Chiropractic FAQs · Narre Warren

A chiropractic adjustment, sometimes called manipulation, is a controlled, targeted movement applied to a joint, most often in the spine, to improve how that joint moves and to ease irritation in the tissues around it. The movement itself is usually quick and precise, and your chiropractor chooses where and how to apply it based on what their assessment finds.

It is not a one-size-fits-all technique: the approach is tailored to your body, your comfort and the problem you have come in with. A good chiropractor will always explain what they are going to do, and why, before they begin. If a particular technique does not suit you, there are gentler alternatives, so it is worth speaking up about any concerns.

No. The “pop” or “crack” you sometimes hear during an adjustment surprises many first-time patients, but it is simply gas releasing from within a joint, much like the sound you hear when you stretch your fingers. It is not the sound of bones grinding together, and it is not a sign that anything has been damaged.

There is also a persistent myth that this sound leads to arthritis; there is no good evidence to support that. The sound is not a measure of how well an adjustment has worked, either, as plenty of effective treatment happens with no sound at all. If you would rather avoid that style of technique, let your chiropractor know, as there are gentler approaches that can be used instead.

No. Back pain is the most common reason people come in, but it is far from the whole picture. Chiropractors assess and manage a range of musculoskeletal complaints, including neck pain, certain types of headache, shoulder problems, sciatica, sports injuries and the strain that builds up from posture and repetitive work.

The common thread across all of these is how your joints, muscles and nerves are moving and working together. When something in that system is not moving well, it can show up as pain, stiffness or restricted movement. So if you have an ache, a recurring niggle or a movement that does not feel right, it is worth asking about, even if it is not your back.

For most people, treatment is comfortable, and many feel some relief quite quickly. It is also common to feel mild soreness afterwards, a little like how you might feel after a good stretch or a new type of exercise, and this usually settles within a day or so.

As with any treatment, there is potential for side effects, which is exactly why a thorough assessment comes first and why your chiropractor works at a pace you are comfortable with. Nothing should happen without your understanding and agreement, and you can ask questions or ask them to stop at any point. If you are feeling nervous before your first visit, say so, as it genuinely helps your practitioner look after you well.

No. Seeing a chiropractor does not commit you to a lifetime of visits. Once your main concern has settled, where you go from there is entirely your choice.

Some people choose the occasional check-in, particularly if their work is physically demanding or they have had recurring issues; others prefer to return only if something flares up again. Both approaches are completely valid, and a responsible practitioner will give you honest guidance rather than pressure you into ongoing visits you do not need.

Many headaches are more connected to the neck than people realise. Tension-type and cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches are often linked to posture, joint irritation and muscle tension through the neck and upper back, all of which a chiropractor can assess and, where appropriate, treat.

That said, headaches have many possible causes, and chiropractic will not be the answer for every type, which is why a careful assessment comes first. Part of that is recognising when a headache needs to be investigated differently or referred elsewhere. If headaches are becoming a regular feature of your weeks, it is worth having your neck and posture looked at.

Sciatica describes pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, typically running from the lower back down into the leg and sometimes as far as the foot. It can be accompanied by other sensations such as tingling, numbness or weakness, and it often points to irritation of the nerve somewhere along its path.

Because several different things can produce these symptoms, a proper assessment matters: it helps identify what is actually driving the pain so that care can be targeted appropriately rather than guessed at. If this pattern of pain sounds familiar, it is generally better to have it assessed than to push through and hope it resolves on its own.

Not as a routine. X-rays mainly show bone, and they do not give a clear picture of the soft tissues, discs and ligaments that are often where the real story lies, so ordering them for everyone as a matter of course is not supported by current evidence and can mean unnecessary radiation.

Instead, the decision to image is made case by case. If an X-ray, CT or MRI would genuinely help to guide your care (for example, where there are specific clinical signs that warrant it), your chiropractor will recommend it and explain why. Where it would not add anything useful, it is not needed.

Yes. In Australia, chiropractors complete a five-year university program and are registered and regulated nationally through AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), which sets standards for training, conduct and ongoing professional development.

Many chiropractors also pursue postgraduate study in areas such as ergonomics, sports care or specific treatment techniques, building expertise well beyond their initial degree. If you would like to know more about a particular practitioner’s background and training, it is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask, and a good chiropractor will be happy to share it.

For common complaints such as low back pain and neck pain, chiropractic care, including manual therapy, exercise and advice, is supported by clinical guidelines and a body of research, and may be as effective as other recommended approaches for these conditions.

Modern, responsible practice means staying within what the evidence supports: recommending imaging only when it is genuinely needed, avoiding lock-in treatment plans, and being honest about what care can and cannot do. It also means not making claims about treating conditions where good evidence is lacking.

Pregnancy brings significant changes to the body. Your posture shifts, your weight distribution alters, and the load on your lower back and pelvis increases as your pregnancy progresses. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is gentle and adapted to each stage, with the focus on keeping you comfortable as your body changes.

Techniques are modified and the treatment table set-up is adjusted to suit you, particularly later in pregnancy. As with any care during pregnancy, a chiropractor will first check that treatment is appropriate for your circumstances. If back or pelvic discomfort is making this time harder than it needs to be, it is worth having a conversation about what might help.

It is often part of the picture. Long hours at a desk, especially with the head tipped down towards a screen for extended periods, can load the neck and upper back in ways they do not love, something you may have heard described as “tech neck”. It is rarely the single cause of pain, but it is frequently a contributor.

