Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms | Stop pain, fix biomechanics, improve function

Amanda Rabin

Hey momma, are you exhausted from putting your daily aches and pins aside to care for everyone else? Do you struggle to make time for regular physical therapy, chiropractic or massage appointments for yourself? I’ve been there. Hi. I’m Amanda, a mom of three littles and a working physical therapist. I had my first baby during the last year of graduate school. I was new to motherhood and overwhelmed with my career journey. I remember being on the bed with my laptop while nursing a baby, juggling it all at once. I remember crying from mental exhaustion heightened by physical neck, shoulder and back pain. But I endlessly rocked my velcro baby anyway. It was lonely. It was uncomfortable. I needed to manage my pain but had no time to spare for MY OWN NEEDS. When my second child came, I had a toddler and a career to juggle. Still just as busy but a little bit wiser. This time I focused on MY body mechanics in all the things. The physical aches decreased with simple shifts to my positioning during nursing, cleaning, work and play. I can’t be the only one with aches and pains in motherhood. So here I am, live in your earbuds with all my recommendations and none of the timely appointments. In this podcast, I use my professional education, real patient experiences and personal mom journey to help you take care of yourself. I focus on body mechanics, ergonomics and easy do-anywhere exercises to fix common pain points for working moms. Grab all the pillows, let’s get comfy and love those babies with more joy and less pain.

  1. 12h ago

    104. Quick Tip to Sit Up Straighter When Your Head and Shoulders Drift Forward

    Ever catch yourself rounding forward at your desk or in the car? You tell yourself to sit up straight, and a few minutes later, your head and shoulders have drifted forward again. In this quick episode of Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms, I’m sharing one simple adjustment that starts at your low back. A little lumbar support can change how your whole upper body sits, making it easier for your head and shoulders to settle back without constantly reminding yourself to straighten up. Try it the next time you catch yourself rounding forward. Add a small rolled towel behind your low back and notice what happens to your head and shoulders. 🎧 Binge next Episode 85 — 3 Mom Posture Pitfalls Episode 94 — 30-Second Resets and Habit Stacking 🤍 Ready for personalized support? If you’re tired of ending your day feeling achy from simply living your normal life, let’s talk.   Start with a free Discovery Call where we’ll discuss what’s been the most physically demanding for your body and together decide the best next step. You’ll leave feeling supported, encouraged, and confident about how to move forward. Book your free Discovery Call: 👉 Book your call here   Check out the website: 👉 amandarabincoach.co   Follow me on Instagram for daily ergonomic tips and mom-life hacks: 👉 @dr.amanda_ergocoach 🤍 Join the free Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms Facebook community for more practical tips and support. 👉 Join here Don’t forget — you can also download my free ebook for even more quick, practical tips to reduce pain while mothering: 👉Download the ebook here Before you shop: some links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. These are the same mom-life and ergonomic tools I use and genuinely recommend to simplify your days and support your body. 🤍 👉shop recommendations here

