It is very exciting for me to join Embody Health and Performance as the first chiropractor at the practice. One of the things that drew me to Embody was the collaborative model of care already in place — physical therapy, sports performance coaching, functional wellness coaching, and now chiropractic care working together in the best interest of the patient.
One of the most common questions I hear is:
“What’s the difference between chiropractic and physical therapy?”
Another common misconception is that chiropractic care is simply about “cracking bones” or putting joints “back into place.”
In reality, chiropractic care is much more connected to movement, nervous system function, and how the body adapts to stress. While chiropractic and physical therapy may use different methods, both disciplines ultimately aim to improve function, restore movement, and help the body better regulate and heal itself.
At Embody Health and Performance in Minnetonka, our goal is not to force patients into one model of care, but rather to integrate disciplines in a way that best supports the individual person sitting in front of us.
What Does a Chiropractor Actually Do?
While many people associate chiropractic care primarily with the spine or bones, I view chiropractic through the lens of the nervous system and movement.
Your nervous system — made up of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves — controls every tissue, organ, muscle, and movement within the body. The spinal cord itself is protected within the spine, which functions as a movable structure designed to bend, rotate, adapt, and absorb stress throughout daily life.
Over time, factors such as prolonged sitting, repetitive posture, stress, injuries, athletic demands, or accidents can contribute to restrictions in how joints move. When movement becomes limited, surrounding tissues can become irritated and the nervous system may become increasingly sensitive or stressed.
This can present not only as localized discomfort, but also as:
- stiffness
- reduced mobility
- altered movement patterns
- muscle tension
- headaches
- decreased athletic performance
- difficulty recovering from activity
- ongoing stress within the body
As a chiropractor, my role is to assess how the body is moving, identify areas of restriction or dysfunction, and help restore more efficient movement and nervous system regulation.
Chiropractic Care and the Nervous System
One of the biggest misconceptions about chiropractic is that it is simply about bones being “out of place.”
Personally, I prefer not to think about joints as “misaligned.” Instead, I view them as either moving well or becoming restricted.
When joints lose healthy motion, the tissues around them — muscles, ligaments, fascia, and nerves — often begin compensating. Over time, these compensations can increase stress throughout the body and influence how efficiently the nervous system communicates and adapts.
A chiropractic adjustment is not about forcing a bone from point A to point B. The goal is to restore healthy motion to a restricted area. Improving movement can reduce stress on surrounding tissues and help improve overall function.
From this perspective, chiropractic care is less about chasing symptoms and more about helping the body move and regulate the way it was designed to.
Chiropractic Adjustments Are About Restoring Motion
When most people think of a chiropractic adjustment, they often picture loud cracking or twisting. In reality, an adjustment is simply a tool used to improve movement within a joint that has become restricted.
Movement is essential for healthy tissue function. Joints, muscles, connective tissue, and the nervous system all rely on movement variability and adaptability to function well.
When motion is restored:
- muscles often relax more efficiently
- surrounding tissues experience less stress
- movement patterns may improve
- the body can adapt more effectively to daily demands
This is one reason chiropractic care is commonly used alongside physical therapy, strength training, mobility work, and recovery strategies.
At Embody, chiropractic care is not viewed as a stand-alone “quick fix,” but rather as one piece of a larger, integrated approach to helping patients improve function and resilience over time.
Chiropractic vs Physical Therapy: What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common questions patients ask.
The truth is that chiropractic and physical therapy are often far more complementary than they are different.
Both disciplines aim to:
- improve movement
- reduce pain and irritation
- restore function
- increase adaptability
- help patients return to activities they enjoy
The primary difference is often the lens and tools used within treatment.
Physical therapy frequently focuses on:
- movement retraining
- soft tissue function
- rehabilitation
- strength and stability
- balance and coordination
- exercise progression
Chiropractic care often focuses on:
- restoring joint motion
- improving mobility
- reducing nervous system irritation
- spinal and extremity movement
- movement efficiency
In many cases, patients benefit most when both approaches work together.
For example, physical therapy may help improve muscular control and stability surrounding an area, while chiropractic care may help restore movement to joints that are limiting progress. Likewise, improved soft tissue mobility and strength from physical therapy can make chiropractic adjustments more effective and longer lasting.
At Embody Health and Performance, we believe patients should not have to choose between disciplines when both may provide value.
Why Integrated Chiropractic Care Matters
I have long believed that patients often benefit from collaborative care because the body does not operate in isolated systems.
Muscles influence joints.
Joints influence nerves.
Nerves influence movement.
Movement influences tissue health.
Everything is connected.
This is why integrated care matters.
At Embody, our providers communicate and work together to help patients build individualized care plans based on their goals, lifestyle, symptoms, and movement needs.
For some people, that may mean combining chiropractic care with physical therapy. For others, it may involve sports performance coaching, recovery strategies, functional wellness coaching, or mobility training.
The goal is not simply symptom relief.
The goal is helping the body function better as a whole.
Chiropractic Care in Minnetonka at Embody Health and Performance
At Embody Health and Performance in Minnetonka, chiropractic care is integrated alongside physical therapy, sports performance coaching, and functional wellness coaching to help patients move better, recover more efficiently, and improve overall function.
Located inside The Marsh in Minnetonka, our collaborative approach allows patients to experience multiple disciplines working together toward the same outcome: helping the body move and function the way it was intended to.
Whether someone is recovering from injury, dealing with ongoing pain or stiffness, trying to improve athletic performance, or simply wanting to move and feel better, chiropractic care can serve as one valuable part of a comprehensive care plan.
As the first chiropractor at Embody, I am excited to be part of a model that prioritizes collaboration, education, movement, and individualized care.
Because ultimately, the best outcomes happen when healthcare providers work together — not separately — in the best interest of the patient.
About the Author
Dr. Breanna Tivy is a chiropractor at Embody Health and Performance in Minnetonka, MN, with more than 15 years of clinical experience. A Minnetonka native with a lifelong background in athletics, her approach blends chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, motion palpation, and Graston Technique to help patients improve movement, reduce pain, and stay active long term. Dr. Tivy enjoys working with individuals across all stages of life — from athletes training for endurance events to people simply wanting to move and feel better in everyday life. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys traveling, cooking, skiing, and spending time outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care
No. Chiropractic and physical therapy use different methods and treatment approaches, but both aim to improve movement, reduce pain, and restore function. Many patients benefit from combining both disciplines.
A chiropractic adjustment is designed to restore movement to restricted joints, reduce stress on surrounding tissues, and improve overall movement efficiency and nervous system function.
Absolutely. Chiropractic care and physical therapy are often highly complementary. At Embody Health and Performance, providers collaborate to create individualized treatment plans that may include both approaches.
No. While chiropractic is commonly associated with back pain, it may also help address movement restrictions, neck pain, headaches, stiffness, athletic recovery, posture-related discomfort, and overall movement function.
Embody Health and Performance is located inside The Marsh in Minnetonka, Minnesota, offering integrative physical therapy, chiropractic care, sports performance coaching, and functional wellness coaching.
