Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of (or maybe the) hardest things a woman can put her body through. First comes feeling tired all the time and can’t get comfortable enough to ever rest. Then the aches and pains start to set in in your lower back and hips. Don’t forget to mention the pressure on every internal organ and joint in your body… you just can’t take it anymore!

We know we may sound like a broken record when we say that there is almost always a therapy or exercise or lifestyle change with the assistance of some chiropractic care that can help with any ache, pain, or trouble spot that you might have or be dealing with… but it’s true! The same can go with your pregnancy! When you are pregnant, it doesn’t matter if you are 4 weeks pregnant, or 40 weeks pregnant, a chiropractic spinal adjustment and a little bit of therapy massage can help give you at least a little bit of comfort! The even better part that I know most, if not all, of you will love is that chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy can help with a shorter delivery time! It has been proven that those adjustments can prepare your body for the big day when your little bundle of joy wants to make its way out and into this world.

But first comes the first 40 weeks that your body continually is making physical changes that are likely to affect the spine will begin to occur during the second trimester. As the uterus grows to make room for your baby, the lumbar curve of the spine will increase to account for the stomach protruding further forward. The pelvis will also start to shift position as the normally tough pelvic ligaments soften to help prepare for delivery. Many pregnant women end up leaning somewhat backward as they stand or walk. This can then place pressure on the pelvis, the sacroiliac joint and the ligaments, causing additional pain. All these changes are not isolated to the back and pelvis, but will also affect the knees, ankles and feet. All these shifts in the normal position of the back can also affect posture, which may lead to sciatic nerve pain and edema or water retention in your ankles and feet.

When your joints and spine are properly aligned through those routine adjustments, including your hips, it will ease the delivery. When you think of all the ways you have to twist and turn your body just to get comfortable, sitting or lying different ways so you don’t get sore… your body is going to be all sorts of twisted and kinked up! The best recommended position for pregnant women is to not sleep on their back or stomach, but instead to sleep on their left side. They should be in a fetal position, with the knees tucked up and a pillow between their legs. Unfortunately, this can be difficult for those who are used to sleeping on their back or stomach, as well as since hormonal changes with pregnancy can often cause night sweats, making it difficult to sleep. The most obvious targets for chiropractic adjustments will be the lumbar spine and the sacroiliac joint, in order to shift the vertebrae back into alignment, which will help relieve lower back pain. Adjustments to these joints may also relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve and help patients sleep more soundly at night. Correcting your posture will better the circulation to your joints and take more pressure off your nerves.

Not only can adjustments help you with feeling more comfortable, but we also have a number of therapy machines in the office that can assist with your comfort. One of my personal favorites, and a “fan favorite” for a lot of our patients is our Intersegmental Traction Table, or you may know it as our “rolly-table”. It is a table that you lay on, and this rolling pin goes up and down your spine, elongating it and massaging it at the same time. The low back/tailbone area is one of the most painful areas on a pregnant body, as that is where the majority of the weight and pressure likes to sit, and this table just stretches and massages all that tension and pain out! It’s amazing.

We also have acupuncture, which can target those pressure points. There are multiple pressure points we can target for each area of pain, whether that is your back, hips, knees, or even your feet… Not only can acupuncture treat your physical ailments, it can also assist with relieving your emotional or mental pains as well. It focuses on fixing the imbalances and blockages in your internal pathways, which are stimulated by the hair-thin needles during an acupuncture session. This can help with morning sickness, pregnancy symptoms, migraines, or even just plain fatigue. It can help alleviate the stress.. even if you just want an excuse to lay in a dimly lighted room for some peace and quiet. J Acupuncture is also known to induce labor in some cases. People feel a variety of sensations when being pricked by these acupuncture needles, but for the most part, you can’t even feel it. Just sit back, relax, and let that energy flow!

