Posted by chiropam on Aug 31, 2010 in Chiropractic
I was having lunch the other day with a good friend that I haven’t seen in a while.Life got busy, and our monthly lunches decreased to a quarterly if not a bi-annual event.After we caught up on the usual family, work, friend details, my friend mentioned to me that she has ‘re-discovered’ a good form of stress relief.
She asked me to recall the last time I read a good book.I responded by saying, “Well, I read all the time….personal development books, subscriptions, notes, Facebookposts, blogs, professional development books and publications, etc.”
She asked me again, “When did you read for pleasure?”Ah, I sat back, thought about it and couldn’t actually recall – it has been that long…
There are many forms of stress relief out there, and not all will benefit the same with people, but if you look and match them to your own personal values, the benefits will be there.
The suggestion did not resonate with me at first, as I thought I’m way too busy to find time for that.However, after a few weeks, I remembered what she shared and decided to give it a try.My friend couldn’t describe enough how different it made her feel and how beneficial it was.I’m not a big television watcher, so instead of getting back on the computer, I went to Borders and bought 3 books to ‘just read’.
I had forgotten that reading is one of the simplest forms of relaxation for the mind and body.Picking up a book and allowing our minds to use our imaginations to add colour to the black and white pages can be a form of stress relief that modern life places upon us.
The pressures of the modern working day, the television and the computer game culture we live in, often hide the pleasure and benefits of reading. Although we can read, or even listen to books on the internet, a book can open a whole world of escapism and adventure for the reader, as our imagination is guided by the author.
The choices are virtually endless.It’s no different than choosing a DVD!If it is a difficult choice, the ‘best sellers’ list is always a good place to start.The reader may find a book that inspires them elsewhere like at the library or by recommendation from family or friends.Actually, you may even be lucky enough to stumble upon a book which literally changes your life!
The saying goes, “Change is as good as a holiday.” I will disagree with this. Change is good, but I prefer the holiday when possible. It can be a weekend getaway, or an overseas trip, but the end result is what counts.
There are various valid reasons to travel, and all of them have the potential to bring great benefits to the traveler.
Traveling is a fantastic experience and something that most people look forward to at some point in their lives. For many people traveling is an escape from the daily grind of life, but for other people travel is a way to grow as a person and broaden their horizons.
In my case, my latest trip to Singapore brought a little of all of the following forms. I wanted to be able to get away from my every day surroundings to fully refresh. I learned a lot about the culture, the history, the people and the wonderful food in Singapore. Not only that, but the shopping was nothing short of amazing! Now for some that would be stressful, but for me, not the case. I enjoyed it immensely and felt that is was “just what the doctor ordered.”
Forms of Travel
Escapism
One common form of travel is escapism. People from all walks of life get exhausted with their work and the stresses of daily life, and going on a vacation helps them to forget those problems and stresses for a while and recuperate, and return to work refreshed. Sure, you could relax at home and reduce your stress a little, but changing your environment completely helps you to remove yourself from your stresses and daily routine. That makes for a much more effective stress release. This type of traveler tends to visit resort areas like Bali, Phuket, Fiji, the Caribbean Islands, etc. The tropical weather of such destinations makes for a comfortable escape at any type of year.
Culture And History
Another type of traveler is the traveler with an interest in culture and history. For example, someone who has an interest in Buddhism can visit India to discover the roots of Buddhism in real life. It is an opportunity to experience the cultures that they have read about or seen on television. It also gives a chance to gain deep insight into our planet, the various countries and how they interact and function.
Inward Journey
This type of traveler wants to understand themselves better by removing themselves from their surroundings, from work pressures, family and friend pressures and their own inner struggles. It gives the chance to see what the person is really like at the core. This traveler may enjoy the people they meet and all of their daily experiences and adventures more than a specific destination or culture. Learning ways to interact with new types of people, different problems as they arise and learning how to find inner peace anywhere regardless of the place, are experiences this type of traveler will appreciate the most.
All of the above travel styles can be very enriching and rewarding to the traveler. Some people may appreciate a mixture of them all, which would be ideal. Whichever style you choose, enjoy it the fullest. There are experiences waiting to become memorable treasures. Life is short, refresh and recharge sooner rather than later ~ don’t wait for retirement!
Last Monday, the 22nd of March 2010 was a day that the people of Perth, Western Australia will remember for many years to come. The heavens opened up and it rained, then poured and then started sending hail that ranged from the size of golf balls to cricket balls. Some escaped damage, and others had the unfortunate circumstances of wrecked cars or homes damaged from water or hail that viciously came through windows, ceilings, walls or backed up onto floors and gardens.
