Our bodies (and bones, in particular) model in response to outside physical stresses placed upon them (a concept known as Wolff’s Law). Proper joint motion and coordination is needed to distribute these forces for optimal bone development. There are periods of time when skeletal growth is accelerated (commonly referred to as Growth Spurts) during which balance and proper function in the muscles and joints are especially important.

Just like the bones of the skeleton, your child’s nervous system is also developing at a rapid rate. The nervous system includes the brain, the spinal cord, and all the millions of nerves that serve every inch of your body and control most of its functions. Just like the bones need proper joint movement for optimal development, so do the nerves in order to develop optimal communication and control. Communication and proprioceptive feedback, is especially important during the growing years.

YES. ALL of our amazing chiropractors are specialized in helping woman before, during and after pregnancy.

The “pop” noise that is sometimes heard with certain types of adjustments is caused by a gapping of the facet joint when a quick impulse is applied in the area. Think of the “smack” noise created by pulling a suction cup off a window; the air vacuum release creates a little pop.  It’s the same thing that happens when you crack your knuckles.  The noise in and of itself is benign. Some adjustment types make a popping sound and others don’t.  Some people like to hear it and others don;t; we always take into consideration patient preference when choosing which form of manual therapy to provide.

An initial exam with an AltaVie Health chiropractor is one hour long. During your first visit, we will take a thorough history, complete a physical exam, and provide treatment with consent.  This is the same for adult, child, and infant visits.

The principles of naturopathy require a close look at all the systems involved in your infant, toddler or big kid’s well-being. We ensure that your baby is hitting all their milestones and benefitting from the vital nutrients required for their growth. Changes in your child’s development may reveal early signs of nutrient deficiencies or health concerns. Implementing small changes can have lasting impact on your child’s long-term health.

Naturopathic medicine can help you thrive, some common conditions we treat include:

• Colic
• Eczema
• Acid reflux
• Allergies
• ADHD
• Autism
• Frequent colds & flus
• Constipation
• Ear infections
• Sleep disturbances
• Teething

Acupuncture helps with many reproductive conditions. The needles stimulate the nervous system to send messages to the brain that change the hormonal output from the brain to the ovaries and uterus.

For example, there is a point on the hand that has the effect of calming down the sympathetic nervous system and reducing nervous tension. This in turn allows blood flow to return to the digestive and reproductive organs and has the effect of improving digestion and reducing both abdominal and menstrual pain. So we say the point improves digestion and eliminates pain in the abdomen.

Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been used for centuries to treat various conditions, including reproductive and fertility concerns. The needles stimulate various points along energetic pathways called "meridians" and are used to stimulate a person's energy,

Postpartum acupuncture has many benefits for our postpartum patients. However, it’s important to get the green-light from your physician or midwife before receiving your first postnatal acupuncture treatment. Some of our patients can have acupuncture 1-2 weeks after having a baby, while others may be advised to wait longer.

No, acupuncture shouldn’t hurt. In fact, when we are using it to affect the hormonal system, it needs to be gentle in order to be most effective.

The most useful points on the body are below the elbows and below the knees and often we only use a few points in a treatment.

You can come for treatment as soon as you feel able to.  In the case of a cesarean birth we won't directly treat your scar for 6-8 weeks, and may position you on the table differently for comfort, but can still treat any other symptoms immediately postpartum.

The biggest difference is positioning on the table. Once it is uncomfortable to lay on your stomach, we adjust positioning to either a supported stomach position (with pillowing system or special pregnancy table) or side lying position.  We also tend to avoid deep treatment to the low back and abdomen and take into consideration the different stressors on your body throughout the trimesters.

Yes. We have special pillows and a specific pregnancy massage table to make your massage as comfortable as possible for you and your growing belly. Our massage therapists have specialized training in working with women during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.