We have a number of other exercises and stretches that we also can recommend and show you in order to get you some comfort at home. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have about pregnancy and chiropractic care, so feel free to shoot us a message, email, call or just stop by and ask us! Like any therapy or medicine, results vary with everyone. The best thing you can do for you, and for your baby, is to give yourself the best chance of being pain free, comfortable, and happy! You may be feeling a lot of emotions, happening all at the same time, ranging from excitement about your new miracle to the family, to being nervous or scared about the health of your baby, and concern about the delivery itself. We are here to help in any way that we can. Pregnancy is one of the most incredible things that any woman can do, and we are truly in awe of all of you mother’s out there! Let us know how we can help!

It is common for me, or my staff, to be asked: “Do you adjust children? Is it safe for them? What do you actually do when you adjust my baby?”  

Pediatric chiropractic has been around a long time, and not many people know about it still. It is my belief that it is because people haven’t been educated about it, or truly being terrified of the “pop” coming from your child. Chiropractic adjustments for children are non-invasive and gentle due to the different techniques that are used and are safe and well tested. So, you may ask: “What does an adjustment involve for a child? What are the benefits? What should they expect? How do I know my child needs chiropractic care!?”

The Benefits

If you have been adjusted, you know the feeling and may think it maybe too harsh for your child. While that is correct, an adjustment for a child is applied with less force and delivered more quickly, so there is as little of discomfort as possible. Children’s joints are still forming and growing every day. An adjustment helps keep everything aligned, and it promotes healthy nervous system flow and communication throughout the body. Misaligned points on the spine can put excessive pressure on nearby nerves, causing pain to interfere with brain communication and a child to have less focus.

Most importantly, a child’s body depends on a healthy nervous system with it growing and changing every day. An adjustment for a child benefits them more than aligning the spine. It is known to help with ear infections, digestive issues, allergies, sleep issues, as well as headaches. The same reasons we would go see a chiropractor for our aches and pain, our children can benefit as well.

The most common type of injuries I see are sports injuries. The development of a child’s body during this time is fragile. Their bones aren’t as strong, their muscles aren’t yet developed, and when you mix sports and play time in with that, they could get really hurt. There are different extremity and spinal manipulations, so getting the correct type of therapy to heal and recover their muscles and bones from their playful injuries are key. Most importantly to help prevent sport injuries I recommend a maintained routine adjustment to help them as they continue to grow.

What to Expect?

Should you choose chiropractic care for your child, whether they are a few months old, or all the way up to their teen years, you could see several different benefits. With everything aligned, your child is going to sleep better. This is due to the relieving of tension, discomfort and dysfunction. With more sleep and less discomfort, you may notice your child to be a little happier and less behavior issues, as well as a stronger immune system.

Our kids are the most active when they are young and playing with their friends or trying out every single sport that they can. It really takes a toll on their body. I have seen a number of different people who still have injuries or aches and pains that they are confident came from an injury that they sustained when they were little. It could be just falling off their bike or jumping on the trampoline and landing wrong… any number of scenarios can really mess a kid up. Listen to their complaints. Teach them to listen to their body. If something is off, they will know!  

As kids develop and grow, especially these days when kids have their cell phones or tablets to play games, read or talk to their friends, they can get into the habit of always looking down at their phone or tablet, and can get very bad posture. That is something we can fix with chiropractic adjustments, but I would like to teach kids from a young age how that can be prevented. Playing contact sports, wearing heavy backpacks, even sitting in desks at school can all cause issues. Their daily lives are always on the go. Sitting down for a consultation and going thoroughly through an exam would be what I recommend… I know kids do not like to listen to their parents, but maybe together we can get them to learn these good habits from a young age!

If you still have questions please do not hesitate to reach out to the office, on Facebook, Instagram or even sending us an email at henrychiropracticcenter@gmail.com. If there is a question you have always wondered about, or some topic that just always confuses or interests you, LET US KNOW! We are here to help, and love to help teach you more about anything help related, even if it is lending a helpful hint or recommendation.

