In a recent report published by the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, a case described the role of chiropractic care in helping a woman suffering from infertility and miscarriage.

A 27-year old woman had previously gone through two miscarriages and experienced anovulatory cycle for nine months. Before choosing to go for chiropractic therapy, she had undergone medical treatment for ulcerative colitis and infertility. Along with this, the female followed a restrictive diet. The reports also show that she had been taking birth control pills for 7 years before trying to get pregnant.

When she visited a chiropractor, the patient wanted to improve her health and get successfully pregnant. During Torque Release Technique (TRT) examination, vertebral subluxations were detected. The Integrator instrument was used to make adjustments. Initially, her visits were limited to twice a week for 30 days and then, one visit per week for the next 30 days.

Additional therapies used along with chiropractic care included stretching, audio tapes, relaxation exercises and craniosacral therapy. After 60 days, the patient witnessed improvement in her health and a normal ovulatory cycle. She became pregnant after her second cycle.

On the whole, the woman responded in a positive manner to the chiropractic care. In contrast to infertility treatment taken before, she did not undergo any stress or negative reproductive effects. The safe and non-invasive approach proved to be highly effective for successful pregnancy.

For more information on how Chiropractic Care can help you, feel free to visit Isdale Corrective Chiropractic Clinic located in Harker Heights, Central Texas.

Chiropractic Killeen - Chiropractor Killeen

During pregnancy the body undergoes certain physical changes that may lead to discomfort, pains and aches. Many hormones are increased during pregnancy and these hormones relax the muscles, ligaments and joints. This relaxation, weight gain and postural changes lead to physical problems. Some of the common physical problems during pregnancy include

Swollen hands and feet – Pregnancy can bring with it swelling of hands, feet, ankles and face. It occurs due to retention of water in the body and increased body weight.

Chiropractic Care Includes

• Nutrition advices – reduce the salt intake, increase the protein intake.
• Posture – Avoid long standing; don’t keep the foot in air while sitting. It should be well supported on some stool.
• Chiropractic Massage

Tingling and numbness – Tingling and numbness may be felt in the hands and feet. It is caused since there is increase in pressure on the nerves. Nerves of hands and legs emerge from the spine. With increase in the body weight, there is pressure on these nerves resulting in tingling and numbness.

Chiropractic Care Includes

• Stretching exercises of the arms and legs
• Gentle mobilizing exercises of arms and legs
• Massage
• Posture advice - Avoid sitting or standing for longer periods. Take rest in between

Leg cramps – Leg cramps may occur suddenly in pregnancy and may be quite painful. They mostly occur in the last months of the pregnancy. Sluggish blood circulation, lack of calcium, and lack of the vitamin B or E may be the possible causes of the cramps.

Chiropractic Care Includes

• Exercises to increase the circulation in the legs.
• Nutrition advice – increase intake of milk products.
• Hot water fermentation

Backaches - The weight of the baby is supported by the backbone, with the assistance of the muscles of the back and abdomen.  When these muscles become week and relax, the pressure on the backbone is more which causes discomfort and pain in the back.

Chiropractic Care Includes

• Gentle Stretching exercises
• Soft tissue mobilization to relax the muscles
• Advice to maintain good posture.

Isdale Corrective Chiropractic Clinic serves Harker Heights, Fort Hood and Killeen area in Texas TX

On June 13th 2004, “Pregnancy Today” magazine also popular as “journal for parents to be” published a story written by Patti Larson a mother and also an author who shares her experiences during pregnancy and the need for chiropractic care. She begins the story by giving out her personal experiences, the emotions experienced by her and her husband when they first realised that she was pregnant.

Being a woman in her mid 30’s, she shares her concerns and queries in the form of the following questions: From when will morning sickness start, how long will a woman be able to continue with her job? Is it possible to deliver a baby with little pain? She also tells that her diet and sleeping habits were good and confesses that though she had plans, she was unable to follow proper exercise schedule.

She also states that chiropractic care has helped her to overcome tiredness, aches, stress due to increasing body weight and changes due to hormonal imbalances. She further adds by saying that regular visits to chiropractic doctor prior to pregnancy have helped her a lot. She also states that Chiropractic doctors have assured her that she could visit them whenever she required any help.

Her Chiropractic doctor, Dr Jeff Ptak in Santa Monica, explains how chiropractic care has yielded such good results during her pregnancy. He says that chiropractic care tackles the functioning of nervous system. He explains that if the nervous system is not overly stressed by factors like physical, emotional or chemical, body will continue to work as per the genetic plan. But, a stressful birth would leave all parties stressed unless the nervous system stress is cleared. Chiropractors prepare the body to deal with stress so that expecting mothers and new mothers can handle their children without any difficulty.

Leslie Stewart an authorized nurse-midwife also shares her opinion by saying that chiropractic care can help women deal with labour. She also states that in few cases where women did not experience labour even past due dates, this treatment has induced labour naturally.

Patti Larson, the author of the article has not only continued chiropractic care during her pregnancy but has also followed it after the birth of her daughter Madeline. Towards the end of the article she says that Madeline received regular adjustments after the second week after her birth. This has prevented her from falling prey to colic, ear infections, cold and many other symptoms during the first year of her birth when most children were vulnerable to these kinds of illnesses. Although people shy away from asked to consult a chiropractic doctor, they accept that Madeline is one of the most active and smart child they have ever come across. Though they feel that I am lucky, I feel that the same thrill can be experienced by all those who adopt chiropractic care.

