The Webster technique is a chiropractic adjustment focused on the pelvis and sacrum, most commonly used during pregnancy to improve pelvic alignment and reduce physical tension that may contribute to a baby being in a breech position. Developed by chiropractor Larry Webster in the late 1970s, it targets the joints and soft tissues of the pelvis with the goal of giving the baby more room to move into a head-down position on its own.
How the Webster Technique Works
The core idea behind the technique is that misalignment in the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of your spine) can create uneven tension in the pelvis. During pregnancy, this imbalance can tighten the ligaments that support the uterus, potentially restricting the space available for the baby to turn. Chiropractors refer to this as “intrauterine constraint.”
The Webster technique addresses this in two steps. First, the chiropractor assesses pelvic alignment while you lie face down on a table with a special cushion to accommodate your belly. They check for resistance and imbalance by comparing both sides of the pelvis. Then they perform a gentle, low-force adjustment to a specific point on the sacrum, just lateral to and slightly below the second sacral tubercle. The adjustment uses a quick, shallow thrust aided by a drop mechanism built into the table, which means the force applied is minimal.
After the sacral adjustment, the chiropractor addresses soft tissue on the front of the abdomen. Specifically, they apply gentle pressure to the round ligament on the opposite side of the pelvic misalignment. The round ligaments connect the uterus to the pelvis, and releasing tension in them is meant to complement the sacral correction and reduce any pulling or twisting on the uterus. For patients who can’t lie face down, a side-lying position is used instead.
What the Technique Does Not Include
An important distinction: the Webster technique does not involve manually turning the baby. That procedure, called an external cephalic version, is a medical intervention performed by an obstetrician who physically rotates the fetus through the abdominal wall. The Webster technique works only on the mother’s pelvis and surrounding soft tissue. The idea is that by restoring balance to the pelvis, the baby gains enough freedom of movement to reposition naturally.
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), which oversees training and certification for the technique, explicitly states that chiropractors performing the Webster technique should not use Leopold’s maneuver, a hands-on method for determining fetal position typically performed by obstetricians and midwives. The technique’s scope stays within pelvic alignment, not obstetric assessment.
Success Rates and Evidence
The most widely cited data comes from a survey-based study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Researchers collected 112 cases from chiropractors who used the Webster technique on patients with breech presentations. Of those, 102 cases (roughly 92%) resulted in the baby turning to a head-down position. The same study reported an overall 82% success rate in relieving the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint.
These numbers are encouraging but come with caveats. The study relied on self-reported surveys from chiropractors rather than a controlled clinical trial, which means there was no comparison group of patients who didn’t receive the technique. Some babies turn head-down on their own as pregnancy progresses, particularly before 36 weeks. Large-scale randomized controlled trials on the Webster technique have not been conducted, so the evidence base is more limited than what you’d see for pharmaceutical interventions.
That said, the technique has been used clinically for over 30 years with consistent anecdotal reports of positive outcomes, and it carries very little physical risk given how gentle the adjustment is.
When It’s Typically Used
Most chiropractors trained in the Webster technique recommend starting between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy if a breech presentation is identified, though it can be performed at any point during pregnancy. Earlier in the third trimester, the baby still has relatively more room to turn, which is why starting sooner tends to be preferred. Sessions are usually short, around 10 to 15 minutes, and may be repeated one to three times per week depending on how the pelvis responds.
While breech presentation is the most common reason people seek out the technique, it isn’t limited to that scenario. The ICPA defines the Webster technique as an assessment and adjustment for “all weight-bearing individuals” to enhance pelvic function. Some chiropractors use it to address general pelvic pain, lower back discomfort during pregnancy, or sacroiliac joint dysfunction outside of pregnancy entirely.
Situations Where It May Not Be Effective
The technique works on musculoskeletal causes of fetal malpositioning. When a baby remains breech for other reasons, the adjustment alone may not resolve the issue. A case report in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine documented a patient whose breech presentation did not respond to the Webster technique. Further evaluation revealed oligohydramnios, a condition where amniotic fluid levels are abnormally low, leaving the baby with insufficient fluid to turn regardless of pelvic alignment.
Several other conditions can independently prevent a baby from turning: placenta previa (where the placenta covers the cervix), umbilical cord complications, premature rupture of membranes, fetal abnormalities such as hydrocephalus, and abnormal amniotic fluid levels in either direction. Chiropractors trained in the technique are advised to consider undiagnosed complications when a patient doesn’t respond as expected and to coordinate with the patient’s obstetric provider.
Finding a Certified Practitioner
Not every chiropractor is trained in the Webster technique. The ICPA offers a certification program that includes specific postgraduate coursework on the analysis, adjustment protocol, and appropriate scope of practice. If you’re looking for a practitioner, the ICPA maintains a directory of chiropractors who have completed this certification. General chiropractic training does not cover the Webster technique in detail, so certification matters if this is the specific approach you want.
During your first visit, expect the chiropractor to take a health history, ask about your pregnancy timeline and any complications, and perform a physical assessment of your pelvis before any adjustment. Most patients describe the adjustment itself as gentle, with minimal discomfort. Some feel immediate relief in their lower back or hips, while changes in fetal position, if they occur, typically happen within a few days to a couple of weeks of starting treatment.