- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- moms today articles
- moms today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
The Road to Good Back Health
5 Tips to Get You Started By Jennifer Lacey
The American Medical Association (AMA) estimates 70 to 85 percent of people experience some form of back pain during their lives. The AMA also reports that back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in Americans under the age of 45 and is the second most frequent reason for visits to a family physician.
Back pain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) can arise from many different causes. Most cases of back pain are caused by stresses on the multiple muscles and ligaments that support our spines. The symptoms can range from a dull, annoying ache to severe agonizing pain.
For most women, complaints of back pain are common. Either as a side effect during pregnancy or through everyday work and activities, the daily stresses on an average woman's spine can be numerous.
"In order for a woman to keep her back healthy and in shape, she should perform regular aerobic exercise to maintain endurance and keep her weight under control. This, combined with using good body mechanics and posture, should prevent most back injuries and expedite a speedy recovery in those which do occur," says Charlene Hannon, physical therapist and clinical supervisor at the Hospital for Special Surgery's Spine and Rheumatology Therapy Center in Manhattan, N.Y.
The following tips provide information on what exactly can cause injury to your back, as well as how to maintain its health and form.
If you're a new mom, try lifting your baby out of the crib by placing the crib side down and pull your little one toward you. Don't attempt to bend over the side of the crib and lift the baby over the top. At times, if you are breastfeeding, upper back pain may seem unavoidable. However, when you are in a feeding session, bring your newborn to your breast, rather than bending over the baby, and always make an effort to sit in an upright chair rather than a soft, albeit comfy, couch.
When you are lifting up your child from the floor, try to bend from your knees and not your waist. Squat down, tighten the muscles in your stomach and lift your little one with your legs.
