Many women are realizing the benefits of regular chiropractic care to prepare for safer, easier birth experiences for mom and baby. Natural changes in pregnancy increase stress on the body. The woman's center of gravity shifts and her posture changes accordingly. Normal laxity in ligaments, necessary for birth, increases instability in a woman's joints, including the spine and pelvis. These changes may cause discomforts that chiropractic can treat, including:

-Lower back pain

-Mid-back pain

-Hip and pelvic pain

-Pubic symphysis discomfort/dysfunction

-Sciatic pain

-Round ligament pain

Another major benefit of chiropractic care in pregnancy is to allow for optimal uterine function and fetal positioning. Spinal and pelvic misalignments constrain ligaments that support the uterus. Use of the Webster technique, catered specifically to pregnant women, balances the pelvis and sacrum. This allows the baby optimal room in utero and encourages ideal fetal positioning for safe, natural birth.

As a result of balancing the pelvis, regular chiropractic care in pregnancy has been shown to help breech babies turn on their own to obtain an optimal head down position, reduce labor times, reduce use of labor interventions, and encourage easier births.

Chiropractic is safe and effective for children. Dr. Dodge adjusts all ages of children, newborns to teens. His non-force and low-force techniques are perfect for all ages, and Dr. Dodge has completed an extensive extra training in pediatrics through the ICPA. He is board certified for pediatric chiropractic care.

Children experience many changes and challenges while their bodies are rapidly developing. Dr. Dodge recommends recieving wellness care adjustments as part of preventative health care about once a month for most children. Getting evaluated at birth and major milestones (holding head up, sitting, crawling, walking) are critical times to be adjusted to encourage proper development. Eighty percent of a child's nervous system is developed in the first two years of life, making it an especially important time to receive regular chiropractic care. Regular chiropractic care for children has been shown to aid in treating:

-Colic

-Breathing problems and asthma

-Developmental delay

-Nursing/latch difficulties

-Sleep disturbances

-Allergic reactions

-Chronic ear infections

-Headaches

-Scoliosis

-Learning disorders

-Torticollis

As children grow and participate in normal activities like sports and play, small but significant misalignments during this period of rapid growth may lead toward more concerning problems later in life. Childhood injuries are also an important time to seek chiropractic care.

In addition to traditional chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Dodge is trained in Craniosacral Technique. This helps to promote proper movement of the cranial bones and helps to relieve tension in the fascia (connective tissue) throughout the body. This techique is especially effective for children 0-2 in treating and preventing plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome), headaches, ear infections, sinus discomfort, and lip/tonque ties.

In addition to a full chiropractic adjusrment, Dr. Dodge utilizes this technique for clients with lip and tongue ties to help restore proper movement of the cranial bones and jaw to improve nursing.