We have had that question asked frequently here in the office over the past few weeks and wanted to walk you through the difference of heat vs ice and when to use it properly if you have an injury. At times we try to stick out and move on about our day, but if you pinch that muscle or have that targeted pain, that only means that it will take longer to recover! It is important for us to stop and listen to our body when it needs us! 

When to Use: Ice

That painful but refreshing relief that ice relieves from our tissues and muscles is a love/hate relationship. When you are icing an injury, you are controlling the inflammation of the tissue in order to reduce damage and keep your pain level in check right away. It is important to ice sooner rather than later, at least try to get to it within 24 hours of injury time. I recommend for more of an acute pain such as a bone fracture, muscle sprain, or a mild back pain to ice 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off. When you are icing, in order to stay more comfortable and to get you through the cold and burning stage, protect the skin upon application do this until you reach the numbness stage. This is the stage where reduced nerve conduction happens.

When you ice, you get different localized and reflex effects. It will reduce muscle spasms and the cell metabolism, as well as decrease the capillary blood pressure. This will allow the muscle tone to increase slightly overtime with treatment. Overall you will notice your muscles will experience less fatigue, while your respiratory rate, heart rate and leukocytosis will increase.

When to Use: Heat

It is common that we naturally want to jump in and out a heating pad when we injure ourselves. It is so soothing and calming… it makes sense that you would want to do that… but you actually could be doing yourself harm in the long run! When the body experiences a traumatic injury, the body naturally tries to protect itself by creating inflammation to help it heal. The injury then becomes warm due to the inflammation, so applying extra heat is not a good idea and will then increase inflammation.

If you feel stiff, I highly recommend using heat. As an example: when you want to stretch a muscle, but stretching doesn’t help, that is when you want to apply some heat. When heat is applied, it relaxes the tissue and brings blood to the area to help combat the feeling of tightness and stiffness. If you have an option on what type of heat to use, moist heat is going to be the best.

Can I use both?

The answer is yes but at the right time. I recommend for you to alternate ice and heat until 48 hours after injury, and inflammation is decreased. By alternating the ice and heat, you are creating a pumping effect that does reduce swelling and is best known as contrast therapy. This allows your tissues to adapt and give them a little “workout” by stimulating metabolic and circulatory activity while allowing your body to rest.

If you still have questions please do not hesitate to reach out to the office, on Facebook, Instagram or even sending us an email at henrychiropracticcenter@gmail.com. If there is a question you have always wondered about, or some topic that just always confuses or interests you, LET US KNOW! We are here to help, and love to help teach you more about anything help related, even if it is lending a helpful hint or recommendation.

Supplements

Everyday we strive to be as healthy as we can, from eating our fruits and vegetables, getting plenty of sleep, to staying hydrated. So, you may ask yourself, “why am I talking about supplements, I don’t need them. .what is the purpose?!” Don’t get it twisted! Even if it isn’t “needed” like say, a daily multivitamin, or just because you can’t feel a difference immediately, doesn’t mean that it isn’t working for you and helping you out! As we age, our bodies need supplements no matter how healthy our lifestyle may be. They help with absorbing nutrients from all that healthy food that you are trying to eat. Think of how much better your body will look and feel if it bumped up that absorption rate from what it is now! As we grow older, our bodies natural ability to absorb nutrients decreases, which is why you notice that you gain weight or have awful reactions the older you get, even if you “have always had” that certain portion or certain type of food. We all took the gummy multi-vitamins as a child, from Fred Flintstone to the smiley face shaped, to help us as our bones grew. As we get older, we need it more now than ever due to the wear and tear we put on our bodies in our daily lives.

Next, let’s look at what we are eating. As times change, food changes, from the processing to the way it is grown. Do you know about all the pesticides, herbicides and chemicals that are found in our food combined with chemicals in the water? We now need that extra help from vitamins to help keep our body strong to fight off those chemicals, and get the extra nutrients that may be lacking from our food.

