 We often get asked this in our practice and while we tailor our management and treatment specifically to every patient including babies, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, the elderly and pregnant mums of all gestational ages, studies have confirmed that chiropractic care is recommended for both mum and babies during pregnancy[1],[2].
Many changes are occurring in pregnant mums as they are growing their baby and can include many physical changes, hormonal changes and emotional stressors. Aside from that, approximately 75% of pregnant mum’s report suffering from back or pelvic pain[3]. One study on 115 pregnant women found that there was a 70% improvement in pain within 1 month of being under chiropractic care[4]. Chiropractic adjustments also help relax pelvic floor muscle at rest which may also help increase the likelihood of having a natural vaginal delivery. Another study conducted showed that new mums experienced on average a 25% reduction in labour time when under chiropractic care through pregnancy and this rose to 31% reduction in labour time for mothers who were under care and also given birth previously[5]. However, these were small studies and require further investigation. So if you are pregnant or know somebody who is that is experiencing back or pelvic pain, we would love to see if we can help in managing their pain and help them enjoy the magical experience of their pregnancy and birth. [1] Stuber, K. J., Wynd, S., & Weis, C. A. (2012). Adverse events from spinal manipulation in the pregnant and postpartum periods: a critical review of the literature. Chiropractic & manual therapies, 20, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-709X-20-8 [2] Borggren C. L. (2007). Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 6(2), 70–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcme.2007.04.004 [3] Malmqvist, S., Kjaermann, I., Andersen, K., Økland, I., Brønnick, K., & Larsen, J. P. (2012). Prevalence of low back and pelvic pain during pregnancy in a Norwegian population. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 35(4), 272-278. [4] Peterson, C. K., Mühlemann, D., & Humphreys, B. K. (2014). Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: a prospective cohort study with short term, medium term and 1 year follow-up. Chiropractic & manual therapies, 22(1), 15. [5] Borggren, C. L. (2007). Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 6(2), 70-74.
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 In a world where stressors come from all direction and in all forms, we tend to forget to do one simple yet important thing. That is, breathing.
Breathing is an activity that we take for granted, but it is a powerful life force. Without breaths, there is no life, it’s just a plain fact. There are various breathing techniques that are gaining popularity and attention these days. Each to their own can bring benefits in different ways. However, let’s keep it simple and basic. Can you belly breathe? Can you do diaphragmatic breathing? That is when you do a deep breathe in, you should notice your belly raises up first and followed by your chest rise, then your shoulders. Breathing in this way is the best way to reduce the sympathetic (fight/flight) tone and brings you to the parasympathetic (rest/digest/heal) state. One more simple thing with breathing, especially as the world around us operates in such fast pace is to breathe slow… yes, slow it down with your inhales and exhales. A key feature of slow breathing techniques is that they cause increased activation of the parasympathetic nervous system through modulation of vagal activity. The rise in parasympathetic activation induced by slow breathing is associated with states of calmness and reduced stress. Numerous studies have demonstrated significant reductions in stress reported by participants engaging in breathing exercises. In one study examining the effects of breathwork on stress and mental health, 40 participants were randomly assigned to either a breathing intervention group or a control group. Participants in the breathing intervention group experienced a significant decrease in negative affect compared with those in the control group. Participants in the breathing intervention group also experienced lower levels of salivary cortisol compared with participants in the control group, for whom no changes in cortisol level were documented compared with baseline levels. In addition, participants in the breathwork group demonstrated improvements over baseline in sustained attention that were not observed in the control group. Chiropractic care also contributes to better breathing through the adjustments, which can help in opening the thoracic and rib cage for better motion which influences the movement and activity of the diaphragm which is the main breathing muscles. Another benefit of Chiropractic care is the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system that allows you to rest and heal better. Everything around us moves fast sometimes and it can be overwhelming. So, breathe well, breathe slow and allow the body to slow down, recover and heal.