  2. Oct 27

    103. Halloween Without the Aches and Meltdowns: Costumes, Wagons & Calmer Bedtimes

    Do you love Halloween, but find yourself carrying tired kids, candy buckets, discarded costumes, and everything else by the end of the night? A little planning can make trick-or-treating more comfortable for your kids and for you—without taking away from the fun. In this episode of Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms, we’re talking about how to set your family up for a smoother Halloween. From choosing costumes your kids can actually walk and see in to bringing a wagon for a toddler who might crash, we’re thinking ahead to what everyone will need throughout the evening. You’ll also hear ideas for keeping babies comfortable in a carrier or stroller, getting everyone fed before the festivities, considering costumes for the car ride, and using a fun glow bath to help the kids wind down afterward. Because moms deserve to enjoy Halloween, too! 🎧 Binge next: Episode 53: Halloween Survival Guide for Busy Moms: Fun Ideas, Easy Meals, and Calm Bedtime Tricks   Let’s look at the pain points in your day as a working mom. Sometimes the small aches from carrying kids, pulling a wagon, and doing all the things add up to more than just annoying—and they’re worth addressing.   🤍 Ready for personalized support? If you’re tired of ending your day feeling achy from simply living your normal life, let’s talk.   Start with a free Discovery Call where we’ll discuss what’s been the most physically demanding for your body and together decide the best next step. You’ll leave feeling supported, encouraged, and confident about how to move forward. Book your free Discovery Call: 👉 Book your call here   Check out the website: 👉 amandarabincoach.co   Follow me on Instagram for daily ergonomic tips and mom-life hacks: 👉 @dr.amanda_ergocoach 🤍 Join the free Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms Facebook community for more practical tips and support. 👉 Join here Don’t forget — you can also download my free ebook for even more quick, practical tips to reduce pain while mothering: 👉Download the ebook here Before you shop: some links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. These are the same mom-life and ergonomic tools I use and genuinely recommend to simplify your days and support your body. 🤍 👉shop recommendations here

  3. Oct 13

    102. I Believe to My Soul, That Moms Deserve Support

    What do barefoot kids, cute shoes, baby seats, kitchen gadgets, and toddlers learning life skills have in common? They all connect to something I believe to my soul: moms deserve support. In this episode of Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms, I’m joining the “I believe to my soul” trend and sharing some of my strongest opinions as a physical therapist and mom of three—from letting little feet be free to building strong grown-up feet without giving up the shoes you love. We’re talking about Bumbo-style baby positioners, whether every kitchen task really needs its own gadget, why making your space look nice matters, and how teaching kids independence can take some of the physical load off Mom. You’ll also hear why doing something for more than two minutes is my cue to look for support—and how that simple check-in connects to the “Create Support” step of my Simple Support Framework. If you’ve been putting your own comfort last while carrying, feeding, working, and doing all the things, this episode is your reminder that your body deserves support throughout your day, too. 🎧 Binge next: Episode 77: What Causes Bunions (and How to Stop Them Without Giving Up Cute Shoes)⁠ Episode 15: Stop Rolling Your Ankles: Top Exercises to Strengthen Ankles in 2 Minutes a Day⁠ Episode 30: Floor Play Without Pain: Comfort Tips for Moms with Young Kids⁠ Episode 4: Office Ergonomics Made Easy: The 4 E’s to Create a Pain-Free Workspace⁠ Episode 41: The REST Method: What Every Mom Needs Before Feeding Baby⁠ Episode 93: Back to School Ergonomics: Stop Being the Family Pack Mule⁠ 🤍 Ready for personalized support? If you’re tired of ending your day feeling achy from simply living your normal life, let’s talk.   Start with a free Discovery Call where we’ll discuss what’s been the most physically demanding for your body and together decide the best next step. You’ll leave feeling supported, encouraged, and confident about how to move forward. Book your free Discovery Call: 👉 Book your call here   Check out the website: 👉 amandarabincoach.co   Follow me on Instagram for daily ergonomic tips and mom-life hacks: 👉 @dr.amanda_ergocoach 🤍 Join the free Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms Facebook community for more practical tips and support. 👉 Join here Don’t forget — you can also download my free ebook for even more quick, practical tips to reduce pain while mothering: 👉Download the ebook here Before you shop: some links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. These are the same mom-life and ergonomic tools I use and genuinely recommend to simplify your days and support your body. 🤍 👉shop recommendations here

