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Back and Neck Pain
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Stiffness in your lower back when you wake up. Sharp pain when you turn your neck. Dull ache between your shoulder blades that gets worse as the day goes on. Pain that shoots across your back when you bend or lift something.
What causes it: Most back and neck pain comes from restricted movement in your spine. When a vertebra or joint loses its normal range of motion, the muscles around it tighten up to protect the area. This creates a cycle: restricted joint, tight muscles, more restriction, more pain.
Sitting for long hours at a desk, poor posture, previous injuries, and repetitive strain all contribute. Sometimes the pain starts suddenly after lifting something awkwardly. Other times it builds gradually over weeks or months.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross restores normal movement to the restricted joints using spinal manipulation and mobilisation techniques. This releases the joint, allows the muscles to relax, and breaks the pain cycle.
He supports this with dry needling for trigger points in tight muscles, interferential current (IFC) to reduce inflammation and improve circulation, and therapeutic ultrasound to promote healing in deeper tissues.
Treatment is adjusted to your specific condition. Some patients need one or two sessions. Others with chronic pain or degenerative changes benefit from ongoing maintenance care.
What to expect: Most patients feel some relief after the first or second visit. Full recovery depends on how long the problem has been present and whether there are underlying structural issues like arthritis or disc degeneration.
Headaches and Migraines
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Tension headaches that start at the base of your skull and wrap around to your forehead. Migraines with throbbing pain on one side of your head, sometimes with nausea or sensitivity to light. Headaches that get worse when you turn your head or look down at your phone. Dizziness or a feeling of imbalance. Ringing in your ears that comes and goes.
What causes it: Many headaches start in the neck, not the head. When the joints in your upper cervical spine (the top part of your neck) become restricted or misaligned, they irritate the nerves that supply sensation to your head and face. This is called a cervicogenic headache. Tension headaches are caused by tight muscles at the base of the skull and across the shoulders, often from prolonged computer work or stress.
Migraines have multiple triggers, but spinal dysfunction and muscle tension in the neck can be significant contributing factors.
Vertigo (dizziness) and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) are sometimes linked to dysfunction in the upper neck joints, particularly after whiplash injuries or repetitive strain.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross assesses your neck and upper back to find restricted joints and tight muscles. He uses gentle spinal manipulation to restore normal movement in the cervical spine, which reduces nerve irritation and muscle tension.
For muscle-related headaches, dry needling releases trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles. IFC and ultrasound reduce inflammation and improve blood flow to the affected areas.
Treatment is tailored to the type of headache. Cervicogenic headaches and tension headaches respond very well to chiropractic care. Migraines often improve when spinal triggers are addressed, though other factors like diet and sleep also play a role.
What to expect: Headache frequency and intensity usually decrease within the first few weeks of treatment. Chronic migraine sufferers often notice longer gaps between episodes. Some patients need periodic maintenance visits to prevent recurrence.
Sports And Recreational Injuries
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Pain in your shoulder after a fall or tackle. Persistent knee or ankle pain after running. Neck and back pain following a motor vehicle accident. Reduced range of motion that stops you from training or playing your sport. Muscle strains that are not healing properly.
What causes it: Sports injuries happen when a joint, muscle, or ligament is forced beyond its normal range of motion. This creates inflammation, muscle spasm, and restricted movement.
Motor vehicle accidents cause whiplash injuries where the head and neck are thrown forward and backwards rapidly, damaging soft tissues and creating lasting joint dysfunction.
Without proper treatment, injured tissues heal with scar tissue and reduced mobility. This creates compensatory movement patterns that lead to further injury down the line.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross treats the acute injury first by reducing inflammation and muscle spasm using IFC, ultrasound, and gentle mobilisation techniques. Once the acute phase has settled, he restores the full range of motion in the injured joint using spinal or extremity manipulation.
For rotator cuff injuries, he addresses both the shoulder joint and the upper back and neck, where compensatory tension often develops.
Rehabilitation protocols include specific exercises to strengthen weakened muscles and restore proper movement patterns. This prevents re-injury when you return to your sport.
Post-accident care focuses on restoring normal spinal alignment and addressing soft tissue damage before chronic pain sets in.
