae if your car is hit in the rear.
8. If your seat comes with individually adjustable framing, make sure that these parts touch your body without restricting your movements.
9. You can support the natural shape of your lumbar spine with the lordosis support (= inflatable protrusion in the bottom part of the backrest). Always adjust from bottom to top. The area that needs the most support is the hip area (belt line).

Then check all adjustments in the same order. Now the seat is adjusted perfectly for your physique.

On longer trips you need to take frequent active breaks

To stay fit on long-distance trips, you not only need a seat that supports your back but your personal wellness programme also requires you to take active breaks on a regular basis. "Plan short breaks at an interval of no more than every two hours and use it to activate your muscles," Detlef Detjen, speaker of AGR, recommends.

These four exercises will keep you fit:

- Sit upright inside your car, stretch your arms, put your flat palms on the insides of the steering wheel and push out. Hold for 10 seconds; then relax.
- Put your hands to the outsides of your knees and try to push your legs sideways without changing your position. Hold for 10 seconds; then relax.
- Sit upright, reach with both hands under your seat and try to pull yourself into your seat. Hold for 10 seconds and relax. Then try to push yourself out of your seat for 10 seconds.
- Sit upright, clasp your hands behind your head, push against your hands with your head without shifting your position. Hold for 10 seconds and relax.

Then get out of your car to walk around a bit, eat a light snack and drink enough fluids. Now you can continue your journey fully relaxed. You will find comprehensive information about car seats that support your back and additional exercises under www.agr-ev.com/carseats.

Short version: AGR certified comfortable driver's seats for Volkswagen models

Mobility plays an important part in today's life; most Germans are not prepared to do without a car despite the fact that sitting in a car is the unhealthiest sitting posture possible. That is why Aktion Gesunder Rücken e. V. awards the AGR seal of approval to car manufacturers that have made back-supportive seats one of their priorities. The ergoActive seat of the new Golf model is the latest example: This seat provides the driver with ergonomic comfort and offers 14 different variations of adjustment.