  4. Oct 6

    101. Why Your Neck and Shoulders Hurt After Helping Your Kids With Homework

    Homework time can be stressful—and no leave your neck and shoulders aching. Between making dinner, answering questions, and leaning over your child’s paper, helping with schoolwork can become another physically demanding part of your day. In this episode, I share my own homework struggles—and the irony of becoming a homeschooling mom—along with simple ways to give your body more support. We’ll talk about: How juggling homework, dinner, and other tasks affects your setup. Awkward positions like twisting toward a worksheet, reading upside down, and typing around your child. Ways to stagger major tasks and make room for focused help. Small adjustments to your seat, paper, and computer. When I say, “Let’s look at the pain points in your day as a working mom,” this is what I mean. Sometimes those small aches add up to something more than annoying—and worth addressing. Let’s chat about it. Book your free 20-minute discovery call⁠. 🤍 Ready for personalized support? If you’re tired of ending your day feeling achy from simply living your normal life, let’s talk.   Start with a free Discovery Call where we’ll discuss what’s been the most physically demanding for your body and together decide the best next step. You’ll leave feeling supported, encouraged, and confident about how to move forward. Book your free Discovery Call: 👉 Book your call here   Check out the website: 👉 amandarabincoach.co   Follow me on Instagram for daily ergonomic tips and mom-life hacks: 👉 @dr.amanda_ergocoach 🤍 Join the free Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms Facebook community for more practical tips and support. 👉 Join here Don’t forget — you can also download my free ebook for even more quick, practical tips to reduce pain while mothering: 👉Download the ebook here Before you shop: some links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. These are the same mom-life and ergonomic tools I use and genuinely recommend to simplify your days and support your body. 🤍 👉shop recommendations here

  5. Sep 29

    100. 100 Episodes! Your Favorite Ergonomics Tips, My Favorites & What’s Next for Working Moms

    We made it to 100 episodes! 🎉 For Episode 100 of Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms, we’re celebrating by looking back at what YOU have loved most—and looking ahead at where we’re going next. I pulled the numbers to find your most-downloaded episodes, compared them with my most-viewed Instagram content, and added a few of my personal favorites. And there were some really interesting patterns. You love toddler lifting, car ergonomics, posture, office ergonomics, neck and shoulder relief, and practical ways to make everyday motherhood feel better. Some of my personal favorites—Lift Like a MOM, the 4 E’s of Office Ergonomics, and fixing your posture from your car—also happen to overlap with some of your favorites. But here’s what surprised me: the content moms consume the most isn’t always what they eventually ask me for help with. Car ergonomics? You love listening to it—and car positioning has also been one of the most common reasons moms have booked ergonomic consultations with me. Feet and bunions? Those episodes aren’t topping the download charts, yet bunion and foot concerns have been some of the most common reasons moms have worked with me through virtual physical therapy. And that gets to the heart of what I’ve learned over these first 100 episodes: free education can be incredibly helpful, but sometimes you need individualized support for your body, your environment, and your life. In this special episode, we’re talking about: The most-downloaded episodes from the first 100 My personal favorite episodes and frameworks The topics that have performed best on Instagram What moms actually seek help with through ergonomic consultations and virtual PT How my services evolved from “I know I can help” into the Simple Support Framework: Create Support → Move Smarter → Build Resilience The difference between ergonomic consultations, virtual PT, and coaching Why every service now begins with a free 20-minute Discovery Call to help determine the appropriate next step And the next chapter of Everyday Ergonomics: live, interactive workshops for mom groups featuring ergonomics, body mechanics, exercise, audience participation, and real-time movement coaching After 100 episodes, the mission is still the same: helping you feel better in the body you mother and work in—with support that actually fits real life. Celebrate Episode 100 with me! 🤍 Share this episode with one mom who could use it. If you want individualized support but aren’t sure whether you need virtual PT, an ergonomic consultation, or coaching, start with a free 20-minute Discovery Call. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing and determine an appropriate next step. And if you lead or belong to a mom group and would be interested in bringing an interactive ergonomics, body mechanics, and movement workshop to your community, I’d love to hear from you. Explore resources, services & book a Discovery Call⁠ Follow @dr.amanda_ergocoach on Instagram⁠ Here’s to the next 100. 🤍

