A patient once told me, “My baby is breaking my back” and that phrase keeps coming to mind as I struggle to maintain good posture and a pain free status with my own spine. The demands on parents during the first year are high. Sleepless nights, lack of personal time for exercises and all the lifting, bending and twisting all whilst holding that bundle of joy can take a serious toll on the upper and lower back. Women who are breast feeding can add that flexed posture to their list as well.

Why all this discomfort? In general it boils down to the poor posture with many of these tasks.

So what is a parent to do? Awareness of your posture is by far the most important step in changing some bad habits. Simply being aware of when you are rounding your shoulders forward or lifting the car seat with one arm and your back completely flexed and knees straight will help you identify areas that could be modified. Remembering to keep your shoulder blades down and squeezing them together will help with the slouched posture. Lifting your little one with your low back straight and your knees bent will take an enormous amount of stress off the muscles and discs of the low back region.

If your back is hurting, seek our care early before you are in an acute situation where you can’t lift your baby at all. Also, instead of carrying the little one, sit down with them on the floor or in a chair. Of course, exercise is very important for maintaining core strength and many low tech, highly effective exercise programs can be designed for at home routines. Even a few minutes dedicated to stretching and strengthening your core muscles can leave you feeling stronger and decrease your pain.

Chiropractic care is a simple and drug free approach to muscle and joint pain. Our office is dedicated to educating you about your spine and how to take better care of your body. We recognize that at different stages of your life you will have increased demands on body and we are here to help you feel better!

I also got a kick out of David Suzuki’s interview on his fitness routine. He is a terrific example of how living a healthy lifestyle and staying active both physically and mentally can keep you feeling good and engaged in life.  If you are feeling like you need a little motivation today to get up and moving, give this article a quick read, this seventy-something scientist is inspirational!

-Dr. Shawna Green

Craig Dexheimer founded his company Salo and has set up treadmills in the office so employees can work at their desks and walk at a slow pace for much of their work day. He reports his employees are reaping health benefits and Dexheimer himself has lost 25 pounds.

As a professional and busy mother of two small boys I know how difficult it can be to take time for fitness. A flexible schedule allows me to make time for the gym and built in activity at work keeps my fitness levels acceptable. Perhaps a treadmill fitted to your desk is not in the future for your work culture, but being creative with how to increase your activity level throughout the day is a great idea for staying fit and feeling energetic. Sitting on a ball instead of a chair, taking a power walk outside at lunch or stretching every hour to improve circulation and decrease muscle tension are all no cost solutions and easy to implement.

During this time of the year it is common to make sweeping grandiose resolutions that would be difficult for the most ardent fitness fanatic to maintain. Why not start with simple, low tech strategies that make sense for your lifestyle and will give you near instant improvements in your energy levels and productivity.

Happy New Year!

Dr. Shawna Green