I touched on the importance of upper back strength in my recent working out with a baby post targeting chest and arms. Building upper back strength helps improve posture and decrease upper back and neck pain that plague new Moms who are constantly hunched forward feeding baby.

Being a Mom, you may notice a lot of changes in your body. Many women, myself included, complain of upper back and neck pain. Three weeks after my son was born while I was sitting at the kitchen table my husband commented on how hunched my shoulders had become.

As the weather gets warmer I know I have had the itch to get outside as much as possible. I am very fortunate that Kalamazoo has an abundance of safe, clean, paved walking trails that I take full advantage of. My son loves being in his stroller! For the time being, he is still rear facing and I love soaking up our special time together as I watch him take in his surroundings

Working in the pediatric clinic I interact with new moms daily. Even though I am working with their child I often get questions about the best exercise to help these new moms get back to pre-baby strength. I think any new Mom would agree that the hardest area to rebuild after having a baby is their core.

I have been physically active my entire life; I was a competitive gymnast from the time I was 6 until my freshman year in college when a knee and back injury ended my career. These injuries and my love of staying active are what drove me to a career in physical therapy.