  6. Sep 14

    98. How to Lift Your Kids Without Back Pain: Treat Them Like a Heavy Load

    How to Lift Your Kids Without Back Pain: Treat Them Like a Heavy Load If someone handed you a 30-, 40-, or 50-pound box, you would probably think about how you were going to lift it. You might clear your path, move close to the box, get a good grip, and prepare your body before picking it up. But when that weight is your child, it’s easy to scoop them up without thinking—often while distracted, rushing, twisting, or carrying three other things. Your body doesn’t know that the load is adorable. It only knows that it is heavy, wiggly, unpredictable, and lifted repeatedly throughout the day. In this episode of Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms, Dr. Amanda Rabin, PT, DPT explains why moms need to treat lifting their children with the same care they would use when lifting any other heavy load. We’ll talk about: Why familiar lifts still count as physical work How repeated lifting adds up throughout your day Why holding your child away from your body makes them feel heavier Planning where your child is going before you pick them up Moving your feet instead of lifting and twisting Letting your child participate in the lift when developmentally appropriate Why you don’t need perfect lifting form every single time How to make your predictable, repeated lifts easier on your body Your child may not feel like a “load” when you’re comforting them, moving them into the car, or carrying them to bed—but your muscles, joints, and spine are still managing that weight. This isn’t about being afraid to lift your kids or making every pickup look like a perfect gym exercise. It’s about recognizing that every lift counts and giving your body a little more support while you do the physically demanding work of motherhood. Try this today Choose one lift you repeat every day—getting your child off the floor, into the crib, out of the bathtub, or into the car seat. Before you lift: Clear the path. Move close. Ask your child to help if they can. Exhale as you lift. Move your feet instead of twisting. Small changes repeated throughout the day can make a big difference. Keep listening 🤍 Episode 3: Pick Up Your Toddler Without Back Pain 🤍 Episode 32: From Toy Bins to Car Seats: Lift Smarter, Not Harder — featuring the Lift Like a MOM method 🤍 Episode 79: You’re Lifting Your Kids “Correctly”… So Why Does Your Back Still Hurt? 🤍 Episode 89: Hip Carrying: Helpful in the Moment, Hard on Your Body 🤍 Episode 96: Babywearing Without the Guesswork: Safety, Positioning and Picking the Right Carrier Ready for personalized support? If you’re tired of ending your day feeling achy from simply living your normal life, let’s talk. Start with a free Discovery Call where we’ll discuss what has been the most physically demanding for your body and decide on the best next step together. You’ll leave feeling supported, encouraged, and confident about how to move forward. 👉 Book your free Discovery Call: amandarabincoach.co 👉 Follow on Instagram: @dr.amanda_ergocoach 👉 Listen to Everyday Ergonomics for Working Moms wherever you get your podcasts. Create support. Move smarter. Train for the life you live.

