Nancy Merrill, a chiropractor for over 20 years, has opened her own office at 21 Common Drive in Boothbay.

Merrill Family Chiropractic has been up and running since late January. Merrill shares the space with her husband, Frank Merrill, a licensed massage therapist for over 20 years, and office manager Elaine Raymonds.

Nancy Merrill is also a certified ultrasound technologist. She practiced chiropractic therapy at Ron Bouffard’s office in Boothbay Harbor for nine years.

The office space in Boothbay includes a room for physical exams and chiropractic adjustments, and another for physical therapy, a common adjustment follow-up to massage the soft tissue, using electrical stem stimulation and ultrasound. She also uses hot and cold packs when needed, and teaches therapeutic exercises if the patient requires it.

Merrill uses some instruments, along with her hands, to make the procedures gentler and less painful than the common practice of maneuvering the body into certain unusual positions. “When I use these instruments I don't have to turn the lower back and put someone in a pretzel position, that can be uncomfortable.”

According to Merrill, most adjustments done by chiropractors are on the back, or spinal cord; that's where the nervous system branches out from, and connects to every cell in the body, she said.

“Your brain communicates with every cell, and if there is any interference along those lines of communication, then you’re not going to function as well.”

Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 207-633-3194.