Here is a brief video that a local shot on the day of the storm for those of you who were not here in Perth to experience it, or if you wish to ‘re-live’ the experience.
The purpose of this blog post was not to elaborate on the damage, the wrecked cars, the numerous amounts of insurance claims now in queues, but to share with you my true inspiration from the storm.
The Sunset After The Storm which was the day after, was one of the most breathtaking I can remember. I ran to get my camera and capture the sky with it’s most magical hues of pink, orange and red.
This to me is reflective of life. The ups and downs of life are representative of a storm. Emotions like rage, anger and hate can be shades of black and grey and be so dim. Going through rough periods can make you feel like you’re in a black hole, falling down a dark tunnel, bleak and even fearful. The sky that late afternoon got so dark around 5:00pm, that you thought it was midnight. The power went out creating even more darkness and quietness which was quite eerie. Amazingly enough, it was such a different sound compared to the ‘buzzing’ that is constantly surrounding us. It was also another reminder how we take things for granted like electricity, which we have grown so dependent on.
On the other side of the spectrum, to balance out that dark, black vicious sky – the most amazing brightness that painted the sky literally made me stop and give thanks for the many blessings in my life.
I quote my mentor, Dr John Demartini, “Nothing has ever happened or can happen to you that is not a gift and a blessing, but it’s difficult to be thankful until you find the hidden benefit in what may seem at first to be a negative event. Gratitude makes you present with whatever you are doing.”
I’ve learned that it is more than just being positive, or thinking positive. It’s about being truly grateful for what is, as it is. Not living in the guilt of the past, or fear of the future, but truly in the present…that’s why they call it a gift :-).
Balance comes from focusing on what we have in our lives that we are grateful for. I’ve been consciously asking myself, when I catch a negative thought, or complaint in action. Is this an empowering thought, or a disempowering thought? We have the power and the choice to change that. It doesn’t have to dominate. Choosing which way is so liberating.
So whatever storm you may be going through in life, ask yourself: Am I acting in an empowering way, or a disempowering way? Are my thoughts empowering or disempowering? If I want a different outcome, the first major step is to change my thoughts and the rest will follow.
Choose to see the sunset, appreciate the sunset, be grateful for the sunset, rather than focusing on the storm – the darkness, the destruction, the damage. Look for your ‘Sunset After The Storm’….good luck on your journey!
Posted by chiropam on Feb 28, 2010 in Chiropractic
I was speaking with a group of people over the weekend, and I’ve come to realise that there are people who still share a few untruths about chiropractic. Let me share these 2 myths primarily, and shed some light on these topics:
Myth #1:
“Chiropractic care is only for back pain.”
This is just not so. Chiropractic care can benefit a wide variety of health problems that stem from the spine and nervous system. Old injuries, everyday wear and tear, stress (emotional, physical, mental) or repetitive daily activities can contribute to the spinal bones (vertebrae) losing their proper position and/or motion. This dysfunction of spinal joints may cause pain and nerve interference in one or more areas of the body. Any type of dysfunction of these spinal joints can be a source of irritation to the nervous system.
Myth #2:
“Chiropractic care is either rough, painful, dangerous, or all three!”
I would like to share with you that there are alternatives to what would be considered mainstream manual chiropractic techniques. There are several other low-force, gentle, safe techniques that would be an alternative, yet with health benefits.
One of the main techniques on instrument adjusting is the Activator Method Chiropractic Technique (AMCT). The Activator Method uses an activator instrument. An activator instrument is a hand-held instrument designed to give the patient a very specific, low-force adjustment. The activator instrument delivers a controlled, light and fast thrust without causing undue strain to patients. The activator adjustments are so quick and controlled, that the body’s muscles are less likely to resist, allowing for a more precise and exact adjustment. It’s so gentle and it is actually relaxing.
Activator Instrument
Another technique involves an instrument called the Impulse Instrument. This is an electric powered instrument that offers specific, low-force adjustment to the affected area. This instrument offers all of the benefits associated with the Activator instrument.
Impulse Instrument
Perhaps there is an ankle or wrist, hip or shoulder, or hand or foot that may need an adjustment. There are bones and joints in these areas as well that can benefit from an adjustment by a chiropractor. This may not be well known either as chiropractors can be streamlined as “back doctors” only.
