The Pros and Cons of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Written by Ben Bunting: BA(Hons), PGCert.
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Before you decide to undergo chiropractic care during pregnancy, you should know about the side effects of the treatment. The most common complaints by spouses are mood swings. These are a result of fluctuating hormones. Chiropractic problems can add to this problem and cause major moodiness. However, with regular chiropractic care, your mood swings may be less pronounced.
What is Chiropractic Therapy and what can it do for you?
Chiropractic is an alternative medicine approach that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system. It has esoteric origins and is based on pseudoscientific theories. Nonetheless, it is one of the most popular forms of alternative medicine, and is a safe and effective treatment option for a wide variety of health issues. Here's a look at what chiropractic therapy is and what it can do for you.
Chiropractic treatment works by restoring the relationship between the structure and function of the body's systems. The chiropractor may recommend lifestyle changes and stress-reduction techniques as well as sound dietary advice to help patients feel better quickly. Before starting treatment, he or she will take a detailed health history and perform a physical examination, focusing on the spine and other body parts. Based on his findings, the chiropractor will then recommend a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs.
Chiropractic treatments can help improve range of motion and flexibility, strengthen the immune system, and speed up recovery from injury. They are safe, natural, noninvasive, and non-prescription. In addition to helping with back pain, they may help improve athletic performance and cognitive abilities. Interestingly, studies have found that chiropractic treatments can reduce self-reported mechanical neck pain.
Chiropractic care involves manual adjustments and exercise/rehabilitation, which are aimed at improving quality of motion. Other benefits of chiropractic treatment include prevention of injury and nutrition counseling. A study conducted in 2007 examined the safety of chiropractic care for neck pain, and found that the adverse effects of spinal manipulation were minor and rarely long-lasting.
While chiropractors do not disagree that chiropractic care is safe, there are a few potential risks. If spinal manipulation is not performed correctly, a patient could develop a fracture or have an accident. It's also important to note that chiropractic treatment can be expensive and that some insurance companies may not cover it.
Chiropractors practice the holistic method of health care, focusing on the structure of the body and its connection with the nervous system. They perform manual therapy techniques, including spinal manipulation, exercise, and nutritional counseling. As a medical profession, chiropractors follow a drug-free approach to patient care. They perform a thorough examination of the patient to determine the most appropriate treatment. The most common chiropractic treatment is called spinal manipulation, which involves applying pressure to certain parts of the body in order to restore proper alignment and function.
Another type of treatment involves low-force, high-speed chiropractic techniques. These methods use a handheld device with a plunger and tension spring to apply a pulse of low force at high speed. These methods are highly effective and are favored by many chiropractors. These methods of treatment are generally used in combination with other treatments to achieve optimal results.
Early chiropractic practitioners believed that 95 percent of diseases were caused by vertebral subluxation complexes. They also believed that manipulating the spine would cure them. They also rejected the germ theory and immunization as a means of curing disease. This limited the acceptance of chiropractic in the scientific community for a long time, but it has progressed and is now widely used to treat musculoskeletal disorders.
Benefits of Chiropractic therapy during pregnancy
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a safe and natural way to help relieve back pain and a host of other conditions. This natural form of pain relief is a safe option for expecting mothers and some claim it is more effective than traditional pain treatments. Chiropractic adjustments help the pelvis align so the baby can be born in the best possible position. Additionally, chiropractic care helps moms recover from the birthing process more quickly.
Pros of Chiropractic Therapy
Pregnancy is unpredictable and involves many hormonal changes. The resulting discomfort and physical changes make it essential for women to receive individualized care and treatment. Chiropractic care helps pregnant women minimize body aches, back pain, and stress. While chiropractic care can be a wonderful option for expectant mothers, it should be sought out by a qualified practitioner who has received additional training in treating pregnant women.
A chiropractor can help relieve pregnancy pain in many different ways, but the most common area to experience pain is in the lower back and hips. Chiropractors use gentle adjustments to correct misaligned joints and promote a healthy pregnancy. The practice may also help with postpartum care.
Chiropractic care is purported to be very beneficial for pregnant women who suffer from back pain and sciatica. These conditions are often caused by a pregnancy hormone called Relaxin. This hormone affects the alignment of the spine and the pelvis, which leads to joint laxity and instability. This causes a misalignment of the joints and lower back pain.
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As the pregnancy progresses, the chiropractor will adjust the pelvic bones. This will help prepare the body for labor. The chiropractor may recommend adjustments every two or three weeks until the last month of pregnancy. In addition, frequent adjustments may prevent nausea and vomiting during labor. If you experience back pain or other symptoms, make sure to see a chiropractor as soon as possible.
Another benefit of chiropractic care during pregnancy is a reduced risk of cesarean delivery. In one study, chiropractic care during pregnancy reduced the number of cesareans by 24 percent. Some chiropractors use a special technique called Webster Technique to help women achieve pelvic balance. This technique is effective in reducing pelvic pain and ensuring the baby is placed in the correct position for delivery.
Pregnancy related nausea
Pregnancy-related nausea can also be reduced by chiropractic adjustments. Most women report relief two to four days after treatment. Chiropractic adjustments also ensure that the nervous system and brain are communicating optimally. Misalignment of the spine can disrupt nerve communication and cause other symptoms. For example, a woman suffering from nausea may have a misaligned spinal segment or vertebra. Chiropractic adjustments will help to restore the proper alignment and balance, easing the symptoms of pregnancy-related nausea.
Chiropractic care can also alleviate back and hip pain. Research suggests that up to 50% of pregnant women experience back and hip pain. These conditions are caused by the rapid growth and changes of the mother's body during pregnancy.
Chiroptractic Therapy Side Effects
Chiropractic therapy is an alternative treatment that uses manipulation to relieve back pain, neck pain, and headaches. It can be very effective in alleviating pain and increasing joint mobility. It can also help reduce muscle spasms and tension. While it is generally regarded as a safe treatment, some patients report experiencing side effects after their sessions.
Potential Cons of Chiroptractic Therapy
A report concluded that the majority of reported side effects were mild. Only about 5% of patients reported feeling worse after a visit. The most common side effects were muscle soreness and pain in the neck, back, or joint. In addition, about 7 percent of patients reported discomfort from the instrument used to adjust the spine. There were also six cases of sprain/strain.
Chiropractic care is generally safe and effective for a wide range of conditions. Although it is believed to have few adverse effects, some individuals may experience dizziness after a chiropractic adjustment. This is normal and part of the body's healing process. Other side effects that may occur are headaches and nausea. Chiropractic adjustments can help reduce or eliminate vertigo-related problems, such as migraines and Meniere's disease.
While it is important to discuss potential side effects with a chiropractor before starting a treatment, most side effects of chiropractic therapy are minor and will disappear on their own.
Always ensure that the chiropractor is a registered professional. In the United Kingdom all chiropractors should be registered with the General Chiropractic Council as the the practice is a regulated healthcare profession. In the USA chiropractors should feature on the State Licensing Board and the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care is a wonderful option for expecting mothers and their baby. It promotes pelvic alignment and stability, which can shorten labor and make delivery less painful. It also prevents the obstruction of nerves in the body, which can lead to a dysfunctional immune system. A healthy mother's immune system helps her have a healthy baby.
Many health care professionals recommend seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy, because it's an excellent way to create pelvic balance and make room for baby's growth and development. It can also help prevent breech or posterior deliveries. In addition, optimal positioning of the baby can help prevent dystocia, which can cause a difficult delivery. As a result, more health care providers are turning to chiropractors to help with pregnancy and childbirth.