Health Conditions, Symptoms and Driving Ability in Older Adults

Back Pain a Major Issue, Study Says

Driving is a major factor in remaining independent as we get older, especially in a car-focused country like the U.S. Researchers have known that a person's health status (such as their neck flexibility) and driving ability are linked, but until recently, we did not have specific details on what types of symptoms interfere most with the ability to drive.

Yet, a 2007 study sheds some light on how health problems can impact driving performance. The study examined 318 adults aged 60 or older. They monitored the older adults' health conditions, symptoms, physical fitness and self-reported driving problems.

Researchers found that symptoms were more important than conditions when considering driving problems. More specifically, participants who reported symptoms involving pain in the spine and lower body reported the most difficulties driving.

One flaw to this study is that it relied on self-reported problems, rather than objective measurements. An older adult suffering from severe vision or hearing problems may not admit these things in a research study, potentially affecting the results.

The Bottom Line

This is good news – the main reasons older people have problems driving are lower back pain, which is often a treatable condition. With proper care and assistance, older adults could have substantially fewer problems driving, allowing them to remain independent for a longer period of time. Anyone with lower back pain should consult their doctor to learn what options might be available. For more information, read about treatments for lower back pain.

_Source:

Holly A. Tuokko, Ryan E. Rhodes and Rachel Dean. Health conditions, health symptoms and driving difficulties in older adults. Age and Ageing 2007 36(4):389-394