Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Back Pain & Pregnancy

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:20:53 +0000

We, Australian Chiropractors, know that chiropractic can be of great benefit to you, helping to ease your low back pain and other associated symptoms during your pregnancy, such as heartburn, nausea, and swelling. And, of course, chiropractic is safe for both you and your baby.

We are happy to report, however, that in addition to chiropractic care, a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that a week of continuous auricular acupuncture can reduce pain and disability in pregnant women with low back and posterior pelvic pain.

Shu-Ming Wang, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial and found that women receiving auricular acupuncture reported the best results. At the seven-day mark, about 80 percent of the acupuncture group reported a clinically significant reduction in pain, whereas only 56 percent of the sham acupuncture group and 36 percent of those in the control group did.

Although Wang and colleagues concluded that long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for pregnancy-related low back and posterior pelvic pain clearly shows promise but is “still inconclusive,” it may be a valuable adjunct to chiropractic care when needed.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy, however, is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints. And, should the need arise, certain trained chiropractors can also help a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

For more on the study go to alegent.com

Technorati Tags: acupuncture, chiropractic, chiropractors, low back pain, pregnancy

Can I Get Adjusted While Pregnant?

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:38:59 +0000

chiropractic and pregnancy

Is it a good idea to get your spine checked while you are pregnant? Firstly, yes it is highly recommended to get your spine checked while you are pregnant. You’ve probably noticed that, your body is going through many changes, and these alterations will continue as the pregnancy progresses. One change that goes basically unnoticed is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This relaxation allows the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.

This process, despite the fact that its function is to assist the mother during labor, can create a lot of back pain in the months leading up to the birth. As the pregnancy advances, more elastin is released, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. In combination with the increased size of the baby and uterus, and you have the ingredients for severe low back pain. As an Oxnard Chiropractor I see many pregnant women in my practice in my clinic for a variety of symptoms, but generally it is for their low back pain.

One side benefit of having your spine and pelvis checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why do chiropractic adjustments help? Simply put, if the pelvis is where it needs to be, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.

In answer to the second question above, by all means chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. Chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. Certain trained chiropractors can also help mothers who have a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. Additional information on the Webster Technique can easily be found online.

In summation, not only is chiropractic safe for pregnant women, it is also very beneficial in helping with the symptoms associated with their pregnancy. If you are pregnant, I highly recommend that you go to see a good local chiropractor, or if you live or work in the area, look up your Oxnard Chiropractor. We can make you quite a bit more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.

Technorati Tags: heartburn, low back pain, Oxnard Chiropractor, pregnancy, Webster Technique

Australian Chiropractors » pregnancy

Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Back Pain & Pregnancy

Can I Get Adjusted While Pregnant?