Conditions that have been helped through chiropractic care include, but not limited to:
I hope this sheds some light on the 2 very common myths associated with chiropractic. Have you had an experience with ‘instrument adjusting’? Activator or Impulse? Are you aware of the health benefits that can be obtained through chiropractic care? Comments welcome…
Happy 2010! It sure has gotten off to a very fast start. I feel like it just rolled in and we’re getting ready to turn the page on the calendar to February. One of the most significant things that has happened in my life as a female chiropractor, is the 2 new chiropractors that have joined my team at Hillarys Chiropractic.
When The Teacher Is Ready, The Student Appears
I have taken on a mentoring role in the practice with 2 new associate chiropractors. They are both vibrant, enthusiastic and eager to learn. I am committed to assisting them while they embrace and develop into being the best chiropractors that they can be. With the experience and wisdom of my years in practice, I plan to share and nurture that chiropractic spirit in them to love, give and serve the patients to the best of their ability.
When the Student Is Ready, The Teacher Appears
One of the new mentorees has been a wellness patient of mine for many years. His understanding of the chiropractic paradigm and commitment to helping people is from the heart. The other mentoree I had the pleasure of meeting through the other, as they went through the chiropractic course together. His heart and commitment matches the core values, mission, vision statement of our practice.
Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship that involves a more experienced person helping a less experienced person to achieve their goals.
Mentoring provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a student’s career development by sharing knowledge you have acquired through years of experience.
Effective Mentoring
focuses on the needs of the person being mentored
fosters caring and supportive relationships within the workplace
encourages the person being mentored to develop to their optimum potential
As a mentor, the role is one that instructs, helps and guides another in the process of gaining knowledge, understanding and skills. I want to take this a step further - pointing to something that is already present in the student. It is like teaching someone to have shoulders. You can’t really teach someone who already has shoulders, to have shoulders. However, you can make them more aware of the shoulders they already have.
A mentoring relationship is usually where one wiser and more experienced person assists another person to grow and learn. Humans from the beginning of time have learned norms, values and behaviours by the example and coaching of others.
New adaptations of mentoring allows individuals to interact as colleagues in a helping relationship, on a more equal basis which can cultivate growth and learning to mutual benefit.
Experience, skills and a genuine desire to help are more valuable assets in a mentoring relationship than age or position. Open and assertive communication and the trust of both parties are essential.
Benefits to the Practice
• Greater productivity
• Discovery of talent
• Development of leadership for future survival and prosperity
• Communication of values, goals and plans
• Increase in morale and motivation
• Demonstration of personal and professional standards
• Achievement of excellent service
• Implementation of equity initiatives
• Fostering of shared values and team work
• Enhancement of leadership and people management skills
• Revitalised energy
• Increase in staff satisfaction
• Building a learning organisation
Benefits to the Mentoree
• Development of potential
• Increased knowledge about the practice
• Flexibility - Mentorees negotiate with their mentors to work within available time and other commitments
• Self directed learning - Mentorees choose specific learning objectives
• Give and receive feedback
• Receive encouragement and support to achieve goals
• Develop new networks
• Develop new and/or different perspectives
• Get assistance with ideas
• Demonstrate strengths and explore potential
• Develop visibility within or outside an organisation
• Be challenged to use talents and share expertise
• Develop and increase self confidence
Benefits to the Mentor
• Obtain a greater understanding of the barriers experienced at lower levels of the practice
• Enhance their own skills in coaching, counselling, listening and modelling
• The sense of being needed and recognised professionally
• Develop and practise a more personal style of leadership
• Gain additional recognition and respect
• Learn new perspectives and approaches
• Contribute something to others in the organisation
• Extend professional networks
• Demonstrate expertise and share knowledge
Both partners in the mentoring relationship benefit. Learning must be a lifelong process and one of the most effective ways to learn is to assist in the development of others. The best teachers learn much from their students, counsellors constantly learn from clients and partners in any successful relationship grow and develop along the way.
I look forward to our journey ahead, and trust that all will benefit in many forms.
T’was a Superfood Christmas, and all through the house,
The decorations complete, even tea towels with Mickey Mouse.
Some snacks before dinner, cinnamon coated walnuts with care.
Saving the dark chocolate for dessert, with almonds to spare.
There was spinach and roasted pumpkin salad,
Garlic & Lemon dressing made it more superfood valid.
Took the bottle of red wine out of the gift wrap,
Steamed the broccoli, peas and beans - no time for a nap.
