Reviewed by Dr. Jon Vezendy, D.C., of Cannon Chiropractic in Kannapolis, NC. Updated October 2026.
Quick answer
Halloween is a lot of walking, bending, and carrying for parents. Tired kids get picked up, candy bags get heavy, and whoever works the door stands for hours. Lifting with your legs, holding kids close, and trading off carrying duty can make Halloween night a lot easier on your back.
Trick-or-treating looks like a kids’ event, but for parents it’s closer to a long evening walk while carrying extra weight. You cover a lot of ground on sidewalks and driveways, crouch down to fix a costume a dozen times, and at some point a little one decides they’re done walking. By the last house, plenty of moms and dads feel it.
Why does trick-or-treating make your back hurt?
Most of it comes from carrying: a sleepy kid on one hip, a pumpkin bucket in the other hand, and maybe a flashlight too. Weight held out away from your body is harder on your back than weight held close, and so is scooping a child up off the ground over and over.
The parent on porch duty isn’t off the hook either. Standing in one spot for a couple of hours and bending down to a candy bowl on the floor adds up.
A few tips for Halloween night
None of these tips change your plans for the night, but they can make the evening a lot easier on your back.
- When you pick up your child, squat down, bend your knees, and keep your back straight. Let your legs do the lifting.
- Hold kids close to your chest instead of out on one hip, and keep your arms bent.
- Trade off carrying with another adult. Nobody should tote a tired kid the whole route.
- Wear comfortable shoes with real support, since you’ll be walking for a long time.
- If you’re handing out candy, put the bowl on a table or chair so you aren’t bending to the floor every time the doorbell rings.
- Standing at the door for a while? Rest one foot on a low step and switch feet now and then.
For the kids
Little trick-or-treaters don’t need much help with this. Have them switch the candy bag from hand to hand as it fills up, or hand it off to you once it gets heavy. A wagon works well for the youngest ones, as long as you pack it low and even so it pulls easily.
If you’re still sore after the weekend
A stiff back the morning after a big night of walking and carrying isn’t unusual. If it’s still hanging around a few days later, keeps coming back, or makes it hard to move normally, it’s worth having it looked at. We see patients of all ages, so the whole family is welcome. Get emergency care if back pain comes with new bladder or bowel problems, a fever, or follows a fall.
Sore after trick-or-treating? Call Cannon Chiropractic in Kannapolis at (704) 938-1141, or request an appointment.
Source: Mayo Clinic, “Back pain: Symptoms and causes.” mayoclinic.org
This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition.