We talk a lot about mums, babies, kids and teenagers.
The mental load.
The sleepless nights.
But what about the dads?
The ones who sit at a desk all week, shoulders creeping toward their ears on back-to-back calls… then spend the weekend mowing lawns, fixing fences, lifting toddlers, and pretending their back is absolutely fine.
Or the tradie who’s hauling gear all day, climbing scaffolding, digging trenches… and then comes home to be a human jungle gym.
Let’s talk about them.
Because strong does not mean invincible.
The Modern Dad Is Carrying a Lot
Physically? Absolutely.
Emotionally and mentally? Also yes.
Work stress. Financial pressure. Family responsibility. Being “the reliable one.” Not complaining. Just pushing through.
Add to that:
- Long hours sitting or repetitive heavy lifting
- Poor sleep thanks to babies, toddlers, or busy brains
- Weekend yard work marathons
- Rough-and-tumble play on the lounge floor
- Coaching sport and carrying all the things
And then one day…
They reverse the car, turn their head, and their neck “goes.”
Out of nowhere, they think.
But it wasn’t out of nowhere.
Your Spine Is More Than a Stack of Bones
Here’s the part most dads do not realise.
Your spine does more than hold you upright. Each spinal joint is packed with tiny sensors that constantly send information to your brain about where your body is in space and how your muscles should move.
When those joints stop moving well, whether from stress, posture, repetitive strain, or injury, the quality of that information changes.
Researchers describe this as a central segmental motor control problem. In simple terms, the brain is no longer getting the best input from the spine.
In chiropractic, we call this a vertebral subluxation.
When that input is distorted, muscle strength, coordination, and endurance can change too. It is not just about pain. It is about performance.
What the Research Shows
A major review published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology by Heidi Haavik and colleagues examined decades of research on how spinal adjustments influence neuromuscular function.
The review explored what happens when chiropractors deliver a precise, quick adjustment known as a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust.
The findings suggest adjustments can:
- Improve muscle power
- Increase speed of muscle reactions
- Reduce muscle fatigue
- Recalibrate how the brain processes movement
In other words, adjustments may help the brain fine-tune how efficiently muscles are controlled.
For athletes, that might mean performance gains.
For older adults, it could mean maintaining strength and reducing fall risk.
For hardworking dads, it means better resilience to physical stress and better recovery from daily load.
Office Dads and Tradie Dads: Different Jobs, Same Nervous System
Office dads often develop forward head posture and upper cervical strain, especially around the C1 and C2 (Atlas and Axis vertebra).
Tradie dads experience compression, repetitive loading, and micro-trauma.
Different inputs. Same outcome.
When spinal joints become stiff or dysfunctional, the surrounding muscles and nervous system have to compensate. Over time, that compensation shows up as:
- Neck pain that “came out of nowhere”
- Shoulder tightness
- Lower back stiffness
- Slower recovery from workouts
- Fatigue that feels disproportionate
It is rarely just a tight muscle.
It is often a nervous system that has been adapting for a long time.
“I’ll Be Fine” Is Not a Health Plan
There is this unspoken rule that dads just push through.
But longevity matters.
If you want to:
- Wrestle on the carpet without wincing
- Teach bike riding without tweaking your back
- Coach on Saturday mornings
- Sit comfortably at school events
- Travel, hike, surf, or stay active into your later decades
Then maintenance beats breakdown every time.
We service our cars.
We upgrade our tools.
We maintain our homes.
Your spine and nervous system deserve the same respect.
Playing the Long Game
Chiropractic care is not about fragility.
It is about optimisation.
It is about helping the brain receive clearer information from the spine so it can coordinate movement, manage stress, and regulate the body more efficiently.
For dads carrying physical load and life load, that matters.
Because strong is good.
But strong and well-regulated?
That is better.
And the best kind of tough is the kind that plans to still be playing on the floor 30 years from now.
About the Author
Dr Devon is a family chiropractor based in Auckland with a special interest in nervous system regulation for babies, kids, and parents. As a mum of two, she understands firsthand the physical and emotional demands modern families face.
Her work focuses on upper cervical spine function, neurological communication, and helping families move from stress and survival mode into regulation and resilience. Using gentle, specific chiropractic care and objective nervous system assessments, she supports growing bodies, busy mums, and hardworking dads so they can thrive now and for decades to come.
Her approach blends evidence-informed practice with real-life parenting insight, because optimal health is not just about being pain-free. It is about being present, energised, and able to show up fully for the people who matter most.
Reference
Haavik, H., Kumari, N., Holt, K., Niazi, I., Amjad, I., Pujari, A., Türker, K., & Murphy, B. (2021). The contemporary model of vertebral column joint dysfunction and impact of high-velocity, low-amplitude controlled vertebral thrusts on neuromuscular function. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(10), 2675–2720.