The word “chiropractic” comes from the greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (practice), which aptly describes this treatment approach. Chiropractic therapy (or chiropractic care) is a type of manual or hands-on therapy performed by a licensed chiropractor (doctor of chiropractic, or DC) to improve musculoskeletal health.

Chiropractic therapy focuses on treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. It’s most often used to treat various types of pain.

Chiropractors perform adjustments or manipulations to the spine and sometimes other parts of the body to correct alignment, improve motion and physical function, and support the body’s ability to heal itself. It’s believed that realigning the spine reduces pressure on the central nervous system. Chiropractors also use mobilization to increase the body’s range of motion. This technique involves slow manipulation, movement, and stretching of joints and muscles.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractors use spinal manipulation to “restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become ... restricted in their movement as a result of a tissue injury.” By restoring joint mobility, chiropractors help relieve pain and muscle tightness, which allows tissues to heal.

Pain relief from chiropractic adjustments may have other secondary benefits as well, particularly improving depression (depression and pain are intimately linked) and daily physical activity, which may have a cascading positive effect on general health.

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