What to expect:
Acute injuries respond quickly if treated early. Chronic or poorly healed injuries take longer and require a structured rehabilitation approach. Dr Ross works with you to get you back to full function safely.
Shoulder, Elbow and Arm Pain
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Shoulder pain that stops you from lifting your arm above your head. Pain on the outside of your elbow when you grip something (tennis elbow). Pain on the inside of your elbow when you bend or twist your wrist (golfer's elbow). Frozen shoulder, where your arm is stiff and painful in all directions. Weakness or pain when you reach behind your back.
What causes it: Rotator cuff injuries happen when the tendons that stabilise your shoulder become inflamed or torn, usually from overuse, repetitive overhead movements, or acute trauma.
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are overuse injuries where the tendons that attach to the elbow become inflamed and painful. Despite the names, you do not need to play tennis or golf to develop these conditions. Repetitive gripping, typing, and manual work are common causes. Bursitis occurs when the small fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion your joints become inflamed, causing pain and swelling.
Frozen shoulder develops when the capsule around the shoulder joint tightens, restricting movement in all directions. The exact cause is not always clear, but it often follows a period of immobilization after injury or surgery.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross assesses the shoulder, elbow, or arm joint to identify restricted movement, inflammation, and muscle imbalances. He uses joint manipulation and mobilisation to restore normal movement.
For tendon injuries like tennis elbow and rotator cuff strains, he uses dry needling to release trigger points in the affected muscles, combined with ultrasound to promote healing in the damaged tendons.
IFC reduces pain and inflammation. Rehabilitation exercises strengthen the muscles around the joint and correct movement patterns that contributed to the injury. Frozen shoulder requires a longer treatment plan with progressive mobilisation and stretching to gradually restore the range of motion.
What to expect: Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow improve over 4 to 6 weeks with consistent treatment. Rotator cuff injuries depend on severity — partial tears respond well to conservative care, while complete tears may need surgical referral. Frozen shoulder takes 3 to 6 months to resolve fully.
Sciatica and Disc Injuries
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Sharp, shooting pain that starts in your lower back and runs down the back of your leg, sometimes all the way to your foot. Numbness or tingling in your leg or foot. Weakness in your leg that makes it hard to stand on your toes or lift your foot. Pain that gets worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze. Lower back pain that does not go away with rest.
What causes it: Sciatica is caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down through your buttock and leg. The most common cause is a herniated or bulging disc in the lumbar spine (lower back). The disc presses on the nerve root as it exits the spine, causing pain, numbness, and weakness along the path of the nerve.
Other causes include spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), degenerative disc disease, and piriformis syndrome (a tight muscle in the buttock that compresses the sciatic nerve). Disc injuries happen when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in the outer layer. This creates inflammation and nerve irritation. Discs do not slip out of place — the term "slipped disc" is misleading. They bulge, herniate, or rupture.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross uses spinal manipulation and mobilisation to reduce pressure on the affected nerve and restore normal movement to the lower back. This creates space for the nerve and reduces inflammation around the disc.
Spinal traction gently stretches the spine, creating negative pressure that can help a bulging disc move back toward its normal position and reduce nerve compression.
IFC and ultrasound reduce inflammation and improve circulation to promote healing. Dry needling releases tight muscles in the lower back and buttocks that contribute to nerve compression. Treatment is adjusted based on the severity of the disc injury. Mild bulges respond quickly. Larger herniations take longer and may require co-management with a neurosurgeon or orthopaedic specialist if there is significant nerve damage.
What to expect: Most patients experience significant relief within 2 to 4 weeks. Numbness and weakness take longer to resolve than pain. If there is no improvement after 6 weeks, or if you develop loss of bladder or bowel control, Dr Ross will refer you for imaging and specialist consultation.
Chiropractic Care for Children
Symptoms your child might be experiencing: Neck or back pain after a fall or sports injury. Headaches. Poor posture with rounded shoulders. Growing pains in the legs or back during growth spurts. Reduced range of motion after a car accident or trauma. Recurring sports injuries.
