Frequently Asked Questions

Please give us a call, send an email, or book your first visit online. From there, you will fill out your paperwork so we can get to know you better even before meeting. We require a minimum 24 hour policy for scheduling appointments, filling out paperwork, and confirming your appointment time. This ensures we are prepared to take care of you.

If there is an emergency, please call or email ASAP for further assistance.

Come as you are! This is a judgement-free zone and we want you to be comfortable (sweat pants and a t-shirt are perfect!)

Shakti Chiropractic utilizes a variety of techniques that are not always covered by insurance companies. While we are a self-pay office, we offer affordable care packages options.

Although we are not in-network with insurance companies and do not accept accident cases, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance provider.

Absolutely! Chiropractic care is beneficial at any stage of pregnancy, from pre-conception to postpartum. Whether you have received chiropractic care in the past or are brand new to it, adjustments are modified to be safe and effective during pregnancy.

In case you’re wondering, we have pillows to support you while you’re laying on your belly. Enjoy the bliss with us!

Chiropractic care for babies is extremely gentle and safe, especially when your chiropractor has specific training in pediatrics. There is no “twisting” and “cracking” of their necks. The pressure used is as light as checking if a tomato or avocado is ripe!

Yes! Dr. Shivani values health and wellness at all ages and is here to support your journey, no matter where you are in life.

You aren’t the only one! Many people are afraid of the noises or are worried about the twisting and force. While many love the noise and traditional hands-on adjustments, Dr. Shivani can also work on the full body without the noise to keep you comfortable.

Fun fact, the “popping and cracking” you hear is called a “cavitation,” which is gas escaping the joint capsules. The air pressure changes as joints move around.

Yes. Prenatal chiropractic care is safe and effective at every stage of pregnancy when performed by a trained, Webster-certified chiropractor. At Shakti Chiropractic, we use pregnancy-specific tables, side-lying positions, and gentle, low-force techniques designed to protect both you and your baby. Major reviews of the research show adverse effects are extremely rare. Many OBs, midwives, and doulas refer expectant moms to chiropractors for relief from back pain, hip pain, sciatica, and pelvic discomfort throughout pregnancy.

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic adjustment used during pregnancy to balance the pelvis, sacrum, and surrounding ligaments. By reducing tension in the round ligaments and restoring pelvic alignment, the Webster Technique helps create more room for the baby to move into the optimal head-down position for birth. It is one of the most well-researched prenatal chiropractic techniques and is recognized by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) as a safe, gentle option for pregnant women in any trimester.

You can start prenatal chiropractic care at any point during pregnancy — including the first trimester. Many moms begin in the second trimester when postural changes and ligament looseness become more noticeable, but earlier is even better if you have a history of back pain, pelvic pain, or previous difficult births. Starting early helps maintain pelvic balance and reduces common pregnancy discomforts before they build up.

Chiropractors do not turn babies. What the Webster Technique does is restore pelvic balance and reduce intrauterine constraint so your baby has the space and freedom to move into the head-down position on their own. Published case studies report a high rate of breech resolution when Webster Technique is used, especially before 34 weeks. If you have a breech presentation, we recommend starting care as soon as possible alongside your OB or midwife.

Most expecting moms benefit from visits every 2–4 weeks minimum early in pregnancy, increasing to weekly or twice-weekly in the final 4–6 weeks. Frequency depends on your symptoms, baby's position, and history. The goal of regular prenatal chiropractic care is to keep your pelvis balanced, your nervous system functioning well, and your body prepared for an easier labor and delivery.

Yes. Lower back pain, sciatica, hip pain, and rib pain are some of the most common reasons moms come to Shakti Chiropractic during pregnancy. As your belly grows, your center of gravity shifts and pelvic ligaments loosen, which often irritates the sciatic nerve and strains the lower back. Gentle, pregnancy-specific adjustments restore proper alignment, relieve nerve pressure, and reduce pain — without medication.

Yes. Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) often respond very well to prenatal chiropractic care. These conditions are usually caused by uneven pelvic alignment combined with hormonal ligament laxity. The Webster Technique and gentle pelvic adjustments help re-center the pelvis, reduce strain on the pubic symphysis and SI joints, and ease the sharp groin, hip, and tailbone pain that comes with SPD.

Research suggests it can. Studies have found that women receiving regular chiropractic care during pregnancy often report shorter labor times, less need for interventions, and easier deliveries — especially first-time moms. The reason is mechanical: a well-aligned pelvis gives baby more room to descend and rotate, and a balanced nervous system supports better uterine function during labor.

Absolutely — postpartum is one of the most important times for chiropractic care. Pregnancy, labor, and delivery place enormous stress on the pelvis, spine, and core. New moms also spend long hours nursing, bending, and carrying, which often leads to neck pain, upper back pain, and wrist pain. Postpartum chiropractic care helps your pelvis and spine return to balance, supports core and pelvic floor recovery, and reduces tension built up from feeding postures.

Yes. Pediatric chiropractic care is gentle, safe, and very different from adult adjustments. For babies, we use no more pressure than you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato — about the weight of a nickel. Our techniques are tailored to your child's age, size, and stage of development. Research and decades of clinical experience show pediatric chiropractic to have an excellent safety record when performed by a chiropractor trained in pediatric care.