Tarts with cranberries and cherries adorned the Christmas platter,
Saving the blueberries for the morning, for pancake batter.
That was my version of the traditional Christmas poem that I’m sure you’ve heard more than a few times before. Just because it was Christmas, it was not a reason to overindulge. The superfoods were in abundance in our home.
Superfoods contribute to a healthy body and mind. Our Christmas Eve menu consisted of almonds and walnuts as snacks. The sparkling shiraz was the start of the red wine health benefits, and red wine to accompany the meal.
A mixture of different berries: blueberries, cherries and cranberries gave us many health benefits. Broccoli, spinach and pumpkin were packed with superfood benefits and of course, a bit of dark chocolate and sweet potato pie for dessert.
Christmas morning started with an early swim at the beach, to get our exercise to start the day. Then we came back and had pancakes for breakfast. The pancake batter was wheat-free and dairy-free with blueberry superfood benefits.
Wishing you a very healthy start to the new year - all the best to you and yours for a fabulous 2010!
A wellness approach to health incorporates a variety of healthy habits for optimum function on physical, mental, social and spiritual levels.
Why It Is Wise To Have Chiropractic When You’re Not In Pain
Many people think that if they don’t have pain or symptoms that they are healthy. Chiropractic care focuses primarily on the nervous system. The nervous system controls virtually every aspect of our body’s functions. In order to be your very best, it is essential to have a properly functioning nervous system. Chiropractic care can be a very important choice for a wellness lifestyle, as well as exercise and good nutritional habits. Those who want to be at their optimum health add regular chiropractic care to their health choices. The health benefits include more vitality, endurance and the ability to enjoy life to the full.
Chiropractic Helps More Than Just “Bad Backs”
Wellness and maintenance care are often thought to be the same thing. However, the objective or goal in these types of health care are actually very different as are their results and benefits. What is most important to understand is that if we want areas in our life to continue to function properly - they require regular maintenance.
Our car, our house, our teeth, our health, our relationships, and yes…our spines! So in any aspect of our life that we are not applying regular maintenance (adding energy and organisation) over time it will breakdown and lead to a crisis. If you don’t maintain your kitchen…crisis! If you don’t maintain your bathroom…crisis! If you don’t maintain your relationships…crisis! And of course, if you don’t maintain your spine…crisis!
The vast majority of people today were not aware of the necessity of spine and nervous system maintenance from birth, therefore it is very likely that even with regular maintenance that a person will still experience the occasional relapse. Why? Imagine trying to maintain your teeth if you hadn’t brushed them for the first thirty years of your life. Of course you would need to go through an extensive process of correcting the problem first just to get your teeth to a place where they can be maintained. Even then with regular maintenance it is likely that you would still experience some problems over time.
Let’s introduce wellness! The main difference between maintenance and wellness is that maintenance simply looks to “maintain” the current state by adding just enough energy or organisation to try to maintain the current state. Whereas wellness looks to find even better states of organisation through a process of “constant and never ending improvement”.
Let’s use our kitchen as an example. We can look to maintain our kitchen in its current state of organisation and over time we will realise that it requires more and more energy to simply maintain the kitchen in its current state. Now if we use a wellness approach toward our kitchen, we would not only be maintaining its current state but we would continue to look for ways to improve the level of organisation, which in turn saves on the energy needed for maintaining it.
The exact same rule applies to every aspect of our lives. If we simply look to maintain our car, our home, our health, our teeth, our relationships, as well as our spines - we will find that over time it will naturally require more and more energy to simply maintain its current state. With wellness care we can continue to look for and implement new strategies to actively organise our lives.
When we look at this in terms of our spine and nervous system we realise that using a wellness approach toward our care is not only a wise investment, it is a better way of life. When we look at what today’s research says in relationship to wellness care we realise that maintaining the spine in a wellness model offers our body the opportunity to learn new strategies for dealing with all the natural stresses in life. In fact, people who have been actively maintaining their spine in a wellness model show increased healing and repair processes at levels which are not seen in otherwise healthy people.
Where do you see your health in 5 years? In 10 years? Do you simply want to maintain you current level of health or would you prefer to see your health continuing to improve every year for the next 10 years?
Posted by chiropam on Jul 28, 2009 in Chiropractic
Walnuts are superfoods for many reasons. Eating walnuts regularly provides the body with essential omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Walnuts have the highest antioxidant content of the tree nuts.
