Frequently Asked Questions About Hawkesbury Sport and Spine

We offer three appointments types - initial, extended and standard consultations to tailor to your stage of care. Our initial consultations for your first visit have a fee of $100 with standard consultations for followups at $80. Extended appointments for reassessment on your second visit or for a new condition has a $90 fee. These fees are prior to processing any private health fund cover whereby rebates can apply.

An initial consultation will go for around 40 minutes and consist of a thorough history and examination as well as the treatment itself, whilst standard appointments will be approximately 20 minutes in length. Whilst this duration is typical, our practitioners will spend as much time as is required with each patient.

No, you do not need a referral to see one of our chiropractors. You can simply call our clinic and speak to one of our friendly team member or alternatively follow the online booking link on our website.

You may contact us directly via phone (0480 252 896), email or simply follow our online booking links in order to make an appointment.

Our chiropractors use a patient centred, multi-modal model of care utilising a range of techniques that best apply to the patients condition and preferences based on the latest evidence in combination with the clinician’s experience. There is a common misconception that chiropractic care only involves a singular therapeutic technique – spinal manipulation (spinal adjustment), although it often plays a part in treatment this is not true.

Your chiropractor will provide a therapeutic approach to care that incorporates a range of manual therapies which may include spinal adjustment, mobilisation, muscle and soft tissue techniques along with exercise prescription, rehabilitation, nutritional recommendations and lifestyle advice. These have been shown to be of benefit to people with a range of musculoskeletal conditions.

They will determine the best approach by making an assessment and develop a treatment plan in accordance with the needs of the patient whilst providing advice on future management strategies.

More and more, evidence supports early referral and assessment of musculoskeletal pain patients to an appropriately qualified musculoskeletal clinician such as a chiropractor. Our chiropractors are not only trained to treat musculoskeletal pain patients, they are also trained to facilitate health promotion and lifestyle advice, rehabilitation and patient education.

People usually seek chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain and headaches, as well as for general health and wellbeing.

Chiropractors use skill, not force or strength to conduct specific chiropractic adjustments. Various types of manual therapy and low force interventions are also used where appropriate.

Chiropractic care has a very low risk profile, especially when compared with more invasive methods of spinal healthcare, however all forms of chiropractic treatment have the potential for adverse reactions in some people.

A chiropractic adjustment is the application of a specific force in a precise direction, applied skilfully to a spinal joint that is limited in its normal range of motion, or not moving as it should. This can help improve or restore motion to the joint, helping the spine to gradually regain more normal movement and function.

There are many ways to adjust the spine. Usually the chiropractor’s hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly-accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow, constant or indirect pressure.

Although our chiropractors are qualified to both take and assess X-rays, the use of these or any other referral for imaging is only done when there are appropriate indications to do so. In most cases a diagnosis can be reached by way of a thorough history and examination.

There is no age limit on chiropractic and more and more people are consulting chiropractors, especially in their later years in order to help maintain functional ability. In order to deliver the safest, most effective and highest quality care possible, chiropractic techniques are modified appropriately for each person at every age and stage of life.

Most people find having an adjustment very relaxing.

With some adjustments you may sometimes feel or hear a popping sound from the spinal joints. This is simply caused by a change in pressure in the joint, as spinal movement is improved.

A lot of adjustments are very gentle, low force techniques whereby chiropractors use a hand-held instrument to adjust the spine. Others use wedges or blocks to help realign part of the body. Whatever the technique, chiropractors use skill, not force or strength, to care for people with the highest degree of safety and effectiveness.

Chiropractors undergo an in-depth program consisting of a three year bachelor degree followed by two years of a masters degree before they are qualified. All accredited chiropractic programs in Australia include units in basic and clinical sciences. Also included are units in physical therapy, physical rehabilitation, radiology, nutrition, paediatrics, geriatrics, public health and evidence-based practice. In Australia, chiropractors share a common tertiary education pathway with osteopaths and physiotherapists.

As with other primary healthcare professions, chiropractic pre-professional training requires a significant proportion of the curricula to be clinical subjects related to evaluating and caring for patients. As part of professional training, final-year students must also complete a minimum of a one-year supervised clinical internship.

All registered chiropractors must complete mandatory continuing education each year in order to maintain registration and practice as a non-pharmacological, non-surgical spine care and musculoskeletal-allied healthcare professional.

As allied health practitioners, chiropractors are regulated by the Allied Health Practitioner Regulation Agency alongside other professions such as dentists & physiotherapists and must adhere to a strict code of conduct in order to remain registered. All chiropractors must also be registered with the Chiropractic Board of Australia and meet the Board’s registration standards, in order to practise in Australia.