The encouraging news is that small, practical changes can make a real difference: positioning your screen closer to eye level, taking regular movement breaks rather than sitting still for hours, and setting up your workspace so it supports you. Your body generally responds better to variety and movement than to long stretches of stillness.

All three are university-trained, nationally registered allied health professionals who assess and treat musculoskeletal problems, and there is a great deal of overlap between what they do. The differences are often more about approach and emphasis than a hard dividing line.

Broadly, chiropractors tend to focus on assessing and adjusting how your joints, particularly those of the spine, move and function, alongside advice and other hands-on techniques. The best fit often comes down to the specific issue you have and the practitioner you feel most comfortable with, and a good practitioner of any of the three will refer you on if someone else is better placed to help.

Yes, and care for children should always be gentle and appropriate to the child’s age and stage of development. Parents often ask about chiropractic after a sporting knock or a fall, or because they are concerned about posture as their child grows, with heavy school bags and long hours on screens being common modern culprits.

The techniques used for a child are very different from those used for an adult, and are adapted accordingly. A good chiropractor will also be upfront about whether care is even needed in the first place, rather than assuming it is. When it comes to children, careful assessment, gentleness and honesty come first.

Whether you are a weekend participant or training more seriously, sports injuries are a common reason people seek care. Chiropractors assess and manage many sports-related musculoskeletal complaints, including joint sprains, muscle strains and the aches that come from overload or from movement patterns that are not serving you well.

Care often pairs hands-on treatment with practical advice on movement, load management and recovery, with the aim of helping you return to your activity properly rather than simply as fast as possible. If something from the field, the court or the gym is lingering, it is worth having it looked at rather than training through it.

For most everyday back pain, the old advice to “just rest it” has not aged well. Prolonged bed rest tends to slow recovery rather than speed it, while gentle movement, something as simple as walking, usually helps things settle. The aim is to stay reasonably active within your comfort, rather than pushing hard through pain or shutting down completely.

There are, of course, exceptions, and this is where an assessment matters: if your pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms such as significant weakness, numbness or anything that feels out of the ordinary, it is worth getting it properly checked rather than assuming gentle movement alone is the answer.

A first visit usually begins with a conversation about what has been going on for you and a review of your relevant health history, so your chiropractor understands the full context rather than just the immediate symptom. That is followed by a physical assessment aimed at identifying the underlying cause, not simply where it hurts.

Where it is clinically appropriate, treatment may be provided on the same day, though that depends on what the assessment finds. By the end, you should leave understanding what is going on, what your chiropractor recommends, and what the next steps look like, all explained in plain language, without jargon and without pressure. It helps to set aside enough time and to wear comfortable clothing you can move easily in.

Our chiropractic services begin with an initial consultation lasting 30 to 45 minutes, priced at $110. This appointment includes a comprehensive medical assessment to accurately diagnose your condition, with treatment provided on the same day where appropriate.

X-rays are not routinely required, as they primarily show bone and do not adequately visualise soft tissues, discs or ligaments. In some cases, additional imaging such as an MRI, CT scan or X-ray may be recommended if clinically necessary.

Follow-up appointments are $75 per visit. Patients referred by their General Practitioner (GP) may be eligible for Medicare-subsidised care, with rebates of up to $63.40 per visit, up to a maximum of 5 visits per calendar year.

It depends, and you should be cautious of anyone who promises an exact number before they have properly assessed you. The honest answer varies with the nature of your condition, how long it has been present, your general health and the physical demands of your work and daily life. A recent, straightforward niggle will often settle more quickly than something that has been building for years.

What you should be able to expect is a clear, realistic recommendation, reviewed and adjusted as you progress, rather than a fixed package locked in on the very first day.

No. We do not lock patients into long-term treatment plans or contracts. Care at our clinic is provided on a pay-as-you-go basis, with recommendations guided by your condition, response to care and personal preferences.

We recommend checking your private health insurance policy under “extras” cover to confirm whether chiropractic services are included. Many health funds provide rebates for chiropractic care, allowing you to maximise your available benefits.

Comfortable clothing, such as tracksuit pants or shorts and a T-shirt, is ideal. This allows ease of movement and direct access for assessment and treatment without the need to change into a gown.

To cancel or reschedule an appointment at our Narre Warren or Caulfield North clinics, please contact our office on (03) 9704 6567.

You will receive an SMS reminder the day before your appointment; however, replies to SMS messages are not monitored. We appreciate as much notice as possible if changes are required so we can offer your appointment time to another patient.

In Australia, chiropractors are not permitted to use the title “Specialist”. However, many chiropractors undertake extensive postgraduate education.

Dr Peter Farrelly holds postgraduate qualifications in Ergonomics, focusing on the effects of work on the body. He is also trained in Active Release Technique (ART) and holds Diplomate status with the International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.

We assess and manage a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Please refer to our Services page for a comprehensive list of conditions and diagnoses commonly treated in our clinic.

Appointments can be booked by calling (03) 9704 6567, completing the contact form on our website, or using our online booking system, which is the quickest and preferred option.

A referral is not required. In Australia, chiropractors are primary contact practitioners, which means you can book in and be seen directly without a referral from your GP or any other practitioner.

If your GP has referred you under a chronic disease management plan, that referral is welcome too and may open up additional support, but it is never a requirement simply to get started.