Research suggests that walnuts can be a healthy part of the diet for the prevention of not only breast and other cancers, but also diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Walnuts - “The King of Nuts”
Walnuts are considered by many as the “king of nuts” from a nutritional perspective. Walnuts, like other nuts are high in monounsaturated fats. These are the same type of health-promoting fats that are found in olive oil, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease. Therefore, to get the health benefits of walnuts, a moderate handful is sufficient.
Other health benefits of walnuts include:
Prevent Gallstones - as little as 1 ounce per week has been shown to reduce the risk of gallstones.
Source of Bioavailable Melatonin - improves the quality of sleep.
Controls High Blood Pressure - omega 3 fatty acids help to regulate the blood pressure.
Antioxidant King - one of the highest antioxidant levels of all superfoods.
Promotes Heart Health - reduces overall cholesterol, reduces LDL’s (bad cholesterol), increases artery elasticity, antioxidant activity reduces heart disease risk by protecting the blood vessels from free radical damage.
Regulates Type II Diabetes - improved overall cholesterol profile, which helps to regulate the effects of the disease.
Protects Bone Health - supports bone health and prevents excessive bone turnover with the bioactivity of alpha linolenic acid, an omega 3 fatty acid found specifically in walnuts.
Enhances Brain Activity - omega 3 fatty acid content helps to sustain a clear, healthy brain by supporting the cellular function via the fatty brain cell membranes.
Walnuts are a fantastic source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which have been found to not only protect the heart and promote better cognitive function, but also provide anti-inflammatory benefits for asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and psoriasis.
Walnuts also contain the antioxidant compound ellagic acid, which is known to fight cancer and support the immune system. Studies have shown approximately 16 polyphenols in walnuts, including three new tannins, with antioxidant activity so powerful it was described as “remarkable.”
If you want a less stressful and more balanced life, then addressing BOTH externally-imposed and self-imposed pressures are essential. There are times when you can’t change stressful circumstances such as a demanding workload or an annoying co-worker, but you CAN minimise the negative effects of stress by counteracting attitudes that perpetuate stress and limit attention to self-care.
Key To Preventing And Counteracting Burnout
Self-care strengthens your resiliency, which can reduce susceptibility to burnout. Self-care is not just making healthy lifestyle choices. It also includes self-compassion, having healthy boundaries, being aware of your needs, and staying true to your values. Self-neglect takes a toll on your health, relationships, and your effectiveness. Therefore preventing burnout and understanding how stress plays a role is essential.
Simply recognising the importance of taking better care of yourself is not enough. You also need to address the psychological obstacles that limit attention to self-care and foster stress. For example, putting pressure on yourself to always perform with excellence at work while being critical of your mistakes can cause you to become overextended and overlook your needs. This may stem from being judged harshly and having unrealistically high expectations of you.
Self-care practices like meditation or tai chi are great, but won’t stop self-criticism or perfectionism; nor will it address attitudes that foster burnout and undermine self-care such as defining yourself by the good you do for others, an exaggerated sense of responsibility, and difficulty tolerating discord.
Stress Is Unavoidable - Burnout Is
You can take courses on time management and attend seminars on stress management techniques and still suffer from burnout. These strategies are often helpful, but will not lead to lasting changes if you do not address personality traits that foster stress. Much of the literature on burnout focuses more on external pressures than on self- imposed stress. While external pressures such as a demanding workload, juggling personal and professional life, unclear job responsibilities do contribute to stress and burnout, so do beliefs and personality traits. Worries about uncertainty and lack of control can drive to burnout. Even authors who write about personality characteristics that cause stress tend to emphasize overt and extreme behaviors such as the type A personality- overly driven, highly competitive, aggressive and obsessed with work. There are many burnout prone people, however with personalities who do not fit this profile. The most prominent personality characteristics that contribute to burnout are exaggerated responsibility, self-judgement and self-definition.
Perfectionism
Late at night Jacqui lies in bed restlessly, unable to sleep. Two weeks into her new job, she is feeling nervous day and night. She is obsessed with trying to make sure that nothing goes wrong and that no one sees her make a mistake. She has to prove to everyone, including herself, that she is worthwhile. Jacqui believes that she is a failure if anything goes wrong. She needs to realise how never being appreciated growing up causes her to think that self worth comes from perfection.
If you are a perfectionist you push yourself, get overscheduled, promise too many things to too many people, or take on too much work. You judge yourself harshly when you fall short of your expectations or when you make mistakes. You probably would not treat someone you care about in the harsh manner that you treat yourself. You learn to measure your worth by your performance and equate excelling with deserving attention or praise if your parents rewarded you primarily for excelling.