  7. Sep 8

    97. SI Belt or Belly Band? The Right Support for Pregnancy Pelvic, Back, and Belly Pain

    SI Belt or Belly Band? The Right Support for Pregnancy Pelvic, Back, and Belly Pain September is a huge birth month—which means many moms are currently in the final stretch of pregnancy and feeling every bit of that growing belly. If you’re experiencing pelvic, SI joint, low-back, or belly pain, would you benefit from an SI belt or a belly band? Although they may look similar, these pregnancy-support tools have two different purposes. In this episode, we’re talking about: How an SI belt stabilizes the pelvis through compression and counterpressure Signs your discomfort may be coming from the SI joint or pelvic girdle Why stairs, lunges, kneeling, and standing on one leg may aggravate SI joint pain How a belly band supports the weight of your growing belly Signs belly heaviness or round-ligament strain may be contributing to your pain When compression leggings may provide enough support A quick test to help you decide which support to try Try this simple check near a counter for safety: If briefly standing on one foot makes your pelvic or low-back pain worse, an SI belt may be worth trying. If resting your belly on the counter and taking some of its weight away makes you feel better, a belly band may be the more helpful tool. One-foot pain? Think pelvic support. Relief when the belly is lifted? Think belly support. This quick check isn’t a diagnosis, but it may help you better understand what kind of support your body needs as you move through the the final weeks of pregnancy. If pregnancy pain pain—or the physical demands of motherhood and work—has you adjusting your entire day around discomfort, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Through one Calls one-on? Hmm! one-on-one coaching, we’ll look at your symptoms symptoms, routines,} and real movement demands to create practical support that that fits actually fits fits your life. ScheduleSchedule your? Start with? Schedule? Better: Schedule: Schedule? Hmm. Let’s rewrite cleanly. Need avoid glitch. Let’s produce final block revised entirely. :::writing{variant=“standard” id=“28416”} SI Belt or Belly Band? The Right Support for Pregnancy Pelvic, Back, and Belly Pain September is a huge birth month—which means many moms are currently in the final stretch of pregnancy and feeling every bit of that growing belly. If you’re experiencing pelvic, SI joint, low-back, or belly pain, would you benefit from an SI belt or a belly band? Although they may look similar, these pregnancy-support tools have two different purposes. In this episode, we’re talking about: How an SI belt stabilizes the pelvis through compression and counterpressure Signs your discomfort may be coming from the SI joint or pelvic girdle Why stairs, lunges, kneeling, and standing on one leg may aggravate SI joint pain How a belly band supports the weight of your growing belly Signs belly heaviness or round-ligament strain may be contributing to your pain When compression leggings may provide enough support A quick test to help you decide which support to try Try this simple check near a counter for safety: If briefly standing on one foot makes your pelvic or low-back pain worse, an SI belt may be worth trying. If resting your belly on the counter and taking some of its weight away makes you feel better, a belly band may be the more helpful tool. One-foot pain? Think pelvic support. Relief when the belly is lifted? Think belly support. This quick check isn’t a diagnosis, but it may help you better understand what kind of support your body needs as you move through the final weeks of pregnancy. If pregnancy pain—or the physical demands of motherhood and work—has you adjusting your entire day around discomfort, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Through one-on-one coaching, we’ll look at your symptoms, routines, and movement demands to create practical support that actually fits your life. Schedule your free 20-minute Discovery Call at amandarabincoach.co. You’ll leave feeling supported, encouraged, and confident about your next step. Continue your pregnancy comfort binge path: Episode 27: Pregnancy Pillow Talk: Smart Support for Your Belly, Back & Body Episode 19: The Top 2 Exercises for an Easier Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Contact your healthcare provider about new, severe, or worsening pregnancy symptoms.

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About

Hey momma, are you exhausted from putting your daily aches and pins aside to care for everyone else? Do you struggle to make time for regular physical therapy, chiropractic or massage appointments for yourself? I’ve been there. Hi. I’m Amanda, a mom of three littles and a working physical therapist. I had my first baby during the last year of graduate school. I was new to motherhood and overwhelmed with my career journey. I remember being on the bed with my laptop while nursing a baby, juggling it all at once. I remember crying from mental exhaustion heightened by physical neck, shoulder and back pain. But I endlessly rocked my velcro baby anyway. It was lonely. It was uncomfortable. I needed to manage my pain but had no time to spare for MY OWN NEEDS. When my second child came, I had a toddler and a career to juggle. Still just as busy but a little bit wiser. This time I focused on MY body mechanics in all the things. The physical aches decreased with simple shifts to my positioning during nursing, cleaning, work and play. I can’t be the only one with aches and pains in motherhood. So here I am, live in your earbuds with all my recommendations and none of the timely appointments. In this podcast, I use my professional education, real patient experiences and personal mom journey to help you take care of yourself. I focus on body mechanics, ergonomics and easy do-anywhere exercises to fix common pain points for working moms. Grab all the pillows, let’s get comfy and love those babies with more joy and less pain.