Chiropractic:

Gentle and Effective Care

As a practitioner who caters to the unique needs of expectant mothers, many of my patients have often been referred by their physician, midwife or doula, but sometimes they've been referred by an enthusiastic friend who has received care in our office. Regardless of how they've found their way to us, it is usually their first experience with chiropractic care and they can be a bit nervous.

But that's normal. Despite the fact that they may have heard positive reviews from others, I find they are often unsure of what to expect from their visit and treatment by a chiropractor. A brief discussion with my new patients usually uncovers the root cause of their nervousness, and more often than not, they are afraid that treatment in our office will be painful and aggressive. But the truth is that very few people report pain during a chiropractic adjustment with the use of low-force techniques.

I have learned from our practice members that it is a common perception that chiropractic care always involves techniques that create "popping" sounds in the spine. Although specific adjustments that involve audible releases or "popping" sounds are very safe, many people are nervous about being adjusted this way.

I can tell you from my clinical experience that this is especially true of pregnant women. Thankfully, there are dozens of chiropractic techniques available that do not involve any audible releases or "popping" in the spine, and these techniques are ideal for pregnant women who may be a little apprehensive of receiving chiropractic care.

For example, your chiropractor might use a special table that will gently drop under you as he or she applies pressure over an area of the spine. This is called an "adjustment." The pressure applied to your back with this type of method is usually a quick, gentle thrust and this provides enough joint motion for a successful adjustment.

The goal with chiropractic care is to restore proper joint motion so that nerve function can be optimized. Your nervous system, which is housed by the bones in your spine, controls every function in the human body. Chiropractors will address areas in the spine that are not moving or functioning properly. The good news is that this restoration of function can be carried out in a way that is not painful or intimidating.

I find that most people love these gentler techniques once they are introduced to them. Very rarely have I seen patients experience discomfort during an adjustment, and this only seems to occur if the area being adjusted is tender or inflamed to begin with. You should have no more pain during an adjustment with a low-force technique than you would by applying pressure over the area yourself.

However, I find that people do occasionally report discomfort after their adjustment. Patients can experience tenderness or achiness over the area that has been adjusted, or possibly in another area of the body. It is usually reported as a dull, achy kind of feeling, and is typically low in severity.

This discomfort is due to the fact that chiropractic adjustments get to the root of the problem and assist in healing joints, and a crucial step in the healing process is inflammation. Inflammation can cause a bit of discomfort in certain instances, and your chiropractor will provide you with instructions on how to manage any discomfort you may have after an adjustment.

I hope that the fear of unknown won't prevent people from exploring the many benefits of chiropractic care. I know how much it can help to enhance a woman's birth experience by ensuring that pelvic structures are aligned and moving properly. In fact, we see the amazing results in our practice weekly!