There is a new doctor in town, and for her, chiropractic is a family tradition. Dr. Meghan Palmer, of Palmer Chiropractic recently opened her office at 200 E. Main Street in Rogersville and is following in the footsteps of her father, a chiropractor in Sneedville, and her brother who practices in Florida.

    While many people may associate chiropractors with back pain, Dr. Palmer says that there are many reasons to get treatment, including allergies, different illnesses, or encouraging healthy pregnancies.

    "Everything that happens in your body affects everything else in your body and the other end of that is if you have a symptom in your body, it's not just that one thing that went wrong," Palmer said. "There are always wider implications for what happens in your body. So with chiropractic, in a nutshell, your brain needs to communicate with your body."

    First time patients to Dr. Palmer's office will find that their first appointment includes conversation about their medical history in order for her to best treat the individual.

    "The first visit is about getting to know you, it's a conversation," Palmer said. "What's been going on in their life until now or if they have an injury that they are concerned about. I do an adjustment on the first visit where I will feel a patient's back and look for certain things including sore spots or muscles that may be trying to pull bones back into place."

The adjustment is administered by hand and chiropractors actually put a small thrust into a patient's spine.
"When you are watching it, or experiencing it for the first time, it can be alarming, and you may think, 'what is this person doing to me, but it's extremely gentle."

    Palmer states that every person's experience is unique to the individual, with some people at first unable to notice a difference, while others have a sudden burst of energy, or tiredness.

    "We take into account that you are unique, whole person," Palmer said. "There is no magic pill for you."

    Palmer Chiropractic is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Palmer accepts walk-in clients, but to make an appointment, call (423) 312-3747.