Gentle Touch for Mountain View: Chiropractor Specializes in Tiniest Patients

Burgess, who’s licensed by the state of Alaska, says focusing on families and pediatric care has “always been a passion of mine.” Her practice incorporates massage and reiki, part of what Burgess’ former Fairbanks colleague Alana McLaughlin, a naturopathic doctor, calls her “very holistic minded” approach to care.

Burgess says adjustments focus not just on reducing discomfort but helping ensure a good pelvic position for labor. Pelvic position, in turn, affects the uterus. “The uterus being pliable and able to move around… is super important… to having an uneventful labor,” says Burgess.

For prenatal patients, she develops treatment plans based on what trimester they’re in and how initial adjustments go. If treatment helps during the first and second trimester, Burgess says she might taper until the third trimester. “It really depends on what they’re coming in with.”

With pediatric patients like infants, Burgess says chiropractic care involves “very light, gentle touches.” She’s helped patients with conditions like colic, latching difficulties, ear infections, and infant torticollis. “Infant adjusting is way different… because babies’ bones are so small and not fully fused in any way,” she says.

Because the skull is so pliable, a baby’s position in the uterus and the nature of the birth can sometimes reshape cranial bones in ways that affect use of the mouth.

Underlying Issues

McLaughlin, who has also relocated from Fairbanks, says Burgess’ pediatric chiropractic care helped a patient she referred for issues with constipation. She doesn’t recall if it took more than one appointment or not, but she says Burgess helped the infant return to normal bowel movements.

Burgess says sacral adjustments can sometimes help with digestive issues. “Really, it’s about knowing what nerves connect to what,” she says.

Some of Burgess’ older patients take a similarly light touch. “It’s the same as with kids: you don’t have to do as much to get their nervous system to respond to something,” she says. “There is a way to adjust them that’s gentle and effective.”

In some cases, she’ll also suggest patients seek other types of care. “If I know that I’m not it for someone, I will definitely make a referral,” Burgess says. With a recent patient of McLaughlin’s who had some food-sensitivity issues, she says Burgess suggested some testing that might help pinpoint the root cause.

To McLaughlin, that shows Burgess’ commitment to helping resolve the underlying issue, rather than making repeated adjustments for an issue that’s really a symptom of something else.

Burgess says her services are covered for most people with insurance. She is also working on getting in-network for Medicaid. She takes cash payments through a partnership with ChiroHealthUSA, which offers discounted services with a $49/year annual plan.

In addition to appointments at her practice, she also teaches at the Oriental Healing Arts Center in Spenard. During November, she goes next door to Massage Now! for pop-up events on Saturdays, and she does weekly Saturday pop-ups around the city the rest of the year.

Gentle Roots Chiropractic is located at 4210 Mountain View Drive, Suite 400. The practice is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday appointments are available by request.