Children, ADHD, and Sensory Disorders


It is any parent’s greatest wish to see their children happy and healthy. There is nothing more joyful than seeing a carefree, innocent smile light up your child’s face. Read more

Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Disorders


Your gastrointestinal system is an incredible design. It contains endocrine (hormonal) and immune system cells. It cooperates with beneficial bacteria to break down food and protect against harmful pathogens. Read more

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ADHD and Spectrum Disorders: Restoring the Neurological Connection

September 7, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP ADHD, Babies, Balanced living, Brain, Children, Chiropractic, Healing, Posture, Pregnancy, Spine, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

It is any parent’s greatest wish to see their children happy and healthy. There is nothing more joyful than seeing a carefree, innocent smile light up your child’s face. We love our children so much, and we never want to see them hurt or sick. There are far too many children who struggle with their health and performance. ADHD and related disorders are an increasing epidemic that children and families struggle to overcome every day.

ADHD and spectrum disorders are primarily neurological in nature. Similar to a car, the neurological system has a “gas pedal” and a “brake pedal.” A person can develop a functional imbalance of the brain and nervous system, but this imbalance can often be partially or completely corrected. An accumulation of physical, chemical, and emotional stressors can cause someone to become stuck in the gas mode, without the brakes engaging. Physical stressors include high-intervention pregnancy and delivery, intrauterine constraint, car accidents, falls, and other traumas. In 2008, the British Medical Journal noted that children with head injury or burn injury were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD by age 10.

Children with a diagnosis of ADHD, ADD, or autism spectrum disorder are often locked in a “fight or flight” state. Due to their altered brain function, they are easily over-stimulated by people, noise, lights, and even their own clothing. This may lead to a separate diagnosis such as SPD, or sensory processing (formerly integration) disorder. Often a child with ADHD/ADD also has headaches, postural problems like slouching, sleep disorders, and difficulty with managing emotions. The child’s symptoms can be very disruptive for families and cause poor performance in school, reducing a child’s potential to be their best.

Healthcare providers understand that neurological integrity plays a significant role in children’s learning and behavioral patterns. Doctors of chiropractic offer a non-drug and non-invasive alternative for people with ADHD and spectrum disorders that targets the underlying problems, not just the symptoms. Chiropractic care is designed to rebalance, calm, and organize the nervous system, so the function of body and brain both improve. Many parents have noted that their child’s medical diagnosis is downgraded or removed completely once they begin a program of chiropractic care.


Breech Babies and Reducing Intrauterine Constraint

November 23, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Babies, Chiropractic, Pregnancy, Research, Webster Technique, Wellness 1

Pregnancy is a time of drastic changes in a woman’s weight-bearing patterns and body mechanics. As her body prepares for the task of childbirth, her ligaments become more flexible. These changes can cause subtle misalignments of the skeletal system. Misalignments in the pelvis can cause muscles and ligaments to tighten abnormally. This can lead to twisting of the uterus, which is known as intrauterine constraint. Breech presentations are most often the result of intrauterine constraint. While many infants in breech presentation before 34 weeks will convert spontaneously to a head-down presentation, few will do so afterwards.

The Webster Technique was developed in 1978 to relieve intrauterine constraint by normalizing mechanics of the pelvis. There are two steps to this technique: first, to correct abnormal pelvic biomechanics by a light-force chiropractic adjustment of the sacrum; and second, to relieve tension and spasm in the muscular ligaments connecting the uterus to the pelvis. It is important to stress that the Webster Technique is not to be misconstrued as the practice of obstetrics. This technique is intended to relieve a musculoskeletal condition and is well within the chiropractor’s scope of practice. At no time does the chiropractor attempt to directly change the position of the fetus, as is done in external cephalic version (ECV). The Webster Technique often reduces intrauterine constraint. This allows the fetus enough room to move into a head-down position.

2008 data from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) showed that the Webster Technique had a 69% effectiveness rate. A research study from 2002 reported a success rate of 82% and indicated that application of the Webster Technique was most beneficial for the 8th month of pregnancy. Use of the Webster Technique during pregnancy can facilitate easier, safer deliveries for both mother and baby. Many birth care providers are actively seeking doctors of chiropractic with the skills in this technique.

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


Pregnancy, Breech Babies, and Chiropractic Care

October 9, 2009 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Babies, Chiropractic, Pregnancy, Webster Technique Leave a comment  

Intrauterine Constraint

Pregnancy is a time of drastic changes in a woman’s weight-bearing patterns and body mechanics. As her body prepares for the task of childbirth, her ligaments become more flexible. These changes can cause subtle misalignments of the skeletal system. Misalignments in the pelvis can cause muscles and ligaments to tighten abnormally. This can lead to twisting of the uterus, which is known as intrauterine constraint. Breech presentations are most often the result of intrauterine constraint. While many infants in breech presentation before 34 weeks will convert spontaneously to a head-down presentation, few will do so afterwards.

 What is the Webster Technique?

The Webster Technique was developed in 1978 to relieve intrauterine constraint by normalizing mechanics of the pelvis. There are two steps to this technique: first, to correct abnormal pelvic biomechanics by a light-force chiropractic adjustment of the sacrum; and second, to relieve tension and spasm in the muscular ligaments connecting the uterus to the pelvis. It is important to stress that the Webster Technique is not to be misconstrued as the practice of obstetrics. This technique is intended to relieve a musculoskeletal condition and is well within the chiropractor’s scope of practice. At no time does the chiropractor attempt to directly change the position of the fetus, as is done in external cephalic version (ECV). The Webster Technique often reduces intrauterine constraint. This allows the fetus enough room to move into a head-down position.

 How Effective is This Approach?

In expecting mothers presenting breech, there has been a high reported success rate of the baby turning to the normal head-down position.  2008 data from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) showed that the Webster Technique had a 69% effectiveness rate1. A research study from 2002 reported a success rate of 82% and indicated that application of the Webster Technique was most beneficial for the 8th month of pregnancy2. In terms of treatments needed to convert the fetus into a head-down position, 34% of practitioners reported this outcome within 24 hours of initial application of Webster Technique, 24% within 2-6 days, and 41% within 1-2 weeks2. The ICPA is currently completing more studies on the Webster Technique.

 Last Words

Use of the Webster Technique during pregnancy can facilitate easier, safer deliveries for both mother and baby. Many birth care providers are actively seeking doctors of chiropractic with the skills in this technique. The ICPA offers the only courses to certify chiropractors in the proper performance of the Webster Technique. If you would like to find a chiropractor trained in the Webster Technique, please visit the ICPA website at www.icpa4kids.org, or call 610-565-2360. Untrained individuals should not attempt the Webster Technique. Pregnant mothers should have their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy to reduce nervous system stress on both mother and baby.

 References:

  1. Alcantara J, Ohm J. “The Webster Technique: Results from a chiropractic practice-based research program”; accepted for poster presentation at the ACNM annual meeting in Boston, May 2008.
  2. Pistolese R. 2002. The Webster technique: a chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 25:000.