Pregnancy & Chiropractic Best Practices Document Published

The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation (FVS) just announced the publication of their Best Practices/ Clinical Practice Guideline on Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy. "The document was peer reviewed by 333 clinicians and experts in the area of maternal and pediatric care and we are thrilled to announce the publication of the document" stated Matthew McCoy DC, MPH Vice President of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation.

CLICK HERE to review the research 

Several years ago the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation (FVS) embarked on an ambitious effort to develop a clinical practice guideline/best practices project that would search, gather, compile and review the scientific literature on chiropractic going as far back as January 1998. 

This Chapter on the chiropractic care of pregnant women was peer reviewed and approved by 333 chiropractors from several countries and included chiropractors specializing in pediatric and maternal care such as Diplomates and others certified in such care. 

The Best Practices document, developed through the Foundation's Best Practices Initiative includes a Recommendation statement as follows: 

RECOMMENDATION

Rating: Established

Evidence: E, L 

"During pregnancy a woman’s body experiences numerous biomechanical adaptations and physiological changes. These changes often have an adverse effect on her neuro-musculo-skeletal system affecting quality of life in pregnancy, birth outcome and the future well-being of her baby. Because of these physiological compensations, care must be taken by the chiropractor to select the specific analysis and adjustment procedures most appropriate for the complex changes throughout the various stages of pregnancy. The increased potential for spinal instability in the mother and the related subluxations in the woman’s spine and pelvis throughout pregnancy affect the health and well-being of both her and her baby. This warrants regular chiropractic screening in all women throughout pregnancy. Patient education pertinent to the role of chiropractic care in pregnancy is encouraged."

Joel Alcantara DC, Ph.D (C) who is the Director of Research of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) and part of the Foundation's research team is the lead author of the document with the rest of the team including: 

Joel Alcantara, DC, Joey D. Alcantara, DC, Junjoe Alcantara, DC, Christopher Kent DC, JD, Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, Christie Kwon DC, MS, MPH, Anquonette Stiles DC, MPH, Jeanne Ohm DC, Veronica Gutierrez DC, Andrew Rupp DC, Shannon O’Brien DC, Anne Bishop DC, Stacey Rainey DC, Bethany Carilli DC, Hui Zhen Lim DC, Gabriel Hrebien BA, Justin Bedrosian DC, Suzzanne M. Candelaria-Perez BSc, DC, Christopher Long DC. 

The document is dedicated to the memory of Jeanne Ohm DC who dedicated her life to pediatric and maternal chiropractic care and led the ICPA until her passing. Dr. Ohm was a very hands on participant in the evolution and development of the pregnancy guideline from the very beginning. 

The Foundation saw a crucial need to develop this project because other practice guidelines that included the management of vertebral subluxation were about to become outdated including the Council on Chiropractic Practice's (CCP) Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice and the International Chiropractors Association's Best Practices document. 

Also in development - the Foundation is currently preparing the peer review process for its Best Practices documents on radiography and instrumentation. 

The Foundation has also published a Best Practices/Practice Guidelines document on the role of chiropractic in immune function as part of a multi-pronged project to address questions related to the role of chiropractic care in immune function. And the Foundation has also published its Best Practices document on the Chiropractic Care of Children.