Services

Pediatric Chiropractic

At Ease Family Chiropractic, we want to help your little one find their ease. Dr. Bernicky will use gentle, hands on assessment to determine areas of tension, decreased mobility or subluxation and help to release these areas using her expert touch. Chiropractic care helps correct patterns of tension and imbalance in your baby by integrating primitive reflexes, creating a healthy range of motion from their tongue to toes, and their nervous system. Chiropractic care is fluid and respectful of your infant or child’s needs. At Ease Family Chiropractic your little one’s care may be provided while you are holding them, while nursing, they may lay on a specially designed Chiropractic pregnancy and infant pillow, while playing on the floor or in Dr. Bernicky’s arms.

Oral Dysfunction

As parents, we naturally want to give our babies the best start in life, and sometimes, challenges arise that are hard to spot. One challenge many parents and caregivers face is oral dysfunction, sometimes caused by tethered oral tissues (TOTs), such as tongue-tie or lip-tie. Tethered oral tissues occur when the tissues in the mouth—particularly under the tongue or lips—are too tight or restrictive, affecting a baby’s ability to feed, speak, move and breathe with ease. The frustration of a baby struggling to latch during breast or bottle feeding, coupled with constant crying and signs of discomfort, can be heartbreaking for parents. However, recognizing the signs early and seeking proper support can be life-changing.

Tethered or tense oral tissues can significantly impact a baby’s oral function. Babies with TOTs may have trouble breastfeeding or bottle feeding, leading to poor weight gain, prolonged feeding times, and even colic-like presentation. This creates a stressful environment for both the baby and the parents. Fortunately, with the growing awareness around oral dysfunction in infants, many healthcare providers and lactation consultants are helping families find the care they need.

Dr. Bernicky is a Pediatric Certified Chiropractor trained to diagnose oral dysfunction and how to support healthy growth and development. Not every tie needs a release, and we want to stress the importance of establishing healthy oral function before releasing tissues that may appear to be tied. Oral dysfunction left unmanaged may result in further health challenges later in life, such as sleep apnea, headache, snoring, teeth grinding in sleep, bedwetting, behavioural concerns, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, hyperactivity, decreased blood oxygen, high palate and associated orthodontic issues, speech issues, high blood pressure, and more (Ghaheri, 2015).

We recommend bodywork and gentle Chiropractic care for anyone experiencing oral dysfunction to ensure healthy communication between brain and body. Babies learn to suck, swallow and breathe early in the womb and have an established pattern of movement when they are born. Enhancing tongue function and efficiency by improving communication between the brain and body supports healthy growth and development of the jaw, tongue and supportive muscles.

The journey through oral dysfunction and tethered oral tissues can feel overwhelming, and we are here to help. When identified early, babies can thrive, and parents can rest easier knowing their child is on the path to a healthier, happier future.

Movement Analysis for Children

Each practice member will undergo a gait analysis and functional screens to determine the root cause of dysfunction or pain.

While different for infants and children, all practice members go through individual analysis. Children need to develop functional movement patterns. The way we learn to move from birth establishes all of our movement patterns.

A thorough examination can determine if your child’s patterns are functional and give more information as to whether they are reaching their milestones.

Dr. Bernicky uses a chiropractic evaluation to assess pediatric practice members. With that information, Dr. Bernicky can determine a treatment plan for your child to ensure that they are as healthy and functional as possible.

Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding can be a beautiful and challenging journey for many mothers, one that goes far beyond the act of feeding a baby. It’s a process deeply rooted in connection, nourishment, and emotional well-being. For some, breastfeeding comes naturally, and for many others, it can be fraught with difficulties like latching issues, pain, or concerns over milk supply. This is where timely breastfeeding support becomes invaluable. From lactation consultants to Chiropractors trained in pediatric and postpartum care, to doulas, family members and community groups, support systems play a crucial role in empowering new mothers to embrace their breastfeeding journey with confidence and resilience. The presence of these allies reminds mothers that they are not alone on this path, and that there is hope in them meeting their breastfeeding goals.

Emotional and practical support can make all the difference in a mother’s breastfeeding experience. Dr. Bernicky is a trained Perinatal and Postpartum Chiropractor, who understands firsthand the importance of support through the breastfeeding journey. Providing care for infants and mothers so they can function healthfully and efficiently is an important part of her clinical practice. Research shows that mothers who receive consistent support are more likely to breastfeed for longer periods and experience fewer complications. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding offers numerous benefits for both the mother and the baby, from boosting the baby’s immune system to reducing the mother’s risk of certain cancers, and those benefits hinge on the mother’s ability to overcome challenges with the right help at the right time (AAP, 2023).

At Ease Family Chiropractic, breastfeeding support is about creating a network of care, understanding, and encouragement. When mothers feel supported, they are better equipped to nurture their babies and themselves. This journey isn’t meant to be done alone, and with love, guidance, and resources, we can help more mothers meet their breastfeeding goals.

The Webster’s Technique

Dr. Bernicky is a Perinatal Certified Chiropractor trained in the Webster’s technique by the ICPA (International Pediatric Chiropractic Association).