Newborns can be checked by a pediatric chiropractor within the first hours of life. Even uncomplicated births put significant pressure on a baby's head, neck, and spine, and interventions like vacuum, forceps, or C-section can add additional strain. A gentle newborn check at Shakti Chiropractic looks for tension patterns that may affect feeding, sleep, head shape, and movement — and addresses them before they turn into bigger issues.

A pediatric adjustment looks nothing like an adult adjustment. There is no twisting, cracking, or popping. We use sustained light pressure, gentle holds, and specific contacts on your child's spine and cranium — often while they are being held, nursing, or sleeping. Most parents are surprised by how subtle the work looks. The pressure used on an infant is roughly the same as testing a ripe tomato.

Yes. Colic, reflux, gas, and constipation are some of the most common reasons families bring their babies to Shakti Chiropractic. These symptoms are often linked to tension in the upper neck, mid-back, and diaphragm — areas closely connected to the nerves that control digestion. Gentle chiropractic adjustments help release that tension, improve nervous system function, and often lead to noticeable improvements in fussiness, spit-up, and sleep within a few visits.

Yes. Babies who struggle to latch, prefer one breast, clamp down, or fall asleep at the breast often have tension or restriction in the neck, jaw, or cranial bones. Gentle pediatric chiropractic adjustments restore proper motion to these areas so your baby can open wide, turn evenly to both sides, and coordinate suck-swallow-breathe more easily. Many lactation consultants and IBCLCs work closely with chiropractors for exactly this reason.

Yes. Torticollis (head tilt or strong side preference) and plagiocephaly (flat spot) very often respond well to pediatric chiropractic care. Both are typically caused by tightness and restriction in the neck and upper spine that limit how your baby turns their head. Gentle adjustments, cranial work, and at-home tummy time and positioning strategies help restore full, balanced movement so the head can round out and posture can develop symmetrically.

Yes. Chiropractic care is an important part of tongue and lip tie care, both before and after a release. Tension in the neck, jaw, and cranial bones often accompanies ties and can keep babies from using their newly freed range of motion. Working alongside your release provider, IBCLC, and bodyworker, we help your baby's neck, jaw, and palate move freely so the release actually translates into better feeding.

Many parents bring children to Shakti Chiropractic for recurrent ear infections, and the results are often dramatic. Ear infections are usually caused by fluid that fails to drain from the eustachian tubes. Tension in the upper neck and cranial bones can limit that drainage. Gentle chiropractic adjustments help restore proper motion, improve drainage, and support a healthy immune response — often reducing how often kids get sick.

It depends on what we are working on. For specific issues like colic, torticollis, or post-tie release, we typically see infants once or twice a week for a short period until things resolve. For wellness and developmental support, many families come every 2–4 weeks. Kids tend to respond quickly because their bodies are adaptable, so most pediatric care plans are shorter than adult ones.

Sacro Occipital Technique, or SOT, is a comprehensive, low-force chiropractic system developed by Dr. M.B. DeJarnette in 1925. SOT focuses on the relationship between the sacrum (base of the spine) and the occiput (base of the skull), and how they work together to circulate cerebrospinal fluid and support the nervous system. SOT chiropractors use specific indicators to categorize each patient and deliver precise, gentle adjustments to the pelvis, spine, cranium, and even organs and extremities.

SOT is much gentler and more analytical than traditional chiropractic. Instead of high-velocity manual adjustments, SOT uses padded wedges called blocks placed under the pelvis, allowing your body's own weight and gravity to slowly correct alignment. Treatment also addresses the cranium, TMJ, organs, and extremities — not just the spine. This makes SOT especially well-suited for pregnant women, babies, kids, sensitive patients, and anyone who prefers a low-force approach.

SOT can help with a wide range of conditions, including low back pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, neck pain, TMJ dysfunction, dizziness and vertigo, pelvic pain, digestive issues, and concussion recovery. Because SOT looks at the whole body — cranium, spine, pelvis, organs, and extremities — it is often a great option for complex cases that have not responded well to other care, as well as for pregnancy and pediatric concerns.

SOT blocks are firm, padded wedges placed under specific points on your pelvis while you lie face-down or face-up. They use the weight of your body and gravity to slowly unwind pelvic distortion and restore balance between your sacrum and occiput. The adjustment is so gentle that many patients describe it as more like resting than being adjusted — but the structural changes are real and measurable.

Yes — SOT is one of the safest, gentlest chiropractic systems available, which is exactly why it is so popular for prenatal and pediatric care. The technique uses no cracking or twisting; it relies on gravity, body weight, and precise light contacts. Pregnant moms can be blocked comfortably in a side-lying or modified position, and SOT pediatric protocols use feather-light touch designed specifically for babies and children.

No, you do not need a referral. You can book directly with our office as a new patient. That said, we love working alongside OBs, midwives, doulas, pediatricians, IBCLCs, pelvic floor PTs, and other providers — and we are happy to coordinate care if your provider has specific concerns or recommendations.

Your first visit includes a thorough health history, a gentle exam tailored to whether you are pregnant, postpartum, a child, or an adult, and time to talk through your goals. In the second visit, we explain everything we find in clear language and, in most cases, deliver your first adjustment the same day. You will leave with a clear care plan and at-home recommendations specific to you or your child.