We often hear from people that they “know their body” and know when something seems “off”. Listen to your body! If you are tired, or your skin looks bad, or your lips are dry, or you are gaining weight in areas that you haven’t experienced before, then your body is trying to tell you something! If you are tired, and know you have had your 8 hours of sleep, then you probably are eating something that is throwing your body off, or you aren’t giving your body enough food/nutrients to get it through the day. If your skin is bad, you are probably eating a lot of processed food and don’t know it. I could go on forever on this! The trick is to pay attention to what you’re putting in your body, and to get the extra help that is there for you.

We have a few products at Henry Chiropractic Center that I have personally checked out every label, to make sure that it isn’t hiding secret awful ingredients that are actually not good for you. I personally use or have tried all of our products. If I wouldn’t put these products in my own body, I wouldn’t vouch that you should put them in yours. Here are a few of what we carry:

Dr. Axe Bone Broth

• 20g protein, 2g carbs, 1g sugar
• Supports a healthy gut, skin, joints, and immunity
• Featuring collagen type II, glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid and 19 amino acids
• From non-GMO, hormone free, cage free and cruelty free sources

Dr. Axe Multi-Collagen Protein

• Tasteless and odorless
• 9g protein, 0g carbs, 0g fat
• Supports a healthy gut, skin and joints†
• Features Collagen type I, II, III, V and X
• From non-GMO, grass fed, hormone free, cage free and cruelty free sources
• From 4 food sources (beef, chicken, fish and eggshell membrane)

Dr. Axe Multi Collagen – Beauty Within & Beauty & Sleep

• Watermelon Basil flavor, lightly sweetened with stevia
• 9g protein, 0g carbs, 0g fat
• Supports a healthy gut, skin and joints
• Supports healthy skin elasticity and hydration
• Supports healthy aging by repairing skin and improving wrinkle depth
• Features Collagen type I, II, III, V and X from 4 food sources
• From non-GMO, grass fed, hormone free, cage free and cruelty free sources

Beauty & Sleep

• Same as above Beauty Within but added:
  • Calming Lavender Bergamot flavor, lightly sweetened with stevia.
  • Promotes restful sleep and a calm, relaxed state of mind

Dr.Axe Multi- Collagen – Rest & Recovery

• Natural mixed berry flavor
• 9g protein, 0g carbs, 0g fat
• Features plant extracts traditionally used for rest and recovery, including tart cherry for muscle recovery and strength, especially post-workout              
• Clinically-studied Ashwagandha promotes restful sleep and a calm, relaxed state of mind
• Promotes skin hydration and elasticity

Essential Nutrition Pack

• Multi Vitamins
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids
• Vitamin D Softgels
• Magnesium Caps

Probiotic

• Supports healthy gut function and digestive health
• Supports healthy immune system function and a  healthy GI tract
• 50 Billion CFUs per serving
• Featuring Soil-Based Organisms (SBOs) and Prebiotics
• PLUS it’s shelf-stable (no need to refrigerate!)

MyoCalm

–          MyoCalm® is a specialized formula that supplies bioavailable forms of calcium and magnesium that play a role in muscle contraction and relaxation. These minerals are blended with passionflower and valerian for added relaxation support.


MyoCalm® Plus is an exceptional blend of bioavailable minerals and specialized herbs that is designed to provide comprehensive support for neuromuscular relaxation. The components of this formula work in concert to provide enhanced support for healthy muscle relaxation.

Keep in my mind not everyone needs all these supplements. You have to listen to your body and find out what you feel you are lacking. We are always happy to talk through it with you! You can come into the office and chat with us about it, or bring it up at your next appointment, or even shoot us a message on our Facebook, Instagram, or email. It is easy to get lost in all the products that come at you every single day. We are happy to give some advice with what is truly best for YOU!

