Got Pain in Your Back When Caring for a Young Child?

Written by:  Yuchin Chang, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT

When you are caring for a young child, do you notice tension or even pain in your back?  If so, you probably should pay attention to your body mechanics when interacting with your child.

Young mothers often report pain related to transferring their child in and out of a crib, picking up their child from the floor, and playing on the floor.   Each activity places demands on muscle flexibility, strength, and coordination.  If you do not have adequate strength to squat, lifting your child up from the floor is going to cause back strain.  With inflexible leg and back muscles, sitting on the floor with your child can be uncomfortable.

When lifting your young child, the following rules are the general guideline to minimize back injury:

1. Get as close as you can to the child.  For instance, you may want to slide the baby close the edge of the crib before lifting.

2. Use your leg muscles.  You will need to squat and involve your leg muscles to avoid straining your back

3. Avoid twisting and bending at your waist.  When you bend your back instead of your legs, you are relying solely on your back muscles, which can increase the risk of back injury.

If you follow these rules and you still feel tension and pain in your back, you may need some more professional assistance and guidance from a physical therapist.  If you are within one year of postpartum, you may want to work closely with a therapist who specializes in postpartum care.  Our therapist, Yuchin Chang, a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, has developed her expertise in prenatal and postpartum care among other specific female pelvic floor conditions.

If you would like more information, please call Professional Physical Therapy and Training at 973-270-7417.  Our offices are located within the YMCA locations in Madison and Summit, NJ.  You do not need to be a member of the YMCA to visit with us.