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Straight answers about your spine.
Honest, plain-English answers to the questions people ask us most: what chiropractors do, how we compare with physios and osteos, what it costs, and what's going on with your back, neck and nerves.
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Is chiropractic right for me?
- Are chiropractors pseudoscientific?Is chiropractic pseudoscience? No. It's a registered, university-trained profession backed by clinical guidelines and a decade of nervous system research.
- At what age should you see a chiropractor?There's no set age to see a chiropractor. What matters is what's going on. How chiropractic fits working life, pregnancy and later years. Call us to ask.
- How do I know if I need a chiropractor?When to see a chiropractor: signs a check may help, when self-care is enough, and what to expect at your first visit. No referral needed. Book online.
- Should a chiropractor adjust your neck?Is a chiropractic neck adjustment safe? A 2026 study of 862,000 adults found no added risk of artery tear. What the research says. Book online.
- What are the disadvantages of going to a chiropractor?The real disadvantages of going to a chiropractor: cost, time, finding a good one. Plus why most people decide it's worth it. Read before you book.
- What can I do instead of going to a chiropractor?Looking for an alternative to a chiropractor? Here are 8 honest options, from free self-care to physio, osteo and Pilates, plus when chiro may suit.
- What exactly does a chiropractor do?What does a chiropractor do? They assess and treat spine, joint and nerve problems with adjustments, exercise and advice. Training, the Dr title and more.
Chiro, physio, osteo or massage?
- Is a chiropractor the same as a massage therapist?Is a chiropractor the same as a massage therapist? No. How chiropractic and massage differ in training, focus and funding, and when each may suit you.
- Is chiropractic more effective than physical therapy?Is chiropractic more effective than physical therapy? For many back pain cases, research shows broadly similar results. Here's what that means for you.
- Is it better to see a physio or chiropractor for sciatica?Chiro or physio for sciatica? Both can help, and neither suits everyone. Learn how each approaches leg nerve pain, and how we check what's driving yours.
- Is physio or chiro better for a bulging disc?Can a chiropractor fix a bulging disc? No one can push a disc back in, but chiro and physio both help many people. How they differ, and how we can help.
- Is physio or chiro better for hip pain?Physio or chiropractor for hip pain? It depends on where the pain comes from: the hip, the tendons, or your low back and pelvis. Here's how to choose.
- Should I go to the chiropractor or massage first?Chiropractor or massage first? It depends on your problem. Here's when each makes sense first, how to combine them, and what to expect at our clinic.
- Should I see a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist?Chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist? All three are registered and can help back and neck pain. Compare them side by side and choose what suits you.
- Should I see a physio or osteopath for back pain?Osteopath or physio for lower back pain? Both can help, and so can a chiropractor. A fair comparison of the three so you can choose what suits you.
- What is the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?Chiropractor vs osteopath: both are registered and hands-on, but differ in focus and technique. A fair, plain-English comparison to help you choose.
- What is the difference between a physiotherapist and a chiropractor?Chiropractor vs physiotherapist: what each does, how they differ, and when people tend to choose one or the other. A fair guide to help you decide.
What happens at the chiropractor
- Chiropractic and your nervous systemYour spine talks to your brain. What a vertebral subluxation is, and what research measures in the nervous system after an adjustment. With references.
- Do I need an X-ray to see a chiropractor?You don't need an X-ray to see a chiropractor. We only refer for X-rays when your history and check point to them, and those X-rays are bulk billed.
- How do chiropractors know where to adjust?Chiropractors know where to adjust by combining your history, posture, joint movement and nerve tests, then rechecking. Here's how it works. Book online.
- How does a chiropractor adjust your neck?A chiropractic neck adjustment is a quick, small movement of a stiff neck joint, done after a check. How it's done, what the pop is and what to expect.
- How is spinal disc pain assessed?How is disc pain assessed? Your history, movement, orthopaedic and neurological tests, and imaging only when it helps. Here's what to expect at MPCC.
- Is lower back pain worse after a chiropractic adjustment?Lower back pain worse after a chiropractic adjustment? Mild soreness is common and usually settles in a day or two. Here's what's normal and when to call.
- What actually happens in a chiropractic adjustment?A chiropractic adjustment is a quick, controlled movement of a stiff joint. How it works step by step, what you feel and what comes after. Book online.
- What are the side effects of chiropractic treatment?Common side effects of chiropractic are mild soreness, stiffness or tiredness that settle in a day or two. No toxins are released. Here's what's normal.
- What happens when a chiropractor cracks your back?When a chiropractor cracks your back, a gas bubble forms in the joint fluid. It isn't bones cracking or a sign of success. What happens, and why.
- What happens when a chiropractor pulls your leg?A chiropractor leg pull is a quick leg-length check or a hip traction technique. What each does, what the pop is, and the short leg myths. Book online.
- What is the best chiropractic technique?Is there a best chiropractic technique? Diversified, Gonstead, flexion-distraction, Activator and drop table explained plainly, with what research says.
Back, neck & nerve pain explained
- Causes of a stiff neckCommon causes of a stiff neck: awkward sleep, desk and phone posture, stress, joint changes and minor strains. What's going on, and what helps it loosen.
- Depression and back pain: how they're linkedDepression and back pain are closely linked. Learn how persistent pain, sleep, mood and activity affect each other, and small steps that can help.
- Should I go to a chiropractor for back pain?Should you see a chiropractor for back pain? What the guidelines say, what a chiropractor does for lower back pain, and when self-care may be enough.
- Spinal posture explainedSpinal posture explained in plain English: your spine's natural curves, what changes them, why sustained positions matter, and simple ways to move better.