What causes it: Children are active, and injuries happen. Falls from playground equipment, tackles during rugby or soccer, and car accidents all create spinal misalignments and muscle strains.
Growth spurts put stress on the spine and joints as bones grow faster than muscles and ligaments can adapt. This creates temporary imbalances and discomfort.
Poor posture from heavy school bags, prolonged sitting, and excessive screen time creates tension in the neck and upper back.
Repetitive sports training (especially in single-sport athletes) creates overuse injuries and compensatory movement patterns.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross uses gentle, age-appropriate techniques to restore normal spinal alignment and joint mobility. Treatment for children is much lighter than for adults — no forceful manipulation. For trauma and injuries, he addresses the immediate pain and inflammation, then works on restoring full movement and strength. For growth-related pain, he releases tight muscles and ensures the spine is aligned properly to reduce strain during rapid growth phases.
For posture-related issues, he provides corrective exercises and advice on proper ergonomics for school and sports.
What to expect: Children respond quickly to treatment because their tissues heal faster than adults. Most conditions resolve in a few sessions. Dr Ross encourages parents to stay in the room during treatment, so children feel comfortable and safe.
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Lower back pain that gets worse as your pregnancy progresses. Pelvic pain or a feeling of instability when you walk. Pain in your hips or groin. Sciatica with shooting pain down your leg. Upper back and neck pain from postural changes. Difficulty sleeping due to back or hip pain.
What causes it: Pregnancy changes your body in ways that create significant stress on your spine and pelvis. As your baby grows, your centre of gravity shifts forward, increasing the curve in your lower back (lordosis). This creates muscle strain and joint dysfunction. Hormonal changes cause your ligaments to relax in preparation for childbirth. This creates instability in the pelvis and lower back, leading to pain and difficulty walking. The weight of your growing belly pulls your shoulders forward, creating tension in your upper back and neck. Sciatica during pregnancy is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve from the growing uterus or from pelvic misalignment.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross uses pregnancy-safe chiropractic techniques to restore alignment in the pelvis and lower back. This reduces strain on the surrounding muscles and ligaments.
Treatment is gentle and adapted to each stage of pregnancy. You will never be asked to lie face down — Dr Ross uses side-lying positions and specialised pregnancy pillows. Pelvic alignment is particularly important in the third trimester to ensure optimal positioning for delivery.
Postpartum treatment addresses the physical stress of childbirth and helps your body return to its pre-pregnancy alignment. This is especially important if you experienced a difficult delivery or tearing.
What to expect: Most pregnant women experience significant relief from back and pelvic pain within a few sessions. Regular chiropractic care throughout pregnancy helps manage discomfort and prepares your body for delivery. Treatment is safe at all stages of pregnancy.
Post-Surgical and Injury Rehabilitation
Symptoms you might be experiencing: Stiffness and reduced range of motion after surgery. Weakness in muscles that were immobilised during recovery. Compensatory pain in other areas of your body due to altered movement patterns. Slow or incomplete healing after an injury. Difficulty returning to normal activities or sports after surgery.
What causes it: After surgery or a serious injury, your body compensates for pain and immobility by changing the way you move. These compensatory patterns create strain in other joints and muscles, leading to secondary pain and dysfunction. Muscles weaken quickly when immobilised. Even a few weeks in a cast or brace causes significant muscle atrophy and loss of coordination.
Scar tissue forms as injuries heal, creating stiffness and restricted movement if not addressed properly.
How Dr Ross treats it: Dr Ross designs individualised rehabilitation protocols based on your surgery or injury. Treatment includes joint mobilisation to restore the full range of motion, strengthening exercises to rebuild weakened muscles, and movement retraining to correct compensatory patterns.
For spinal surgeries, he works closely with your surgeon to ensure treatment complements your post-operative care plan. For extremity surgeries (knee, shoulder, hip), he addresses both the surgical site and the spine, where compensatory strain often develops. Rehabilitation is progressive — starting with gentle mobilisation and basic exercises, then advancing to functional movements and sport-specific training as you heal.
What to expect:
Recovery time depends on the type of surgery and your overall health. Most patients see steady improvement over 8 to 12 weeks. Dr Ross monitors your progress closely and adjusts treatment as needed. The goal is fully functional recovery, not just pain relief.
