What qualifications are required to provide chiropractic care in Australia?

Australian chiropractors are five year university trained, are government registered, and government regulated health professionals.

To become a registered chiropractor in Australia you must have studied an accredited 5-year chiropractic program conducted at a University within Australia, or have completed an accredited program overseas that satisfies the requirements set by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority.

A chiropractor’s education never ends. After entering practice, all chiropractors must complete continuing professional development courses and seminars to upgrade and improve their skills and to stay current on the latest scientific research.

Source: Chiropractors’ Association of Australia

Is chiropractic treatment safe?

Chiropractic is widely recognised as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise for 24 to 36 hours after treatment. 

How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilises the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?

Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound – it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. The adjustment is a painless procedure. If a person is already in pain any movement of course can be uncomfortable, but the adjustments are designed to ultimately reduce and eliminate the pain.

I don't want to be "cracked" so can you still treat me?

Yes. Some people don't like the "cracking" or "popping" sounds which accompanies a Diversified Chiropractic Adjustment. We can work around this with a more gentle approach such as activator, drop piece and pelvic blocking techniques.

Why is each chiropractor so different?

Every chiropractor is a little bit different because there are so many techniques and ways of treating the same problem. But on the other hand, it makes it very difficult for people to find a chiropractor similar to their previous one or understand what their new chiropractor actually does. If you're previous chiropractor did some sort of deep tissue or active release or exercises with you then you'll probably feel very comfortable in our office.

Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from a medical doctor/GP?

No, a patient does not need to be referred by a GP before visiting a doctor of chiropractic. Following a consultation and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate health care provider.

Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

Yes, depending on the age of the child, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient and in the case of children, very gentle.

Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?

The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits necessary. Your chiropractor should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

Can I adjust myself? I sometimes crack my own back or neck..

No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a “popping” sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous.

 Does doing exercise give the same affect as getting adjusted?

No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints.