Spinal Dysfunction  can be caused by multiple stressors. These physical stressors are categorized as follows;

• Accidents
• Falls
• Slips
• Car accidents
• Sport injuries
• Prolonged 'abnormal' postures (eg, sitting at work desk for several hours on a daily basis)
• Repetitive overuse movements or positions (eg, lifting, bending, twisting)

Some other common conditions, apart from neck pain and low back pain, that chiropractic can help include jaw pain, headaches, tendonitis of shoulder or elbow, rib dysfunction, knee and foot/ankle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, pins and needles and/or numbness down arms or legs that source from the spine. We work as an integrated team as there is often co management with our Myotherapists - Daniel or Suzie.

Initial consultation is 30 minutes, this includes history taking, a full thorough assessment and treatment, if applicable. Our new patient form can be downloaded from here 

Follow up visits take approximately 10 minutes where treatment is provided, as well as  take home advice, with heat or cold recommendations or an exercise prescription. If needed, we have long consultations, if the chiropractor and the patient feels this is required. 

Initial consultation includes a full spinal and systems history, a thorough spinal assessment, orthopedic and neurological tests. If applicable, a chiropractic treatment is also implemented. If X-rays are required, we bulk bill spinal X-rays at Knox Private Hospital.

In history taking, information is gathered relating to your chief complaint, and other general questions are asked in relation to your overall health, diet, sleep and posture. This is done in order to gather as much information as possible to assist us in correctly  diagnosing and providing the best management plan as possible.

The spinal assessment requires the chiropractor to check global movement as well as local movement patterns. The tissue is further challenged by completing orthopaedic testing. Neurological assessment involves checking different windows of the nervous system using, for instance myotomes, dermatomes and reflex testing. 

This most importantly leads to the best results for the patient as it is a complete, thorough examination.

Treatment duration will vary. After the first consultation you will know the ballpark of how long you will need to be seen at the centre. In the second consultation, we will complete  a Report of Findings where we detail a structured care plan. A progressive review would be completed after approximately six weeks of management. 

Adjustments are a specific, non-invasive force or motion applied to the spine to restore movement and improve function. This is provided by hand or by instrument, and applied as gently as possible. 

Chiropractors have completed a five years of university training to be able to diagnose, manage or where appropriately refer, any patient that walks into our rooms. If we think your care is best in the hands of another health professional, we will happily refer. 

Most health funds recognise chiropractic in their extras cover. The centre houses the on-the-spot Hicaps claim facility so patients simply pay the gap on the consultation. The rebate varies with different funds and the level of your extras cover. We recommend you speak to your health insurance provider if you want to determine your actual gap payment. 

The centre also works with GPs with the Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM). The new medicare allied health item means for suitable patients they would have a rebate of  $53.80  for up to five consultations, depending on what is allocated by your GP.This medicare benefit only applies for complex, chronic spinal cases.