How We Treat You
Dr Ross uses a combination of hands-on techniques and therapeutic modalities to restore movement, reduce pain, and promote healing. Every treatment plan is tailored to your specific condition.
Spinal Manipulation and Mobilisation
What it is
Spinal manipulation is a hands-on technique where Dr Ross applies a controlled, quick thrust to a restricted joint in your spine. You might hear a popping sound — this is gas releasing from the joint, similar to cracking your knuckles. It is not your bones cracking.
Mobilisation is a gentler technique where Dr Ross uses slow, rhythmic movements to gradually increase the range of motion in a stiff joint. No popping or cracking occurs.
What it does
Manipulation restores normal movement to joints that have become restricted or misaligned. This reduces nerve irritation, releases muscle tension, and breaks the pain cycle.
Mobilisation is used when manipulation is not appropriate — for example, in patients with osteoporosis, acute inflammation, or those who prefer a gentler approach.
What it feels like
Manipulation often provides immediate relief. You might feel a sense of release or lightness in the treated area. Some patients experience mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterwards, similar to post-exercise muscle soreness.
Mobilisation feels like a gentle stretch. It is comfortable and relaxing.
Interferential Current (IFC)
What it is
IFC is a form of electrical stimulation therapy. Dr Ross places four electrode pads on your skin around the painful area. The machine sends a mild electrical current through the tissues, creating a tingling or buzzing sensation.
What it does
IFC reduces pain by blocking pain signals to your brain. It also increases blood flow to the area, which reduces inflammation and speeds up healing.
The current penetrates deep into the tissues, making it effective for pain that originates from muscles, joints, or nerves below the skin surface.
What it feels like
Most patients find IFC comfortable and relaxing. The tingling sensation is mild, not painful. Treatment lasts 10 to 15 minutes while you rest on the treatment table.
Ultrasound Therapy
What it is
Therapeutic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to treat injured tissues deep below the skin. Dr Ross applies a gel to your skin and moves a small handheld device over the affected area. You will not hear or feel the sound waves.
What it does
The sound waves create vibrations in the deep tissues, which generate heat and increase blood flow. This promotes healing in damaged tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Ultrasound also helps break down scar tissue and adhesions that form after injuries, restoring flexibility to stiff tissues.
What it feels like
You might feel a gentle warmth in the treated area. The treatment is painless and takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Traction
What it is
Spinal traction gently stretches your spine using a specialised traction table or harness system. For neck traction, you lie on your back while a harness gently pulls your head away from your shoulders. For lower back traction, a harness around your pelvis pulls your lower spine in the opposite direction to your upper body.
What it does
Traction creates space between the vertebrae in your spine. This reduces pressure on compressed nerves and allows bulging or herniated discs to move back toward their normal position.
It also stretches tight muscles and ligaments along the spine, reducing muscle spasm and improving mobility.
What it feels like
Traction feels like a gentle stretch. Most patients find it relaxing. The pulling force is gradual and controlled — never painful or sudden. Treatment lasts 10 to 20 minutes.
Dry Needling and Trigger Point Therapy
What it is
Dry needling uses thin acupuncture-style needles inserted directly into tight bands of muscle called trigger points. These are painful knots that form in muscles after injury, overuse, or prolonged tension.
The needles are solid, not hollow — nothing is injected, which is why it is called "dry" needling.
What it does
When the needle penetrates a trigger point, it causes the muscle to twitch and then relax. This releases the knot, restores blood flow to the area, and reduces pain.
Dry needling is particularly effective for chronic muscle pain that does not respond to massage or stretching alone.
What it feels like
You will feel a small prick when the needle goes in, similar to a mosquito bite. When the needle hits the trigger point, you might feel a brief muscle twitch or a dull ache. This is normal and means the treatment is working.
Some patients experience mild soreness in the treated muscle for 24 to 48 hours afterwards. Drinking plenty of water after treatment helps reduce soreness.
Not Sure Which Treatment Is Right for You?
Book an initial consultation. Dr Ross will assess your condition and recommend the best approach.
