Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care at SOMOM is provided by a chiropractor registered with the College of Chiropractors of Ontario. It focuses on the joints of the spine and pelvis, and how their movement relates to the surrounding muscles and nerves. Chiropractic care is used to help manage certain musculoskeletal complaints and works alongside pelvic floor physiotherapy and the rest of your care — not in place of it.

What chiropractic care addresses

A chiropractor assesses how the joints of the spine and pelvis move, and how the nearby muscles and soft tissue are functioning. Using hands-on techniques, chiropractic care may help manage:

• Low back, mid-back and neck complaints
• Headaches associated with neck tension and posture
• Hip, pelvic and sciatic-type discomfort
• Stiffness related to desk work, lifting and carrying
• Aches that build up through pregnancy and the postpartum months

Care begins with a history and physical assessment, so that what you are experiencing is understood before any hands-on treatment. If chiropractic care is not appropriate for your situation, that will be discussed with you and you will be directed toward more suitable care.

What to expect at a chiropractic assessment

Your first visit starts with a conversation about your symptoms, your history and your daily activities, followed by a physical examination of how you move. Your chiropractor then explains what they have found and proposes a plan. Treatment may involve joint mobilisation or adjustment, along with soft-tissue techniques and advice on movement, posture and simple exercises you can do at home. Everything is explained, and nothing is done without your understanding and consent.

Chiropractic care in pregnancy and postpartum

Pregnancy changes posture and load over time. The hormone relaxin increases laxity in the ligaments of the pelvis and spine, and a shifting centre of gravity alters how you stand, walk and rest. Chiropractic techniques can be adapted for each stage of pregnancy to help manage related joint and spinal discomfort. Where a chiropractor holds relevant certification, the Webster technique — an approach focused on pelvic balance in pregnancy — may form part of care. In the postpartum period, chiropractic care can support your recovery alongside pelvic floor physiotherapy.

Chiropractic care and your pelvic floor

The joints of the pelvis and lower back, the muscles around them and the pelvic floor all work together. Stiffness or altered movement in the spine and pelvis can change how you load the pelvic floor, and vice versa. Chiropractic care addresses the joint and movement side of that picture, while your physiotherapist focuses on the pelvic floor itself — together they cover more of what influences your comfort and function.

Working alongside your care team

When a chiropractor works within the same clinic as your physiotherapist, massage therapist and other providers, care can be coordinated and information shared with your consent. This helps avoid working at cross-purposes and keeps chiropractic care aligned with the rest of your treatment plan. Chiropractic care complements your medical care, and we work alongside your family doctor, OB or midwife rather than in place of them.