1. Firstly, our Geelong chiropractor will try to understand the nature of your neck pain, how it started and the impact it has on you.
2. Our Geelong chiropractor would perform a thorough assessment of your muscles, spinal joints and nerves around the neck area, a posture analysis and other testing rule out serious injury or pathology.
3. If clinically indicated, referral for further investigations, tests or scans will be made.
4. We will have an in-depth discussion around the nature of your specific condition, the treatment options available to you and we will map out a care plan to get you back on track as quickly as possible.
5. If appropriate to do so, we will start your treatment from the first visit to help relieve pain, promote better movement and get your road-to-recovery underway.

1. Understand – Our Geelong chiropractor will want to understand your particular condition, the impact it has had on your life and what you’d like to get back to.
2. Assess – Our Geelong chiropractor would perform a thorough neuro-orthopaedic assessment, spinal examination, posture analysis and other testing to assess overall movement and function.
3. If clinically indicated, our Geelong chiropractor will refer for further investigations, tests or scans will be made.
4. Educate – Our chiropractor will have an in-depth discussion around the nature of your specific condition, the treatment options available to you and we will map out a care plan to get you back on track as quickly as possible.
5. Recover – If appropriate to do so, we will start your treatment from the first visit to help relieve pain, promote better movement and get your road-to-recovery underway.

• Adults (18-64 years old)
  • Be active on most (preferably all) days, to weekly total of:
    • 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate activity
    • 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity
    • an equivalent combination of both
  • At least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most (preferably all) days
  • Muscle-strengthening activities as part of your daily physical activity on at least 2 days each week
• Children and young people (5-17 years old)
  • Accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day
  • Physical activity should include a variety of aerobic activities, including some vigorous intensity activity
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on 3 or more days a week
• Pregnant women
  • Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week
  • If you were active before you became pregnant, you can continue with your usual activities
  • If you were not active before you became pregnant, start slowly and gradually increase the amount of activity you do
• People with chronic conditions
  • Talk to your general practitioner or allied health professional about how much physical activity is right for you
  • Even if you have a chronic condition, physical activity can help you manage your symptoms and improve your overall health

These are just general guidelines, and your individual needs may vary. Talk to you GP, chiropractor or other health professional about how much physical activity is right for you.

This means that chiropractors believe that the body is a whole system and that all parts of the body work together. They also believe that the spine and nervous systems are the foundations of health and that by improving the function of the spine and nervous system, they can help improve overall health.

Chiropractors in Australia are regulated and licensed through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulating Agency (AHPRA), which also regulate other medical and dentistry professionals. In order to be licensed, chiropractors must undergo and pass an accredited five-year university program, meet ongoing education and experience requirments.

Chiropractic is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, headaches, and joint pain. There is a growing body of scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of chiropractic.

While spinal adjustments are a common chiropractic technique, they are not the only one. Chiropractors also use a variety of other techniques, such as massage, dry needling, mobilisation, and exercise, to help their patients.

In Australia, chiropractors are required to have undergone an accredited five-year university program in order to satisfy regulatory and licensing requirements. During their studies, chiropractors undertake coursework in biology, neurology, orthopaedics, biomechanics, anatomy & physiology and more.

While spine-related conditions are often a primary reason people may seek chiropractic care. Chiropractors can also help with a variety of other conditions, such as headaches, migraines, TMJ disorders, joint pain, sciatica, and muscle tension.

Chiropractic care is tailored to your needs, goals and resources available. Read about our Geelong chiropractors approach to treatment.

Initial Consultation:

The chiropractor will discuss your medical history, current symptoms, and perform a comprehensive muscular, skeletal and nervous system examination.

Further diagnostic imaging may be advised, such as a MRI, X-ray or ultrasound to assess the spine’s structure and identify any underlying conditions.

Treatment Sessions:

Chiropractic sessions typically involve a series of visits, depending on the severity and nature of your low back pain.

Each session may last around 15 to 45 minutes, but this can vary based on your individual needs.

Communication and Informed Consent:

Your chiropractor will have in-depth discussion with you, the client, around the nature of your condition, what options are available to you based on your goals, needs and resources available.

Before performing any techniques, your chiropractor will discuss the benefits and risks associated with any technique or modality, allowing you to make an informed decision.

Spinal Adjustment (Manipulation):

High-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrusts are applied to specific vertebrae to restore normal joint motion, function and alignment.

Chiropractors use their hands or specialized instruments to deliver precise adjustments.

Adjustments may produce a popping sound (cavitation), which is the release of gas bubbles in the joint fluid.

Mobilisation:

Gentle stretching and manual techniques are used to improve joint mobility and reduce pain.

This technique involves low-force movements and is well-suited for patients who may not be suitable for high-velocity adjustments.

Soft Tissue Therapy:

Chiropractors may incorporate soft tissue techniques such as massage, myofascial release, dry needling and trigger point therapy.

These techniques aim to reduce muscle tension, alleviate soft tissue restrictions, and promote healing.

Exercises and Rehabilitation Therapy:

Chiropractors often prescribe specific exercises to strengthen the supporting muscles of the lower back and improve flexibility.

Rehabilitation programs may include stretching, core stabilisation exercises, and postural correction techniques.

