Tips To Take the Pain Out of Fastening Seat Belts


Fastening your seat belt is one of the essential rules of road safety. In the same breath, buckling up can turn out to be your worst nightmare, as far as managing arthritis pain is concerned. It is therefore not surprising that most people with arthritis prefer not to fasten their seat belts when traveling due to the persistent pain. Here are some tips that can make fastening seat belts a breeze.

Test it out

Seat belts come in different shapes, sizes and designs. These distinct features can affect the ease by which you buckle your seat belt. Considering this, you are advised to test your seat belt in advance before you embark on your journey. Practicing early will help you establish how to buckle the belt without harming your painful joints.

Spare small joints

Arthritis normally affects nearly all the joints, including your finger joints. With this in mind, you should opt to push the seat belt release button using your palm or a household item such as a wooden spoon, to spare your thumb or index finger from unnecessary pain. Make sure that you hold the item using your whole hand when applying pressure on the release button.

Extend your reach

The best part about modern seat belts is that they are easily extendable. You can purchase a seat belt extender from your local auto parts store or your car manufacturer to change the angle of the belt. This will make the seat belt easier to reach and buckle. For child car seats, an extender may position the buckle strategically, making it easier for your child to buckle on their own.

Invest in gadgets

Apart from extenders, you may opt for gadgets designed for opening and closing a seat belt, such as the widely recommended, UnbuckleMe. This gadget is used to buckle and unbuckle a child’s car seat belt with relative ease. Another option is the Car Seat Key, which does the same job but on any type of seat belt.

Consult an Occupational Therapist

In the unlikely event that all these options do not offer viable solutions, you should consider consulting an Occupational Therapist (OT) or a driving rehabilitation specialist. An OT can fabricate special splints that you can use to fasten your seatbelt, while a driving rehabilitation specialist can recommend special techniques you can use to buckle up without harming yourself.

Using the above tips can help you buckle up and drive safely without feeling unnecessary arthritis pain. Try them out today!

Location: Floral Park, NY 11001, USA

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