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or call us at 812-375-4091

Office Hours

Monday 9a – 1p; 3p-6p

Tuesday 11a – 1:30p; 3p – 6p

Wednesday – 9a – 1p; 3p-6p

Thursday 11a – 1:30p; 3p – 6p

Friday 9a – 1p

Dr. Malachi Henry, DC

2790 Brentwood Dr.

Columbus, In 47203

According to the American Chiropractic Association 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches, ranging from an occasional to frequent, dull to throbbing, and some resulting in debilitating pain and nausea. Are you one of the 9 out of 10 Americans? Do you have troubles figuring out how to make them go away? Or simply trying to change your routine or lifestyle to make them go away? We are here to help you!

If someone suffers from headaches or migraines, according to studies, 95 percent are primarily headaches, such as tension, migraine,fake drivers license, or a cluster headache. A primary headache is associated with muscle tension in the neck by hours spent in one fixed position. This results in increased joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp which is what causes your head to ache.

Headache vs Migraine

A question we hear a lot is: “how do I know if I am having a headache or migraine?” As mentioned before, more than likely it is a form of a headache, but migraines are still very common. Headaches and migraines are caused from environmental stimuli such as noises, lights or stress. As well as different behaviors that we do in our daily life,Scannable Fake ID, for example insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes and more. Common symptoms of a headache are:

• Mild to Moderate Pain or pressure in the front, top, or sides of the head
• Irritability
• Trouble Focusing
• Mild Sensitivity to Light or Noise
• Feeling Tired
• Muscle Aches

The mild to moderate pain or pressure that you feel from a headache starts in the back and then spreads forward. It becomes a band of dull pressure or squeezing pain around your entire head with equal pressure on both sides. The pressure from this is what causes the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and your jaw feels tight and sore. fake ids,I will get to the ways to get relief here in a minute.

Migraines are very similar to headaches but result in being on one side and a few more symptoms which are:

• Moderate to severe throbbing pain worse on one side than the other
• The pain worsens the more physically active you are
• Pain around eyes or temples, jaw or neck
• Sensitivity to light, sounds smells
• You are nauseous
• Seeing wavy lines, dots, or flashing lights
• Your arm or face tingles

What can you do?

Begin looking at your posture at work as well when you are at home. Are you staying in a fixed position for a long time? If so, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. Set an alert on your phone to remind yourself to get up and/or move around. This could be moving your arms, neck, or back in a rotating range of motion or simply getting up and walking.

Low impact exercise is another great way to relieve those primary mild headaches. That could be water aerobics, cycling, or a nice long walk to name a few. If you are experiencing a dull, throbbing headache it is advised to avoid heavy exercise.

Do you make sure that you are drinking at least 8 – 8-ounce glasses of water a day? We are all bad about not getting enough water intake. Dehydration is a big cause of headaches.

Stress is one of the top leading causes for a headache. Stress causes one to clench the teeth which results in TMJ (temporomandibular joints) that connects your jaw to your skull.

What can a Chiropractor do?

You may think a headache or migraine can be cured with a little help from taking a pill or changing something small will make it go away. As it may make it go away for a short time, long-term it is still going to be there. Some medications may also do more harm than good if taken in large quantities, or taken too often. That is where we come in!

Dr. Henry will begin by finding out where the pressure is coming from, and check out the area around it, and determine the subluxation (the misalignment) or the bones that is causing the pain. Once he discovers it, he will perform a spinal manipulation (adjustment) that improves the spinal function and alleviates the stress on your system. After the adjustment, Dr. Henry will provide muscle work to loosen the muscles that are tight that increase pressure and that are tight.

Another common question we get is “how long until I feel better?” Everyone is different, but we mainly see an instant relief, but it can be up to hours to feel the relief.

What is Next?

Are you a patient? Are you new to Henry Chiropractic? If you are new to us, Dr. Henry will perform a consultation, exam and if necessary, x rays. After that first visit, he will come up with a treatment specifically for you, and how to give you the most pain relief!

Have more questions about your headache or migraines? Have questions in general? Feel free to give us a call 812-375-4091, or message us on Instagram or Facebook! Let’s talk soon!