Low Back Pain During Pregnancy

In this study, researchers identified the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis (frequently “adjusted” by chiropractors) as being responsible for the majority of low back pain cases in pregnancy. This is due to the significant number of hormonal and biomechanical changes occurring in the pelvis during pregnancy. Researchers found 7/10 women were helped by spinal manipulation in this study.

Bery G, Hammar M, Moller-Nielsen J et al. Obstet and Gynecol, 72:71-75, 1988.

TextBook on Chiropractic & Pregnancy

According to Dr. Fallon, author and internationally recognized “chiropractic pediatrician”, statistics from her office “have demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments effectively reduce the average amount of time spent in labor.” Her data shows a nearly 25% reduction in the average labor times in those receiving chiropractic care versus the generally accepted average labor time – in women who had given birth in the past, there was a 33% reduction in average labor time.

Fallon J. International Chiropractic Association. 1994 – Arlington, Virginia.

Italian Study on Chiropractic & Pregnancy

Postpartum pain was relieved in 90 of 120 patients who received chiropractic adjustments.

1. Alignment is even more crucial when stressing your body beyond what you normally do.
2. Forward head carriage causes ribs to collapse lower oxygen levels and increasing lactic acid levels.
3. Shoulders that roll forward causes hands/arms to cross in front of body losing power to drive forward.
4. Lack in core stability makes climbing hills more troublesome and drains energy levels.
5. Pelvic misalignment can cause IT (ileo-tibial) muscle/tendon on lateral thigh tightening, lateral hip weakness and knee problems.
6. Weak gluts or butt muscles can cause low back compensations, sacro-iliac jamming and tight hamstring muscles.
7. Tight hip flexors can be caused by weak gluts, and less power especially climbing hills.
8. Tight muscles do not allow ideal blood to flow and lymph return (5 times more lymph than blood).
9. We take an average of 24,000 steps per day.
10. Chiropractic can help with all the above!

Next Presentation

Dr Dave will be speaking  at 6:30pm on Feb. 12th at White Rock Running Room.  Please come and join us!

There are countless conditions that don’t have any symptoms at all, but they still exist. Many chronic diseases take years, even decades, before they lead to symptoms.

The time to be concerned with your health is now, before symptoms and disease conditions have the chance to develop.

From the trauma of childbirth to the bumps and falls of childhood, kids need spinal checkups.

An easily correctable spinal problem early in life can develop into a serious condition in later life.

The spine houses the spinal nerves, and misalignments (subluxations) of the spine can create nerve interference that may affect the function of the tissues, muscles , bones, glands, and organs of the human body.

Many children with ear infections, childhood asthma, colic, headache, decreased immunity, bed-wetting, and hyperactivity have experienced dramatic improvements while under chiropractic care.

Most children enjoy and benefit from chiropractic care. Have your infants and children checked regularly by your chiropractor.

The core of Vitalism is that life itself is intelligent, that the intelligence that built you from an egg cell and a sperm cell into a fully functional whole human being that can think, love, digest food, and more, is also able to heal itself.

Chiropractors call this inborn potential for self-regulation and healing of the body” innate intelligence” which means inborn wisdom. Doctors cannot create life but can help the body utilize its potential for healing and growth; it is the body and the life force within that does the healing.

Chiropractors understand that their role is to facilitate or support that process. This is a philosophy of health-care, with a goal to help the body to achieve optimum health and maintain it.

Western medicine and Mechanism

Western medicine has its roots in a philosophy called Atomism, or Mechanism.

Mechanism supports the belief that the body is a machine, simply a structure of its physical parts, which can be fully explained and “fixed” through the laws of physics and chemistry. This type of curing works from the “Outside-In,” and doctors typically use drugs and surgery as the primary mode to treat patients.

This is a philosophy of disease-care, one that addresses the body’s function only when it is overtly diseased.

