Neck Pain From Driving - Car vs Motorbike Drivers Explained For Our Sunbury and Melton Residents

Neck Pain from Driving in Sunbury & Melton – Car vs Motorbike Drivers Explained

About the Author

Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.

He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.

His treatment focus includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Sports chiropractic

• Massage therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Laser therapy

• Non-surgical spinal decompression

Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.

Neck pain is common in both car and motorbike drivers, with motorbike riders experiencing slightly higher pain levels. However, the biggest finding is that higher neck pain is strongly linked to reduced neck mobility, regardless of the type of vehicle driven.

INTRODUCTION

Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions worldwide, affecting up to 50% of people at some point in their lives. In growing areas like Sunbury and Melton, where many residents commute daily, driving plays a major role in spinal health.

Whether you're commuting to work, travelling between suburbs, or working on the road, prolonged driving can place significant stress on the cervical spine (neck).

A recent study compared car drivers vs motorbike riders to better understand:

• Who gets more neck pain

• How mobility is affected

• What this means for treatment and prevention

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🟦 KEY FINDING #1 – MOTORBIKE RIDERS HAVE SLIGHTLY MORE NECK PAIN

• Motorbike drivers reported a higher average pain (5/10)

• Car drivers reported lower average pain (4.3/10)

• Neck pain prevalence:

  • Motorbike: 76%

  • Car: 68%

👉 However, these differences were not statistically significant

What this means

Motorbike riders tend to experience more neck pain, likely due to:

• Forward-leaning posture

• Increased vibration exposure

• Wind resistance and environmental stress

• Greater need for constant head movement

But clinically, both groups are at risk.

🟨 KEY FINDING #2 – PAIN AND MOBILITY ARE STRONGLY LINKED

This was the most important result of the study.

As neck pain increases, neck movement decreases.

• Negative correlation = more pain → less movement

• Ranged from weak to strong correlations

• Most significant in:

  • Rotation

  • Side bending

👉 This relationship was consistent in BOTH car and motorbike drivers

🟪 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR NECK PAIN

1. Stiffness and pain go hand in hand

Reduced movement is not just a symptom — it may also contribute to ongoing pain.

Common cycle:

• Pain → reduced movement

• Reduced movement → joint stiffness

• Stiffness → more pain

2. Driving posture matters (but isn’t everything)

Car drivers:

• More supported posture

• Less movement

• Risk = static loading

Motorbike riders:

• More upright/dynamic posture

• More exposure to vibration

• Risk = muscle fatigue + repetitive strain

👉 Different causes — similar outcomes

3. The type of driving is less important than HOW you move

Even though motorbike riders had slightly worse symptoms:

• There were no major differences in actual neck mobility

• The biggest factor was pain severity itself

🟫 COMMON SYMPTOMS WE SEE IN CLINIC

At Health Wise Chiropractic, many patients from Sunbury and Melton present with:

• Neck stiffness

• Headaches

• Shoulder tension

• Reduced ability to turn the head

• Pain when driving or after long trips

Some may also experience:

• Dizziness

• Jaw tension

• Upper back tightness

🟦 HOW WE APPROACH TREATMENT

✔️ Chiropractic care

• Improve joint mobility

• Reduce stiffness and irritation

• Restore normal movement patterns

✔️ Soft tissue therapy

• Release tight muscles (upper traps, levator scapulae, scalenes)

• Reduce tension from prolonged driving

✔️ Rehab and exercise

• Neck mobility drills

• Postural endurance training

• Strengthening for deep neck stabilisers

✔️ Ergonomic advice

• Seat and headrest positioning

• Handlebar positioning (motorbike riders)

• Driving posture corrections

🟩 PRACTICAL TIPS FOR DRIVERS

🚗 For car drivers

• Adjust headrest to support mid-head

• Keep steering wheel closer (avoid reaching)

• Take breaks every 45–60 minutes

🏍️ For motorbike riders

• Avoid excessive forward head posture

• Use vibration-reducing gloves or grips

• Maintain thoracic mobility to reduce neck strain

🧠 For everyone

• Keep your neck moving daily

• Don’t ignore early stiffness

• Address pain before it becomes chronic

🟩 SUMMARY

• Neck pain is common in both car and motorbike drivers

• Motorbike riders may experience slightly higher pain levels

• The strongest finding:

  
  

  👉 More pain = less neck movement

• Driving posture plays a role, but movement and load are key

👉 Book online here:

https://youtube.com/shorts/nTGcO1iulHM

Reviewed by Dr Julian Simpson, Chiropractor at Health Wise Chiropractic, Sunbury 21 Powellet Street, Sunbury & 131 Wembley Avenue, Strathtulloh

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we regularly treat patients with [condition], helping them return to work, sport, and daily activities pain-free.

reference

Aafreen A, Khan AR, Khan A, Ahmad A, Alzahrani A, Alhusayni AI, Alfaifi BH, Naseeb SO, Ghazwani A, Alajam RA, Alshehri M, Shaphe MA. Comparative analysis of cervical spine pain and mobility in car versus motorbike drivers: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ. 2026 Apr 9;14:e21049. doi: 10.7717/peerj.21049. PMID: 41978888; PMCID: PMC13070313.