- What are the causes of neck pain?What causes neck pain? An overview of the main sources: joints, muscles, discs, nerves, injury, posture and stress, and how we work out which is yours.
- What causes a headache at the base of the skull?A headache at the base of the skull often starts in the upper neck or tight muscles. Learn about cervicogenic and tension-type headaches and what helps.
- What is a facet joint?A facet joint is a small paired joint at the back of each spinal level that guides movement. Learn how facet pain feels, its causes and how we assess it.
- Why does my lower back hurt when I sit?Lower back pain when sitting is common. Learn how sitting loads your discs, joints and muscles, why standing up hurts, and simple changes that help.
- Why does my neck hurt after sleeping?Woke up with a stiff neck? Why neck pain after sleeping happens, how sleep position and pillows play a part, and what helps it settle and stay away.
How often and how long
- How long do chiropractic adjustments last?How long do chiropractic adjustments last? It varies: hours, days or longer, depending on your problem and your habits between visits. Here's why.
- How long does it take a chiropractor to fix a pinched nerve?How long a pinched nerve takes to settle with chiro care varies. Learn what affects recovery, and why your first visit is mostly about assessment.
- How often should you see a chiropractor?How often you see a chiropractor depends on what your check finds. We explain it at your report of findings, visits usually taper, and it's your call.
- Is it good to go to a chiropractor every week?Weekly chiropractic can suit some people for a while, but it shouldn't be automatic. Here's how frequency is decided and why it should taper. Book online.
Fees, Medicare & funding
- Can I claim a chiropractor on Medicare?Medicare covers part of chiropractic care with a GP care plan and referral: $63.40 per eligible visit, up to 5 allied health visits a year. How it works.
- Do chiropractors bulk bill in Australia?Chiropractor bulk billing explained: how Medicare care plans work, the $63.40 rebate, DVA billed direct and bulk-billed X-rays. Call us to talk it over.
- Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor in Australia?No, you don't need a referral to see a chiropractor in Australia. You only need a GP referral to claim Medicare or come under DVA. Book online today.
- How many visits can you have on a Medicare care plan?A GP care plan covers up to 5 Medicare-rebated allied health visits a calendar year, shared across chiro, physio and others, at $63.40 each. How it works.
- How much does Medicare pay for physiotherapy?Medicare pays $63.40 per eligible physio visit under a GP care plan, up to 5 allied health visits a year, shared with chiro and others. How it works.
- How much does a chiropractor cost on the Mornington Peninsula?Chiropractor cost in Mornington: new patient appointment $195, or $125 booked online. Standard visits $95. HICAPS, Medicare care plans, DVA. Book now.
- How much does it cost to see a chiropractor in Australia?What a chiropractor costs in Australia depends on the clinic, the visit type and your cover. What drives the price, how to lower it, and our fees.
- Is chiropractic covered under the NDIS?NDIS chiropractor funding explained: what the NDIS supports lists say, why treating health conditions sits with the health system, and other ways to pay.
Exercises & self-care
- Exercise libraryOur exercise library: videos and step-by-step guides for the home exercises your chiropractor gives you, plus Dr Ben's back pain series. Use as directed.
- How to help your back pain: Step 1 — water and your spineStep 1 of Dr Ben's back pain video series: why hydration matters for your spinal discs, and simple ways to drink enough water. Watch, then see step 2.
- How to help your back pain: Step 2 — keep movingStep 2 of Dr Ben's back pain video series: why movement keeps your spinal discs and joints nourished, and easy ways to move more. Watch, then see step 3.
- How to help your back pain: Step 3 — balance the loadStep 3 of Dr Ben's back pain video series: how sitting, uneven habits and body weight load your spine, and how to share the load. Watch, then see step 4.
- How to help your back pain: Step 4 — take ownershipStep 4 of Dr Ben's back pain video series: taking ownership of your spine health, recapping water, movement and load, and when to get your back checked.
- How to help your back pain: a 4-step video seriesA free 4-part video series from Dr Ben on simple ways to help your back pain: water, movement, load and ownership. Watch in order, then call us.
- Ice or heat for back pain?Ice or heat for back pain? When each one may help, how to use an ice pack safely, and what the evidence says. Simple self-care tips from our chiropractors.
Conditions we see
- Low back painBent over and it went, or it's been nagging for years.
- SciaticaStarts in your back. Ends somewhere near your ankle.
- Disc bulges & herniations"Slipped disc", bulge or herniation: what it means for you.
- Pinched nerveSharp, burning or tingling pain that travels.
- Neck painStiff, sore, and not turning like it used to.
- HeadachesEspecially the ones that start in the neck.
- Shoulder painReaching, lifting or sleeping on it hurts.
- Upper back painThat knot between the shoulder blades.
- Hip painWalking, sitting or lying on your side hurts.
- SI joint & pelvic painLow down, one-sided, near the dimples of your back.
- Whiplash & car accidentsNeck pain after a car accident.
- PostureRounded shoulders, forward head, and the aches that come with them.
- Tech neck & forward head postureLooking down at screens, all day, every day.
- Pregnancy back & pelvic painBack, pelvic and rib pain while you're expecting.
How it works
Three steps. No guesswork.
- 1TodayBook online or callPick a time online in about a minute, or call 03 9787 8518. No referral needed.
- 2DiscoveryNew patient appointmentWe find out what's wrong and whether we can help: your story, posture pictures, and a thorough check of your spine and nerves.
- 3You get answersReport of findings appointmentWhat we found, in plain English, and what we'd do about it. If we can help and you haven't already had your first adjustment, today's the day.
Got a question we haven’t answered?
Call us, or book a new patient appointment and ask us in person.
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Book onlineNew patient appointment$195$125Web special · save $70
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