Weight gain, bloating and nausea are the most common problems faced by women during pregnancy. But the joy and beauty of motherhood can make you forget all these pains and sufferings.

Many new mothers confirm that the muscle strain is unbearable and also troublesome. Weight gain is very common during pregnancy. This accompanied by increased stress on the body due to baby inside, can cause a lot of discomfort. Recent studies have shown that more than fifty percent of women tend to complain of pain in the lower back during the later stages of pregnancy. The main reason being, in the later stages of pregnancy, pressure caused by baby’s head falls on women’s back, legs and buttocks.

Dr Jerome McAndrews of American Chiropractic Association states that due to the presence of baby in the womb during pregnancy, the centre of gravity of women shifts towards pelvis thereby increasing the pressure on her joints. The posterior section of women has more depth than a man to enable her to carry the baby. In spite of this body structure, women experience great stress on their pelvis during their pregnancy. Dr McAndrews explains that as the baby grows in size, further weight is displaced on her thus leading to twist in the curvature of her back wherein more stressed is put on her spine. In order to make up for these changes, the curvature of upper portion of the spine also increases.

It is very common that hormones get released during the time of pregnancy in order to relax the ligaments attached to the pelvic bones. These natural changes occur with a view to adapt the growing baby. However, these changes may lead to postural imbalances in which women may be subject to uncoordinated slips and falls.

What can be done?

Dr McAndrews and ACA have put forward few recommendations in order to relieve women from discomforts during pregnancy.

• Proper exercise can help in strengthening your muscles and avoid uneasiness. Minimum exercise including mild stretches is to be done at least three times a week. Even though you are not used to exercising, it is high time you take up some physical activity by consulting your doctor.

• Stationary exercises like walking, swimming and cycling are advisable as they do not involve any bouncy movement and are also harmless. Jogging is also harmless for women who were devoted runners before getting pregnant. However, it needs to be done under the strict surveillance of a doctor.

• Whatever be the exercise routine you have adopted, make sure that you do it on a flat surface in order to avoid any slips or falls. Also be sure that your heart rate is under control and does not exceed 140 beats per minute at any given point of time. It is also important that you do not do any workout continuously beyond 15 minutes. Avoid exercising the moment you notice any of these symptoms- vaginal bleeding, dizziness, nausea, weakness, blurred vision or increase in heart palpitations.

• Avoid heels and prefer only flat shoes. Heels not only cause inconvenience but create imbalances in your posture and cause shaky moments while walking. This is true especially in the later stages of pregnancy.

• You need to be careful while picking up children or heavy objects. Never bend from your waist, always bend from knees and avoid turning your head while lifting heavy objects. If possible keep away from picking up heavy objects.

• Try to lie on your left side while sleeping. This position ensures smooth and uninterrupted blood flow and helps your kidneys to wash out unwanted waste from your body. Remove pressure off your lower back by placing a pillow between both your knees. You can make use of a body pillow or pregnancy wedges if required.

• If you are an employee and your job needs you to sit before a system for long hours, then place your system in such a way that the top of the screen is below your eye level. Avoid sitting in one place continuously and place your legs on some elevation. If possible, take frequent breaks and every half an hour and take a small walk.

• Try to have some healthy snacks every 4 hours and in-between your main course. This keeps nausea off and prevents hunger. Healthy snacks include crackers, yogurt, bland foods high in carbohydrates and proteins. Morning sickness is another most common symptom that can occur anytime. So, ensure you keep some saltines with you.

• Folic acid supplements are highly recommended during pregnancy. These help in preventing neural tube birth defects similar to spina bifida. A minimum intake of 400 micrograms is recommended. Few doctors prescribe this to women who have given birth to children with similar deformities earlier. However, doctor’s advice needs to be taken before consuming this.

• Make sure you give your body proper rest. Don’t let your professional and personal life dominate you. Lie down and rest in case your feel tired and place your feet on some elevation at least for some time whenever you relax.


How can Chiropractic care help?

Consult your chiropractic doctor even before you become pregnant. This helps them in identifying any imbalances in the pelvis or for that matter any other region of the body. Timely advice can help you overcome discomforts during pregnancy or other neuro-musculoskeletal problem post delivery.

Several pregnant women have realised that chiropractic treatment have made them free from lower back pain which is most common during pregnancy. Latest studies have found that spinal manoeuvring does not cause any harm to the pregnant mother or her child. Chiropractic is a completely non-drug, non-surgical approach which is helpful to women who try to keep away from medication. Chiropractic doctors also offer several valuable suggestions on diet, exercise and ergonomic that helps in overcoming uneasiness during pregnancy.

Chiropractic care is also beneficial post childbirth. Two months post delivery, body gets back to its normal state. The ligaments that have relaxed during pregnancy begin to tighten. This is the perfect time for solving problems experienced during pregnancy due to improper lifting of heavy weights. More over this is the perfect time for getting issues related to muscle tension, headaches, rib discomfort, and shoulder problems as the upper and lower spine try to become normal.