 Walsh Research Institute has reported on over 1.5 million lab assays and over 800,000 ADHD lab assays. They see improvement in over 80% of their patients. More than 1 million patients have received Walsh Research Institute protocols (1)
Giving a “one size fits all” vitamin is a bit like trying to determine the ideal shoe size for the population. The truth is that multiple vitamins and minerals are too indiscriminate, and may do as much harm as good. The brain is a chemical factory which produces serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw material for these syntheses is nutrients, namely amino acids, vitamins and minerals. If the brain receives improper amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters. This affects how we think, feel and act. Database findings demonstrate striking blood/urine chemistry differences between behavioral Disorders / ADHD populations and the rest of society. More and more studies are being produced to demonstrate this. A recent study for problematic aggressive and violent behaviour disorders in male children and adolescents revealed that nutrient therapy appeared well tolerated, with favourable effects. The study included 32 males. It appeared effective in the reduction of parent reported aggressive and violent behaviours, and showed improvement in family functioning (2). Further research in the form of a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial is required to verify these initial positive observations. However, these results are promising. Some causes of nutritional deficiencies currently identified are genetic predisposition, periods of rapid growth, toxic metal exposure, pesticide exposure, over oxidation and stress, If you would like further advice on this subject, please see one of our Drs of Chiropractic and Kinesiology at Sprouting Health. References 1. Walsh, William. Walsh Research Institute. 2. Hambly, J.L., Francis, K., Khan, S., Gibbons, K.S., Walsh, W.J., Lambert, B., Testa, C. and Haywood, A., 2017. Micronutrient therapy for violent and aggressive male youth: an open-label trial. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 27(9), pp.823-832.  A reflex is an automatic, quick response your body makes to something — without you even thinking about it. For example, remember the knee-jerk reflex many of us experienced as kids? It’s a classic example of how our bodies respond instantly to a stimulus.
Neonatal reflexes are similar. These are built-in movements newborn babies perform without any conscious control. They help babies survive, feed, and interact with the world during their first few months. They also show that a baby’s brain and nervous system are developing properly. One well-known example is the Startle Reflex, also called the Moro Reflex. If a baby hears a loud noise or feels like they’re falling, they’ll suddenly throw out their arms and legs — then quickly bring them back in. This reflex plays a key role in helping babies strengthen their extensor muscles (like those in the back and limbs), and it also helps balance out the flexor muscles, which were tightened during their curled-up position in the womb for nearly 40 weeks. The startle reflex is just one of many that help newborns adapt to life outside the womb. As babies grow and begin to make purposeful, voluntary movements, these reflexes are no longer needed and should naturally fade. In fact, health professionals often check these reflexes to ensure children are meeting their age-appropriate developmental milestones. But sometimes, these reflexes don’t go away when they should. When that happens, we call them Retained Neonatal Reflexes (RNRs). What Causes Retained Reflexes? Retained reflexes may occur when the brain has experienced some kind of trauma — either physical (like a difficult birth), chemical (such as exposure to certain drugs), or emotional (such as early stress or trauma). When these reflexes stick around, they can interfere with a child's development and behaviour. Common Signs of Retained Reflexes in Children: • Anxiety, phobias, extreme shyness, or panic attacks • Discomfort with change or new experiences • Sensitivity to light, sound, or touch • Nail-biting, chewing on hair or shirt collars • Thumb sucking beyond toddler years • Difficulty using cutlery, holding a pencil, or playing instruments • Jaw or tongue movements while writing or concentrating • Poor balance and coordination • Struggles learning to ride a bike • Inability to sit still and poor concentration(often described as having “ants in the pants”) …and many more What to Do If You Suspect RNRs If you recognise these signs in yourself or your child, you’re not alone — and there are ways to help. To learn more about retained reflexes and how they might be affecting your life, visit our website. You can also book a consultation with one of our chiropractors to see how we can support you or your loved ones in managing these concerns. |
AuthorBlogs by the team at Sprouting Health Archives
December 2025
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