1. Follow the schedule of appointments that we have set up for you. There is no substitution for carefully timed chiropractic adjustments.
2. Avoid physical and mental stress before and after each adjustment. The more relaxed you are the better your adjustment will hold.
3. Follow faithfully all “home care” instructions for your condition. These may include such things as hot or cold packs, exercise, lifting instructions, etc.
4. Sleep on your back or on your side, never on your stomach. Ideally, you should have your neck supported while you sleep so your head is in a neutral position. To lessen the stress on your lower back, place a pillow under your knees (while on your back) or between your knees (while on your side).
5. Sit straight while in a chair, making sure that the lower back is supported. Do not cross your legs except at your ankles.
6. Lift properly. Bend at the knees while keeping the back straight.
7. If any body motion causes discomfort, avoid it.
8. Please don’t try to be your own doctor! Self-administered remedies may do more harm than good.
9. Do your best to maintain a cheerful attitude. Avoid, if you can, stressful situations. Set aside at least one time each day for complete mental and physical relaxation. This is a good lifetime habit for the restoration and maintenance of normal health.
10. Don’t be in a hurry. Ligaments and muscles must have time to re-train themselves to support the re-aligned vertebrae. This is a natural process that can’t be rushed.
11. Please feel free to ask any questions that you have about your health or wellness. We are here to help you understand the best way to take care of your spinal condition.
12. If there is a change in your condition, for better or worse, tell us.
13. The use of caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol should be avoided just prior to an office visit. These substances can alter nerve and muscle activity.
14. Read all information given to you. This information is meant to help you progress faster in your care and to learn how to take care of your spinal condition more effectively.
15. Tell others! There are many people with the same problem that you came here to correct. Our mission is to make this a better world for everyone.

Questions or Concerns? Always communicate with your doctor to eliminate any confusion. Remember that the only foolish question is the one that goes unasked.

When the spine becomes misaligned sufficiently it stresses the nerves, compromises their normal impulses, and changes function throughout the body.

Nerves are responsible for four primary functions:

1. Control and regulate all vital functions including circulation, breathing and digestion.
2. Activate muscles allowing us to move.
3. Allow us to sense, perceive and feel.
4. Relate us to the world outside ourselves including learning, experiencing and behavior.

Precise, Accurate and Small Adjustments

The upper cervical adjustment depends upon precise mathematical calculations, physics, and biomechanics. X-rays are a critical part of ensuring the spinal correction is accurate and successful. The doctor will take pre-adjustment x-rays from different angles focusing on the atlas. These x-rays determine the direction and degree of spinal misalignment and how to properly restore the spine to normal.

The C-1 vertebrae, also known as the Atlas, is a small donut-like bone located at the top of the spine and the base of the skull that surrounds the brain stem. When the spine is subjected to stress it can become misaligned. This phenomenon is known as the Atlas Subluxation Complex Syndrome (ASC) or the ASC Syndrome.

Radiograph of upper neck

NUCCA is a very different chiropractic procedure. Without the use of manipulation or instruments, NUCCA doctors rebalance the head and neck. This is done through a gentle and specific contact to the top vertebrae allowing the entire spine to rebalance itself.

NUCCA stands for National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association.  It was re-named from the Grostic technique of chiropractic.

Spinal misalignments influence the brain, spinal cord and the nerves that control all of the body’s functions, affecting every movement that the body makes and every sensation that a person feels. This influence extends to the body’s ability to interact and relate with the outside world.

Initial Assessment Needs Two Appointments

Due to the specificity and precision involved in assessing a patient for the NUCCA procedure, a patient’s initial assessment is divided into two appointments. The appointments are scheduled on two consecutive days and focus primarily on your spinal assessment and treatment.

Once a patient has undergone the initial assessment, visits require much less time. A patient’s ability to hold their alignment will depend on the degree to which their spine has misaligned and the length of time that this misalignment has been present.

The goal of the NUCCA procedure is to allow your spine to maintain its correction for the rest of your life with as few adjustments as possible.

Also, chemicals such as pesticides, contaminated food, poor water quality and the use of toxic chemicals in the home or workplace can set the stage for subluxation. Even mental and emotional stresses can play a role in subluxation development.

The birthing process itself may be one cause, (if not the major cause) of a person’s first subluxation.

What happens to cause subluxations?

Accidents that tear loose ligaments that hold the spinal bones together create a weakness for the spine to misalign. Because of the close relationship between the spine and the nervous system, good spinal balance is critical for good health. If the head shifts, for any reason, our body will naturally compensate. With injury or stress, the muscles in the back will tighten and the pelvis will also shift in order to be as closely aligned with the head as possible. The body and spine become distorted and locked into a stressed posture.

Misalignment of the spine can come from many sources. Have you ever experienced any of these activities?

• sports activities skiing, golf, tennis, racquetball, basketball
• daily activities -housework, laundry, changing a bed
• getting in and out of the car
• lifting/carrying groceries
• sleeping
• working at desk/computer
• sitting in school
• labor work
• gardening
• shoveling snow

Amazingly, the body will continue to function even when the spine is misaligned. But it will not function as well as possible and a variety of health problems can arise.

Since we are all vulnerable to accidents and stresses that may cause the spine to misalign, it is important to be well educated about spinal care and how to regain healthy balance.

A misaligned spine is extremely susceptible to further injury. Periodic check-ups help avoid a relapse.