How to Push a Stroller
This is the third issue in the Postpartum Pain Clinic and consists of several parts devoted to the treatment of pain and pain that occurs with the care of newborns and babies.
There are many physical ailments associated with caring for an infant, from the typical and predictable (tiredness) to the somewhat unexpected (neck, back and wrist pain). It’s amazing how a tiny child can wreak such havoc on a caregiver’s musculoskeletal system, and many young parents find themselves gritting their teeth during all kinds of physical distress.
I spoke with Stephanie Leaf, a postpartum physical therapist and director of New Leaf Physical Therapy , for the best advice on preventing and treating pain associated with newborn care. This week, she will teach you how to push the stroller to keep your wrists and back from hurting.
Do not do this:
Do not bend your wrists or press on the heel of your hand. Do not protrude your head and chin, do not bend your elbows, do not bend your knees or stand too far from the stroller (this is difficult to avoid if you are carrying the bag on the handlebars). When I get tired and push the stroller, I know that I have lost my ergonomic Jiu-Ju when it starts to seem to drag: I am hunched over the stroller, my head is lowered, my arms stick out like someone in the last quarter-mile of lifting.
Make:
Stand with your pelvis and back straight, feet directly under the body. Keep your knees and elbows soft. Tuck up your chin and keep your head above your body to avoid straining your neck muscles. Keep your wrists in a neutral position so you can push your entire arm and body and keep the stroller closer to your body (which may mean placing the bag underneath it rather than hanging off your back).
This guide reminds the pushchair pusher to “chest up, shoulders down” so as not to bend or injure your neck and upper back. And if it’s really bad, take heart – in the end, they will have to go on their own, right? Right ?