CHIROPRACTIC care

Dr. Alana is WNY native and boy mom of two. She received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from D’Youville College in 2013 and has been working with families in WNY since. She received her Webster certification in 2016 and her perinatal certification after her own journey into motherhood and has continued her education in pediatric and perinatal chiropractic care, focusing her studies on all things from preconception to postpartum and childhood chiropractic care. When she is not working you can find her spending time with her family, at one of her son’s many sporting events, or cheering on the Bills.

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is a form of alternative, physical medicine that focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system, especially the spine. Physical, environmental, mechanical, chemical and emotional stressors can all cause our body to have misalignments and create dysfunction which can lead to discomfort, pain, and a duller experience of life. Chiropractors are specifically trained to find those areas of misalignment and correct them, so that your nervous system can run at its best, helping everything in your body to run better as well. Through expertly placed corrections or adjustments, chiropractors can help to reestablish proper nervous system function and flow, leading to improved overall health and wellness and the decrease of pain and dysfunction without the use of medication or surgery. Chiropractors believe that the body has the innate ability to heal itself when misalignments are removed, and proper function is restored.

Who can benefit from chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is appropriate for all members of the family with minimal associated risks! Anyone who has a spine and a nervous system is a great candite for chiropractic care. It is a great way to help maintain a healthy spine, prevent injury and dysfunction, and promote your best overall wellness. Care can also be used to help reduce pain and dysfunction that is already present including back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica, TMJ, hip pain, pelvic pain, shoulder dysfunction among other things. Dr Alana treats people of all ages, but has additional training in prenatal, and pediatric chiropractic care. This includes both a Webster certification and a perinatal certification, covering all things from preconception to postpartum.

What is prenatal/pregnancy chiropractic care? Is prenatal/pregnancy chiropractic care safe?

Dr. Alana has completed extensive training in perinatal chiropractic care, spanning preconception to postpartum. This includes a certification in the Webster technique, which is not only safe to be used during pregnancy but is designed to be used during pregnancy. The Webster technique can be used in all trimesters of pregnancy and is designed to help balance the pelvis and help the body to handle all the many changes that occur when we are pregnant. It does not require the joint manipulation and “cracking or popping” that most people associate with chiropractic care.

What benefits can you see with regular prenatal chiropractic care?

Prenatal chiropractic care with the Webster technique helps to balance the bony pelvis and spine as well as the muscles and ligaments, which can help to decrease tension and torsion and create more room in the uterus.  The uterus and pelvis may experience tension or torsion that occurs due to misalignment and muscle/ligament imbalance from repetitive motion, previous injury or stress.  When the uterus has more room and is free from tension, you may see things like better baby position, decreased risk of fetal malposition or baby getting “stuck” in one position, and shorter/easier labors. When the pelvis is better aligned, you may notice decreased pelvic, back or sciatic pain with pregnancy and an overall increased sense of wellness during pregnancy.

How does chiropractic care help with fertility?

Chiropractors focus on correcting spinal misalignments and improving nervous system function. When the nervous system is functioning better it can help to improve hormone balance, improve circulation, and improve nerve connection to the organs needed for reproduction and therefore help to increase your chances of conception. Ensuring the pelvis is in a proper alignment can also help to decrease any tension or torsion in the uterus (that may be caused by tightness in the ligaments and muscles that connect from the bony pelvis to the uterus) increasing the chances of proper embryo implantation. Treatment can help to boost fertility in both women and men and care for both partners is recommended. Chiropractic care can be used alone, or in combination with other fertility treatments.

What is pediatric chiropractic care and is pediatric chiropractic care safe?

A chiropractic adjustment on an infant or small child does not require ANY “popping or cracking”. Dr. Alana will often describe the amount of force used as what you would use to wipe something out of your eye or the amount of force you would use to squeeze a tomato for ripeness.  Chiropractic adjustments are generally considered very safe when they are performed by a qualified, experienced pediatric chiropractor. As children grow older, other techniques can also be used that are more like care that would be used on an adult. Parents and guardians are always welcome and encouraged to stay present for treatment regardless of the child’s age.

What are the benefits of pediatric chiropractic care?

In babies and very young children, gentle chiropractic care can help to reduce the stress that occurs due to birth trauma or in-utero trauma or constraints. Some signs to look for that may indicate that your baby can benefit from a pediatric chiropractor include nursing/latching trouble, oral ties, aching the back, noticing the head tilted to one side all the time or signs of stress or discomfort in your baby including excessive crying, excessive gassiness or the inability to relax. Babies, especially newborns, should be soft and supple. If your newborn seems to be locked into a strained posture, they may benefit from some gentle chiropractic care. If developmental milestones are not being hit, that can also be a sign of some stress or dysfunction in the body that may benefit from chiropractic care.

In older kids, you may want to consider chiropractic care if you notice your child has pain or discomfort, poor posture or balance, or are just looking to help support overall health and wellness. The constant use of computers, phones and other screens that happens younger and younger for our children, coupled with heavy backpacks, repetitive motion from sports or actives and spending more and more time sitting can all be reasons to bring your older kids to a pediatric chiropractor for support while they are growing and developing.

When is the best time to start chiropractic care?

Wellness is not just the absence of pain and disease but is a goal that we should constantly be striving for and every day we make choices that either bring us closer to optimal wellness, or further away from it. Dr. Alana believes that chiropractic care for the whole family is one tool that can help you on your path to wellness. The best time to start chiropractic care is birth, the second-best time is right now!