In general, chiropractors focus on the manipulation of the skeletal muscle systems to put the body back into natural alignment and relieve pain and tension. It isn’t so much an alternative treatment as it is considered complementary to many forms of traditional medicine. Chiropractors are highly trained doctors who have attended both undergraduate and chiropractic graduate school and have specialized in the way the body fits together. They have also been trained to use their hands to apply pressure to the body to help realign anything that has worked itself out of place.

About 22% of adults in the United States visit a chiropractor each year. The manipulation performed by a trained chiropractor helps relieve tension and restore mobility for individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions. Patients living with chronic back pain, headaches, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and even fibromyalgia have found relief through chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care is a proven way to support overall wellness. The basic belief associated with chiropractic care is that the body can often heal itself with minimal interventions. Chiropractors use non-invasive, outpatient techniques to correct issues in the support systems of the body, specifically the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. This leads to lessened pain and disability, which lowers the need for pain medication or surgery. In fact, one study looked at 174 workers who suffered lumbar spine injuries at work. Among workers who first saw a surgeon about their injuries, 42.7% eventually had surgery. Only 1.5% of workers who saw a chiropractor first eventually underwent surgery.

Chiropractic care clearly has advantages over traditional medical care when it comes to low back pain, and these advantages often apply to other types of musculoskeletal pain as well.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com