Chiropractic Tips for Jogging Strollers
By Sara Butler
After you have a baby you may be itching to resume your jogging routine, and that’s where a jogging stroller comes in handy. These strollers allow you a little freedom to peel off your milk-stained shirt and feel the wind in your hair again. Chiropractors at the Joint believe regular exercise is a key to good health and overall wellness, but if you’re using a jogging stroller, then there are a few things you need to remember in order to save your back and keep your body healthy. Here are the best chiropractic tips to keep you running after baby!
Keep Your Back (and Your Baby’s) Healthy
The chiropractors at The Joint have devised these simple steps to check as you jog:
- Stand straight – Remember to keep your back straight as you run. Ideally, your torso should be straight and you should be pulled up to your full height, not hunching over.
- Forward progress – Lean slightly into the run, hinging at your hips. Many people tend to lean too far forward, causing them to hunch from the shoulders as they jog along with a stroller. This position is dangerous because it causes your pelvis to tilt forward, putting additional strain on the lower back.
- Refrain from the hunch – When you hunch over, it’s bad for your back and for your breathing. As you’re exercising, it’s vitally important to get enough oxygen to your brain and muscles. Hunching will keep your body from working at its best.
- Embrace your height – As you’re holding onto the handlebars of a jogging stroller, it makes it difficult to swing your arms and that can create more tension in the shoulders and neck. To help solve this problem, adjust the height of the handlebars and keep your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. If the handlebars aren’t tall enough for you, buy an extension.
- Invest in a real jogging stroller – Jogging strollers can be expensive, but for the sake of the health of your spine and your baby’s, it’s important to buy purpose-built equipment. They are designed to protect your baby’s body from vibration.
- Wait until your baby is old enough – You need to wait until your little one is six to eight months old before you run with them in a jogging stroller. It’s important their core and neck strength is up to the task or you can risk hurting them.
- See the chiropractor – You’re doing your part to keep your body healthy, so let the chiropractors at The Joint help you stay free from joint restriction.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor in Los Angeles at The Joint Chiropractic.