When one encounters the phrase “Webster Technique”, they tend to equate it with a general term used to refer to pregnancy chiropractic. This differentiation holds great importance, and learning about it allows future mothers to ask pertinent questions in their first visit. The Webster Technique is a very particular form of assessment procedure with a specific way of analysing, a particular method of adjusting and also a specific way of getting certified for the procedure.
What the Technique Is Designed to Assess?
A Webster technique chiropractor centres their assessment on the sacrum and sacroiliac joints; these are the bones at the lower end of the spine that join the spine and the pelvis on either side. Pregnancy, with its hormonal changes that affect ligament laxity and the increased load on the pelvis, may lead to dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint and also sacral subluxation, which is a dysfunction in the sacrum. This is a dysfunction in the functioning of the sacrum and therefore in the mechanics of the pelvis.
The Analysis and Adjustment Process
The Webster Technique has a structural component and a consideration of the surrounding soft tissue component. The structure component assesses the alignment and mobility of the sacrum and how it relates to the muscles and ligaments surrounding it. The technique applies the correct contact point and force direction which is unique to this technique and not based on spinal manipulation techniques generally. That is exactly what makes this certificate distinct from general chiropractic practices since practitioners need to be assessed for their analysis and practical skills.
Things to Consider Before a Visit
Before deciding to visit a health care provider, pregnant women should inquire how the Webster Technique would be incorporated into the entire pregnancy care process. A chiropractic physician should consider factors such as a patient’s medical history, symptoms and pregnancy status prior to any evaluation or manipulation. It would be helpful to provide information about past conditions related to pelvic and spinal areas, ongoing treatments and concerns related to pain management during the treatment. Good communication among various physicians caring for the pregnant woman may facilitate this procedure. In addition, patients should know what the procedure entails and have an opportunity to ask questions prior to the treatment.
What the Certification Actually Involves?
A specific postgraduate program is mandatory in order to become Webster certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Currently, this certification involves a 13-hour course including the analytic component, adjustment technique and clinical reasoning behind it. Written and practical components make up the certification procedure and the Webster Certification is different from general pregnancy chiropractic experience. Thus, asking a chiropractor about the certification instead of the pregnancy experience in general is a justified question.
When Women Typically Seek This Approach?
Women usually come for treatment in cases of sacroiliac joint pain, pelvic girdle dysfunction or pelvic instability in pregnancy. Those problems often arise during the second and third trimesters when the pressure on the pelvis becomes especially significant due to the progress of pregnancy. This technique is performed by applying gentle force and is adjusted to the individual’s condition in each specific trimester. Detailed history and assessment of the patient at the first appointment are the right first steps. Then, the chiropractor can give an opinion regarding the appropriateness of the technique.
The Difference Between Certified and General Pregnancy Care
General pregnancy care and Webster Technique are not the same things. The former includes a wide variety of musculoskeletal complaints during any trimester. There are many chiropractors who successfully perform pregnancy care without Webster certification. In cases of specific involvement of the sacrum and sacroiliac joint in the problem, it would be better to apply a more targeted analysis which is possible for the Webster-certified practitioner.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, maternity care in Australia increasingly includes a multidisciplinary approach, with allied health practitioners forming part of the broader care team alongside obstetricians and midwives.
