Low back, SI joint, and pelvic-girdle pain show up in the majority of pregnancies — and they're treatable. We see pregnant patients in every trimester and postpartum, with side-lying setups, lower-force techniques, and a plan that respects what's actually changing in your body. Honest about what we can help with, honest about what we can't.
Pregnancy changes the body's mechanics quickly: ligaments soften, your center of gravity shifts forward, the lumbar curve increases, and the pelvis takes on a different load. Most pregnancy-related pain is mechanical — meaning it's structural, not "just hormones," and it responds to mechanical care.
The exam and plan format is the same as any visit: history, focused physical exam, plain-English explanation, treatment, and home exercises. What changes during pregnancy is positioning and technique:
Postpartum recovery is musculoskeletally significant, and a lot of patients are sent home with no plan beyond "take it easy for six weeks." We see postpartum patients regularly — for SI joint pain that didn't resolve after delivery, lumbar pain that ramped up with feeding and carrying, hip pain, mid-back and neck tension from nursing positions, and headaches.
For pelvic-floor-specific work — diastasis recti rehabilitation, pelvic floor coordination and strengthening — we refer to pelvic-floor physical therapists, who do that work better than we do. The two services pair well: we handle the spine, pelvis, and hip mechanics; PFPT handles the floor. If you're not sure what you need, come in and we'll help you sort it.
We're in-network with BCBS, PacificSource, Moda, Medicare, Oregon Health Plan (OHP), IHN, and VA Community Care via TriWest. Cash-pay, HSA/FSA, and a discounted time-of-service rate are also options. See our insurance page for the full breakdown →
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Come in for: low back pain, SI joint pain, pelvic girdle pain, hip pain, sciatica-pattern leg pain, mid-back pain, and headaches that are mechanically driven. If you're early postpartum and can't tell whether something is "normal recovery" or "needs attention," that's also a fine reason to come in — we'll help you figure it out.
Call your OB, midwife, or 911 for: severe abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, decreased fetal movement, severe or sudden headache (especially with vision changes or swelling — possible preeclampsia), severe shortness of breath, signs of preterm labor, or any new neurological deficit (weakness, numbness, bladder/bowel changes). These are not chiropractic situations — they need your obstetric provider or an ER.
If you're not sure whether your symptoms are MSK or something that needs OB attention, call us at 541·753·1287 and we'll help you sort it out.
For typical pregnancies and pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain, yes — modified, lower-force techniques and proper positioning are well-tolerated and supported by the available research. We screen carefully for any contraindications and adjust the plan to where you are in pregnancy. If your OB has specific concerns, we'll talk through them and coordinate.
Any. Some patients come in early for first-trimester low-back pain or hip pain; others come in second or third trimester when SI joint and pelvic-girdle pain ramp up. Postpartum patients often start care 4–6 weeks after delivery, sometimes sooner with their OB's clearance.
Side-lying with proper pillow support is our default once you're past mid-pregnancy. Tables can be set up to accommodate the belly, and we use lower-force techniques and instrument-assisted methods rather than high-velocity manipulation when that's a better fit. We adjust the plan to keep you comfortable.
We don't make claims about turning breech babies. Some chiropractors promote specific techniques for this, but the evidence is limited and we'd rather be honest. What we can do is treat the musculoskeletal pain that's making your pregnancy harder, and coordinate with your OB or midwife on anything outside our scope.
We don't market 'labor prep' as a service. What we do offer is care for the back, pelvic, and hip pain that often shows up in late pregnancy — which makes the last weeks more bearable, and that often feels like 'preparation' even if we're not framing it that way.
We treat the musculoskeletal piece — back, pelvis, hips, and the load-sharing between them — and refer to pelvic-floor physical therapists for the pelvic-floor-specific work. The two work well together. If you're not sure what you need, come in and we'll help you sort it.
Not formally — Oregon is a direct-access state, so you can come straight in. If you'd like to discuss with your OB first, that's totally fine; many of our patients do, and we're happy to coordinate.
We're in-network with BCBS, PacificSource, Moda, Medicare, Oregon Health Plan (OHP), IHN, and VA Community Care via TriWest. Cash-pay, HSA/FSA, and a discounted time-of-service rate are also options. See our insurance page for the full breakdown.
