As with many forms of health care, people will sometimes ask: If I’m feeling good, why do I need it? In terms of chiropractic treatment, one answer could be, “Are you feeling the best you could be? Are you reaching maximum capacity?”

The spine, and the nerves that run through it and emanate from it, is the central communication route between the brain and the rest of the body. Even a slight misalignment in the individual bones that make up the spine — they’re called the vertebrae — can affect the quality of the signal that passes through them. The obstruction could be so minimal that you don’t even notice it — until it’s fixed — or could be such that it causes pain and impairs the function of a particular body part. These misalignments, in chiropractic parlance, are called subluxations.

Chiropractors are trained in, among other things, the art and science of keeping the vertebrae in proper alignment. Manually adjusting the spine is the hallmark of the chiropractor, though there are other techniques available. Of course, if you’re not feeling all that great--suffering from lower back pain for example--chiropractic treatment can be very effective in easing that condition. Professional athletes routinely use chiropractic treatment as a way to enhance performance, so if you want to enhance your lifestyle in general; visit a chiropractor.

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