Chiropractic

A chiropractor diagnoses and offers treatment for back pain and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The treatment may include manipulation, massage or ergonomic advice. Chiropractors in Australia are a nationally registered and a regulated healthcare profession.

Where do chiropractors practice?

Chiropractors work in private practice.

When should I see a chiropractor?

There are a wide range of reasons why a person may benefit from consulting a chiropractor. Some common reasons may include:

Acute or chronic back pain
Neck pain
Extremity pain and dysfunction
Poor mobility
Degenerating posture
Migraine headaches
Osteoarthritis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

What services do chiropractors provide?

Chiropractors use manual therapies such as manipulation and massage to treat and prevent dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors also provide ergonomic and lifestyle advice about movement with an emphasis on wellness and prevention.

Parents may seek chiropractic care for their children for musculoskeletal disorders. A chiropractor is expected to refer the paediatric patient to another healthcare practitioner if outside their clinical skills and knowledge.

How are chiropractors qualified?

To qualify as a chiropractor, practitioners must study at university for a minimum of 5 years and register with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency. This includes:

Completion of a 3-year bachelor degree followed by a master’s degree or a double degree in chiropractic science and clinical science bachelor, masters or professional doctorate program.
Continuing professional development.
Meet national regulation requirements as set out by the Chiropractic Board of Australia for the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency.

Further Information

For more detailed information about chiropractors, please visit the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia website www.chiropractors.asn.au or the Chiropractic Board of Australia website www.chiropracticboard.gov.au.

Find a practitioner

The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia has a Locate a Chiropractor service which allows users to find a CAA chiropractor in their local area. It can be accessed here.

Case Studies

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Managing recurring neck pain

Bill is 48 years old and works long hours. He gets very little exercise, sits in front of a computer all day and often feels stressed. He experiences recurrent neck pain which he blames on an whiplash as a result of a car accident in his twenties.

He visits a chiropractor, explaining how his right sided neck pain is now causing headaches on the same side. The history and orthopaedic examination confirms ‘cervicogenic’ (neck-based) headaches and Bill responds well to the manual therapy provided by the chiropractor. The chiropractor also discusses with Bill his sedentary lifestyle and stressful work situation.

Bill finally agrees to start a Pilates program with a local exercise physiologist and to take a walk during his lunch breaks to clear his head. He also agrees to stop working on weekends. The chiropractor explains that if his work-related stress continues to be an issue, he may benefit from some counselling and gives Bill the name of a local psychologist. Bill agrees to review his progress with the chiropractor after one month.

Addressing lower back pain

Jim is a retired brick-layer who has been suffering from chronic low back pain for decades. Since retirement he has gained 12kgs and gets little physical activity outside of his weekly golf game.

He admits that his diet has deteriorated since his wife, who did all the cooking, passed away 3 years earlier. This latest episode of low back pain has caused sciatica down his left leg. It was brought on by lifting one of his grandkids incorrectly. The chiropractor examines his back and explains to Jim that he may need an MRI scan of his lumbar spine if he is unresponsive to the proposed treatment plan. The chiropractor is concerned about a disc protrusion.

Luckily Jim’s back pain and sciatica responded to the treatment provided by the chiropractor and his pain was under control, at least in the short-term. The chiropractor explained to Jim the long-term risks of his weight gain and lack of exercise to his back and overall health, including heart disease and diabetes. Jim agreed to cut back on his beer drinking while watching TV each night and to speak to a dietitian about his eating habits and poor nutrition.

Jim now understands how to lift the grandkids correctly, using his knees, and promises to follow the chiropractor’s instructions in the future.

Chiropractic

Allied Health Professions

Chiropractic

Where do chiropractors practice?

When should I see a chiropractor?

What services do chiropractors provide?

How are chiropractors qualified?

Further Information

Find a practitioner

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