Do you ever notice that when you’re under significant stress, whether that be with work, family or any other potential stressor for that matter, that your clenching or grinding becomes more noticeable?

If this is you, chances are you have an underlying nervous system cause of your clenching or grinding.

You don’t know what you don’t know, better understanding your triggers, traits or behaviours when exposed to certain stressors in a good start in managing this long term.

By managing, I don’t mean trying to control every single stress that gets thrown our way because that never really ends well. Instead, learning to better manage how we respond and ultimately allow these stresses manifest is far more realistic.

Mindfulness-based, non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) strategies have shown to promote a calming and pacifying effect on our central nervous system.

Watch the video to see what our Geelong TMJ chiropractors recommend for improving jaw and muscle awareness.

In this video, our Geelong TMJ chiropractors discuss an easy-to-implement exercise to promote better joint and muscle function.

Normal mouth opening is measured from the top tip of your bottom teeth, to the bottom tip of your top teeth. For most people, this should fall somewhere between 40-50mm when the mouth is completely open.

Note – This range should not be painful or sore either.

When our two TMJs work well together in a synchronous, symmetrical manner, we should see a linear movement pattern when we open our jaw.

However, when we experience changes in the function of our muscles, discs or joints related to the TMJ, we can start seeing asymmetries to the way our jaw moves, often showing a ‘J’ or curved like jaw motion.

Audible noises from the TMJ when moving the jaw can mean a few different things, however, a common cause of noises is due to disc movement.

Ideally, the disc within our TMJ moves in a cohesive way without restricting normal jaw motion or causing pain.

Pain or tenderness over the TMJ (in front of the ear) can be a sign of an inflammatory process occurring in or around the TMJ, commonly involving the joint capsule or synovium.

This can occur often occur due to an acute trauma, or from ongoing stress to the TMJ caused by dysfunctional movement, postural stress, increased muscle tension, a centrally mediated nervous system problem, and of course, a combination them.

Regular movement of the spine is essential in ensuring proper function of the spine, but in the long-term, is vital for spinal health and overall health.

Starting, maintaining & thriving with a regular exercise routine, often a key pillar our Geelong chiropractors educate our clients on.

Once our clients have maintained a regular exercise regime, we may then suggest exposing the body to different movements, exercises or activities to broadened the body and nervous system’s adaptability.

Aiming to promote better muscle, joint and nerve function.

Ensuring your moving and exercising regularly is one thing, prioritising your sleep and recovery is another.

Sleep not only plays a role in our ability to recover stronger, more resilient & robust from exercise, but allows us to be manage, mitigate and buffer the stressors in our lives.

Establishing a regular nightly sleep routine, and ideally, waking up in the morning feeling refreshed is a good sign of quality sleep.

Now that we know sleep can buffer and mitigate the detrimental effects of sleep, there are other strategies you can employ to reduce the negative impact stress can have on your spine health and health overall.

Increased, sustained levels of stress can increase central nervous system sensitivity, elevate muscle tension and much more, ideally something we want to be able to manage well over our life times.

Regular mediation (look into NSDR or non-sleep, deep rest techniques), engaging in regular social and/or joyous activities, meaningful & purposeful work, formal exercise & physical activity regime, and of course, sleep, are all proven ways to better manage our stress levels.

Our aim with manual chiropractic adjustments is effective pain relief and quick improvements in joint and muscle function.

Often used as part of an overall management plan, in conjunction with other soft tissue therapy, exercise & rehabilitation.

Education is essential to not only better understand your condition but also the causes underlying it.

This is important in the short & long-term when managing your condition between treatment and independently.

Knowing what lifestyle & activity modifications to make specifically to you, can allow your body to get back on track quicker.

Dry needling is another effective strategy we employ to reduce myofacial pain and promote better muscle function.

This may be in the form of traditional massage techniques, dry needling, active release technique (ART) and more.

Our ultimate goal at Empowered Health, is to get you moving, feeling and functioning at your best long term.

An essential pillar of sustaining our outcomes is through home-care, strength and movement training.

Our Geelong Chiropractors want you to be feel empowered over your health condition, allowing you to take back control of your life.

These changes can often be small, but with the volume of time we spend at our computers and desks, they can really add up.

Alterations such as ensuring ideal seat height, monitor height and distance, and arm position are easy ways to optimise your posture, and ultimately the stress on your spine during these tasks.

Finding yourself slouching or hunching while driving? Considering how much time we might spend behind the wheel on our daily commute this can add up.

Small modifications to your seat position, adding some lumbar support and raising your review mirror (so you need to sit up in order to see behind you) are all easy cues to improve your spine posture while driving.

No matter how great your posture is there is no substitute for regular movement and exercise.

Having regular breaks from work tasks, hobbies or the like allows you to mobilise and reset your body.

Throughout your day, set an alarm, timer or notification system every 30-60 minutes to get up, walk around and do something else for 5 or so minutes.

Posture self-care might be as simple as incorporating basic stretches into your daily routine, targeting your low back, mid back, shoulders and neck areas.

Laying down with a foam roller along your spine, promotes more extension through the middle and upper parts of our spine. This can be a great reset after a big day of sitting hunched over.

Also, getting into a regular exercise regime, combining exercises targeting our hips, back, shoulders & neck can be effective strategies to fortify these areas from posture-related stresses.