The Webster’s Technique is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment specifically created to balance the muscles, ligaments and joints in the pelvis to support an optimal pregnancy and birth. Throughout pregnancy, many normal physical changes occur. We want to support a healthy pregnancy by removing tension in the mother and creating an optimal environment for the baby to grow and thrive.

Webster’s technique addresses 4 factors we must coordinate for birth: The Power, Passage, Passenger and Psyche.

Power

The nervous system controls and coordinates all of our body’s functions; this includes the muscles of the pelvic floor. Adjustments help to improve brain-to-body communication by decreasing nerve interference so that you can have healthy function and coordination of the pelvic floor through pregnancy and birth. The most important thing our pelvic floor can do while birthing is RELAX, which happens with healthy communication, coordination + function.

Passenger

While we do not adjust to change a baby’s position, Dr. Natalie do address muscles and ligaments attached to the womb. Releasing tension creates space within the uterus and pelvis, which allows the baby more room to grow and get in its best position for birth.

Passage

Adjustments help align the pelvic bones to decrease intra-uterine constraint, which can affect baby getting into their ideal position in the womb. We work to balance tension in the muscles and ligaments surrounding the pelvis, which helps the pelvic muscles relax, allowing full opening of the birth canal.

Psyche

We know that pregnancy can be challenging, both physically and mentally. We also know that our physical and mental health are intimately connected. Caring for one’s physical health can help to unburden concerns that may arise through pregnancy in addition to preparing for birth. Birth is a time of physical and mental surrender, and preparing for your birth with compassionate, pregnancy-trained professionals can make all the difference in your journey.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient branch of Chinese medicine in which fine, filiform needles are inserted into the skin at specific points to provide a therapeutic effect. No drugs are injected, as the needles provide the therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture can encourage natural healing, reduce pain, and improve emotional and physical function. It has been used safely and effectively for thousands of years and can be helpful if healing has plateaued. The effects of acupuncture are cumulative, and results are generally achieved between 4 to 10 visits.

Chiropractic

Chiropractors are Primary Healthcare Providers who are trained to assess and diagnose diseases or disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Your nervous system is composed of your brain, spinal cord, spinal and peripheral nerves which extend and coordinate every organ, muscle, tissue and cell in your body. They assess and care for the nervous system by removing interference, known as subluxation. By adjusting, we improve your nervous system’s function, decreasing inflammation and improving communication and biomechanical function. This allows you to function with greater coherence and improved ability to heal, move and self-regulate.

Soft Tissue Techniques - Myofascial Release

When a muscle, tendon, or ligament is too tight, painful, or does not function well, Dr. Bernicky will use a soft tissue technique to help enhance care.

Dr. Bernicky has training in various soft tissue techniques:

Active Release Technique (ART),
Graston technique (GT),
Gua Sha
Lymphatics.

ART involves breaking up adhesions present in soft tissues by having the practice members go through various motions while the doctor applies specific pressure to the area receiving care.

GT uses instruments rather than hands to apply pressure to break up adhesions.

Gua Sha is also an instrument-assisted soft tissue technique to improve function.

McKenzie Protocol

Robin McKenzie was a physical therapist who spent his career dedicated to treating patients suffering from discogenic pain.

Patients who suffer from disc-related pain tend to have both movement and function loss due to pain and physical barriers related to disc protrusion or herniations.

When the centre portion of a vertebral disc is under too much pressure, it bulges through the cracks in the disc’s outer part, resulting in pain. If this bulge puts pressure on the nerves surrounding the disc, it can cause radiating pain down to the hands and feet.

If left untreated, this can eventually lead to loss of muscle strength and tone.

Utilizing the McKenzie Diagnosis and treatment approach, practice members learn self-treatment protocols for returning to function.

Nerve Mobilization "Flossing"

Nerve mobilization or “flossing” is a technique where practitioners can help practice members achieve a full, pain-free range of motion by eliminating adhesions or “sticky spots” along the course of a nerve.

If nerves are unable to glide without obstruction, the result is pain, tingling, or loss of function. By utilizing various nerve mobilization techniques, Dr. Bernicky can help alleviate the pain associated with entrapped nerves and assist practice members returning to pain-free movement.

Functional Rehabilitation

Adjustments are delivered in office. Practice members are encouraged to help themselves by participating in their care through various rehabilitative exercises at home.

Dr. Bernicky has observed that practice members who are active participants in their care and show up for their adjustments tend to have better outcomes and are more satisfied with their care.

Nutrition

While the standard Canadian diet is very pro-inflammatory, Dr. Natalie promotes an anti-inflammatory diet to her practice members.

Inflammation is a crucial contributor to pain and an essential factor in most health conditions affecting the population today (cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc.).

Educating practice members on proper diet choices and providing appropriate supplement recommendations can ensure long-lasting results concerning pain and give a nutritional basis for a healthier, active lifestyle.

Adjunct Recommendations

In addition to hands-on therapy, Dr. Bernicky also recommends taking on a more embodied approach to self-care, including meditation.

Dr. Bernicky has long been a Ten Percent Happier app user and highly recommends it as an additional stress management tool. The benefits of meditation are huge and extend well beyond yourself. Who knows, you just might like it!

For more information about the chiropractic and additional treatments we provide at Ease Family Chiropractic, contact us today.