Dr. Joshua Pridemore has joined Dr. Ryan Byrnes in providing musculoskeletal care for Tift Regional Health System Chiropractic Services. Dr. Byrnes has served patients at the Tift Regional Medical Center Pain Management Center in Tifton since 2014 and Dr. Pridemore will start providing care at Ben Hill Specialty Care in Fitzgerald and Sylvester Family Practice in Sylvester starting in February. New patients are being accepted at all locations.

“More people and health systems are embracing integrative medicine — and chiropractic care,” said Dr. Byrnes. “Most people don’t know that chiropractic care is the third largest health care discipline in the western world, right behind traditional medicine and dentistry. At Tift Regional, we want to expand our chiropractic outreach, so we are thrilled to have Dr. Pridemore on our team.”

A chiropractor is a neuromusculoskeletal specialist, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches, among other problems. Chiropractors do not use medications or surgery as treatments, but rather utilize natural, hands-on methods tailored to each patient’s needs along with exercise and lifestyle.

“Millions of Americans have serious musculoskeletal pain, and it’s the second most common cause of disability in the country,” said Dr. Pridemore. “It’s also the number one reason why people miss work.”

Dr. Byrnes said he and Dr. Pridemore offer evidence-based techniques and conservative treatments for both acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain. “We provide non-surgical solutions for disc herniation, comprehensive management of sports injuries and nutritional solutions for decreasing pain and inflammation,” Dr. Byrnes stated.

Although most cases can be diagnosed through discussion of the problem and physical examination, chiropractors also routinely utilize blood tests, MRI, CAT scans, X-rays, and other diagnostic tests when necessary.

“As part of Tift Regional Health System, we work in cooperation with medical physicians and other practitioners to provide high quality, well-rounded care to each patient,” said Dr. Pridemore.

Originally from Michigan, Dr. Pridemore holds a doctor of chiropractic degree from Life University in Marietta, Ga. Dr. Byrnes graduated with a doctor of chiropractic degree from the Palmer College of Chiropractic-Florida Campus, located in Port Orange, Fla.

Dr. Pridemore is accepting new patients at Ben Hill Specialty Care in Fitzgerald and Sylvester Family Practice in Sylvester. Ben Hill Specialty Care is located in Fitzgerald at 246 W. Benjamin Hill Drive. Sylvester Family Practice is located in Sylvester at 1010 West Franklin Street.

Dr. Byrnes is also accepting new patients at the TRMC Pain Management Center, located in Tifton at 1602 Madison Avenue.