Chiropractic Care Enhances Perinatal Quality of Life in Women, New Study Finds
Originally published: 2025-06-14
New research highlights the importance of spinal health and nervous system function in emotional and physical well-being during pregnancy and postpartum
June 1, 2025—In the latest issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic (Volume 2025, Pages 45-57), a newly published study sheds light on the connection between chiropractic care and the quality of life of women during and after pregnancy. The study, authors examine how spinal health and nervous system integrity influence physical and emotional outcomes in the perinatal period.
Study Overview
This 5-year retrospective review evaluated 33 women who received chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies and into the postpartum period. Utilizing validated instruments—the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the PROMIS-29 Profile—the researchers tracked changes in emotional and physical health. Results indicated that although average depression scores did not show significant group-level shifts, several women demonstrated changes in depression risk, emphasizing the importance of individualized screening. More notably, physical quality of life—especially regarding pain and function—declined significantly after birth, reinforcing the physical toll of the postpartum period.
The study supports chiropractic care as a conservative approach that may positively impact perinatal well-being by correcting vertebral subluxations—spinal misalignments that interfere with nervous system function. The authors note that chiropractors do not treat depression or postpartum conditions directly but instead focus on the location and reduction of vertebral subluxations to allow the body to heal and function optimally. “The nervous system controls and coordinates all functions of the body,” the study explains, “and structural shifts in the spine can occur that obstruct the nerves and interfere with their function. These structural shifts…called vertebral subluxations…are what chiropractors correct.”
Future Research and Considerations
This research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting chiropractic’s role in supporting physical and emotional resilience during the perinatal period. The authors call for continued surveillance of quality of life in pregnant and postpartum women under chiropractic care and recommend further investigation with larger, prospective studies.
For more information on the study and chiropractic care during pregnancy, visit the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, Volume 2025.
