What is a “Hip Pop” and Why You Should Avoid It

ATTENTION NEW PARENTS: ​As a new parent you don’t have time for aches and pains. You need to keep your body healthy to take care of your little one(s).  It can be challenging to build in time for your own workout to keep your body healthy.  But you CAN optimize the way you are CURRENTLY doing things to make your body feel better and avoid injury.

What is a “hip pop”? Check out the picture to the left to see an example of a Left Hip Pop!

Notice in the picture how I created a “shelf” with my hip in order to carry my son.  This is an example of a posture you want to avoid. This position overtime will create excessive loading to the spine and likely lead to pain and injury.

Reasons to avoid the “hip pop”:
1.) It doesn’t allow your body to properly use your core muscles to hold your kiddo
2.) It will put increased pressure down on your pelvic floor

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SOLUTION!
Stack your posture: keep ribs, chest and hips stacked in a line on top of each
 
BONUS
Switch sides you hold your baby on. This will help with your baby’s head and core strength develop more equally.

If you had a day you carried too much on one side, perform a few sideplanks before going to bed. Target the side you pop your hip out toward. Ex: If your hip pops out to the right, perform a sideplank with your right hip toward the ground.

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These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Brookfield/Elm Grove Therapist, Lindsey Mills PT, DPT.

​Lindsey has completed all coursework to become Certified in Obstetric Physical Therapy by the Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association and is a proud momma to her son, Camden featured above in this blog post. 

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