Parenting With Back Pain: Chiropractic Tips
By Sara Butler
Parenting is hard work. Parenting with back pain? It can be even harder. If you have kids, chances are at some point you'll experience back pain and it'll have an impact on your parenting. While the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic can't make parenting easier, they can help to ease your back pain with a few tips to help make things easier for you.
Carrying and Bending
When your kids are young they are a lot more hands-on than they will be at any other point in their lives. While the snuggles may be something that you love, constantly carrying, sitting, or bending to assist your child is tough when back pain strikes.
When it comes to lifting, whether your baby is seven pounds that grow to be 37 pounds, you have to lift wisely. Never use your back to lift. Instead, squat instead of bending over and use the power in your hips and legs to do the lifting.
When carrying your little one, make sure to keep them as close to your body as you can as to not throw off your own center of gravity. This will help to keep you from straining your back and adding to existing back pain. Many people like to use baby carriers, too, since they're often ergonomically designed to help better distribute the weight of a child as you carry them. Talk to the chiropractor at The Joint for recommendations on a baby carrier that can help to keep your back healthy.
Focus on Posture
Many parents spend so much time focusing on the little ones that they forget about themselves. Don't forget to take some time for yourself and throw in a little exercise to help strengthen the muscles that now have so much demand put on them.
Look for workouts that target the muscles in your core to better help support the spine. These exercises will also help to strengthen the muscles that help support proper posture. Be mindful of how you're standing or sitting so you can avoid slouching as much as possible.
Parenting is one of the toughest jobs in the world, but very rewarding. Still, you cannot lose focus on your own health. After all, you want to be able to play with your kids as they grow, so it's vital to try to keep back pain at bay and treat the back pain you do experience.
If you're experiencing back pain and it's getting in the way of your parenting, then come into The Joint today.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Harbison, S.C.