The pursuit of excellence is different from a relentless need to be the best. When you seek perfection and are unable to measure up to your ideal, your self esteem decreases. Developing realistic standards and self- compassion go a long way to counteract stress that leads to burnout.
When you make mistakes, notice how you feel about yourself. Take notice of the ways that you talk to yourself when you fall short of your ideal. You may not recognise that your standards for yourself are excessive. Pay attention during the day to the ways you tell yourself how you did not do something well enough or how you could have done things better. Has anyone else ever spoken to you in this way? You may have internalised the ways that your parents spoke to you. Now picture someone else talking to you the way you speak to yourself. Chances are you would not tolerate them talking to you in this same manner.
Remember, you can’t always control the circumstances that may cause stress, but you can control how well you take care of yourself. Taking proper care of your body, mind and soul can keep you in optimum health and wellness.
During pregnancy, there are incredible changes occurring in a woman’s body and the creation of delicate new life within. The significance of pregnancy cannot be over stated. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is focused on caring for both mother and unborn baby.
Studies have shown women who have consistent chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies have shorter and less painful labours, with fewer complications and fewer interventions.
I can speak from experience not only as a chiropractor, but 12 years ago as a pregnant patient myself. I am fortunate to have experienced the health benefits from chiropractic care personally, and passed on to my child as well.
Why is Chiropractic care important during pregnancy?
The nervous system is like the “electricity” for the body. It supplies this “electricity” to every body system including the reproductive system. Therefore, keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively. This is true throughout all stages of life, and very important throughout pregnancy for a woman. Chiropractic care is also a drugless way to manage symptoms of pregnancy, such as back pain. A common misconception is that back pain during pregnancy is “normal”. Back pain is not normal, it is only common.
A few aspects of pregnancy that may lead to spinal misalignments:
Rapid increase/decrease in weight
Postural changes
Stress
Changes in sleep patterns & positions
Altered appetite and eating habits
Loosening of body ligaments to allow for growth and labour
Flat feet/pronation due to weight gain/loose ligaments
Emotional changes (hormonal shifts/new family stress)
Not only does what you eat and drink during pregnancy affect the unborn baby, but the way you sleep, sit, stand, walk, drive and handle stress will affect the baby too. Your baby needs your nervous system to be functioning optimally in order to develop correctly.
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
The answer is Yes! There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. General wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive is a routine treatment.
Chiropractors that have been trained to work with pregnant women may use tables that adapt to suit a pregnant woman’s body, and will use special techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen. Exercises and stretches that are safe to use during pregnancy are recommended by chiropractors to compliment any adjustments made to your spine.
Why should I have chiropractic care during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, there are several anatomical and physiological changes that occur to the woman’s body. The following changes could result in a misaligned spine or joint:
Protruding abdomen and increased back curve (lumbar lordosis)
Pelvic changes
Postural adaptations
Establishing pelvic balance and alignment is another reason to obtain chiropractic care during pregnancy. When the pelvis is misaligned it may reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery. When the pelvis or lumbar spine is misaligned, there are also increased chances of developing back pain, groin pain or sciatica.
What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can include a variety of health benefits for women who are pregnant. Potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:
Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
Controlling symptoms of nausea
Reducing the time of labour and delivery
Relieving back pain, neck pain or joint pain
Preventing a potential caesarean section
What about chiropractic care and breech deliveries?
The late Larry Webster, D.C., Founder of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association, developed a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment which enables chiropractors to establish balance in the pregnant woman’s pelvis and reduce undue stress to her uterus and supporting ligaments. This balanced state in the pelvis makes it easier for a breech baby to turn naturally. The technique is known as the Webster Technique.
Post-natal:
After your pregnancy, chiropractic can help to ensure that the loosened ligaments and joints to get back into their proper places. A spinal check-up is recommended for mother and baby to assist in enabling optimal nervous system function.
Chiropractic is an art, science and philosophy focusing on a nervous system free from interference to allow the body to reach it’s optimum potential, naturally.
Chiropractic is a main passion and interest in my life. Not only is it my profession, but a way to connect the mind and body; a lifestyle - a natural way to allow your body to heal itself, and so much more. It is about looking at the entire body. Our bodies act as a whole unit - from Above, Down, Inside, Out! I love serving the community and being pro-active in making a difference…both individually and collectively as a whole.
