Sciatica: A Symptom Rather than a Condition

Sciatica in Dunedin

Describe: sciatic nerve pain

Sciatic nerve pain refers to pain, feelings of numbness and weakness in the lower body, caused by dysfunction in the sciatic nerve. This nerve, the largest in the human body, stretches from the lower back, through your buttocks and down the back of each leg. It is important to remember that sciatica is not a condition itself but a symptom; there are many causes of sciatica and thus it is important to determine what exactly is causing your pain and dysfunction. 

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The Subject of Subluxation

Subluxation in Dunedin

 Define: Subluxation

At its most simple, subluxation refers to a misalignment of the vertebrae that causes nerve interference. The spinal cord is your body’s conduit for nerve signalling, through which the brain sends messages to every cell in the body; nerve interference is therefore maleficent because it acts to impede this signalling process, causing the body to function less than optimally. 

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Postpartum Chiropractic Care

Postpartum care in Dunedin

You’ve delivered your baby; now what?

You’ve been through an exhaustive pregnancy, full of emotional and physical ups and downs; through the elation and exhaustion of delivery; now its time to adapt to life with your new little child. Amidst this tumult, it can be easy to forget that you have to support your body as you return to a no-pregnancy body. This is made difficult by a few factors, none greater than the fact that the hormone relaxin remains elevated in the body for up to 6 months after delivery. 

Chiropractic is tailor made for postpartum care

Relaxin is produced by the body in order to loosen the ligaments in preparation for delivery, but now that has come and gone, what is its use? Well for one, your body is in a more pliable state, meaning that it responds well to chiropractic care. But there are some downsides as well: your lower back, pelvis and sacrum are in a state of weakness, vulnerable to damage from excessive movement. Furthermore, we hope that you will be carrying your child quite frequently, and this increased weight from breastfeeding and carrying places a burden on an already weakened spine.

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Chiropractic’s Role in Pregnancy: The Webster Technique

Pregnancy in Dunedin

Focusing on pelvic balance as labor approaches

As the mother moves into the last trimester of pregnancy, thoughts shift toward labor and delivery. During this penultimate phase, the proper alignment of the pelvis and sacrum is of critical importance for the following:

  • Preventing dystocia (difficult birth)
  • Maintaining plenty of room for the baby to develop healthily
  • Keeping the mother free of pain with an optimal immune system. 

Breech positioning, in which the baby presents feet first or buttocks first, is not conducive to a smooth birth. Occurring in about 1 out of every 25 pregnancies, breech position increases the likelihood for surgical intervention because it increases the chances of a child being stuck in the birth canal, causing injury or death, and can damage the umbilical cord, interfering with the child’s oxygen supply. 

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Pelvic Imbalance during Pregnancy

Pelvic imbalance in Dunedin

At Hayes Family Chiropractic, we are dedicated to the success of your pregnancy!

Chiropractic is an excellent option for keeping the mother’s body in a state that is conducive to the healthy development of a child. In this way, we increase the likelihood of an easier pregnancy and a safer birth. To demonstrate this point, misalignment of the pelvis is responsible for a host of complications in pregnancy. 

Misalignment of the pelvis and pregnancy

Pelvic misalignment occurs when the woman’s body releases pregnancy hormones that relax ligaments to make way for the passage of the child. At the same time, the added weight of the child shifts the woman’s center of gravity downward and adds more weight (and thus pressure) onto the destabilized spine, shifting it out of alignment. This is responsible for a lot of the back pain that is considered synonymous with pregnancy. 

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Prenatal Chiropractic in Dunedin

Chiropractic for pregnancy in Dunedin

 If you are on your way to having a baby, we say congratulations!

At Hayes Family Chiropractic, we have three goals when it comes to this life-changing experience: to make the process as comfortable as possible for the mother, to give the process the greatest chance of success without complication, and to foster a nurturing environment for the child to develop. We offer non-invasive support for the mother’s body during a time of great physical upheaval.

Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy in Dunedin:

Chiropractic adjustment has been shown to be an effective tool that can help prospective mothers in the following ways:

  • Reducing aches and pains
  • Decreasing muscle tension and mental stress
  • Decreasing tension on the womb
  • Increasing immune function
  • Maintaining proper curvature of the spine
  • Maintaining pelvic balance

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