A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) commonly sees patients who suffer from low back and neck pain, joint pain, or headaches. DCs are also called chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, and they restore and maintain balance in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. A DC attends a 4-year nationally accredited doctoral program and must pass a national board exam in order to obtain a license to practice. Once in practice, doctors of chiropractic are regulated by state licensing boards and they must participate in continuing education on an annual basis to maintain those licenses.
Chiropractic treatments are a drug-free, surgery-free natural form of health care and are often referred to as alternative medicine. The treatments involve spinal manipulation, rehabilitative exercises, and other therapies to counteract muscle, skeletal and nervous system imbalances that negatively impact a patient’s overall health. Additionally, many chiropractors provide dietary and nutritional counseling and recommendations as part of the overall treatment approach. A typical visit to our chiropractor in Knoxville, TN includes a patient exam, diagnosis and treatment. Our doctor will gather a detailed assessment of the patient’s description, duration and frequency of symptoms, will discuss family and work history, and will likely do x-rays to look at the spine or other joints.