What a Patient Said That Made Me Think
A few months ago a patient in her fifties came in after what she described as a “not great experience” with a previous chiropractor. I asked her what had put her off. She said: “He never really explained what he was doing or why. I just lay there and got clicked, and I didn’t know if anything was changing.” That’s not a complaint about the adjustment itself. It’s a complaint about the absence of genuine clinical reasoning.
Finding the best chiropractor in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs isn’t about finding the most popular clinic or the biggest marketing budget. It’s about finding a practitioner whose assessment is thorough, whose treatment rationale is transparent, and who is honest with you about what they can and can’t help with.
Qualifications: What’s Behind the Title
In Australia, chiropractors complete a five-year university degree and must be registered with AHPRA. Beyond registration, look for postgraduate training or specialisation. A chiropractor who has invested in additional education is signalling they take their clinical development seriously.
Dual qualifications are increasingly common and clinically valuable. I hold both my chiropractic degree and ESSA accreditation as an exercise physiologist — which means I can manage both the structural cause of your pain and the rehabilitation that follows.
Technique Transparency: The Question Worth Asking
The single most useful question you can ask a chiropractor before starting care is: “What technique do you use, and why?” A good answer will be specific and reasoned. The best chiropractor for you personally is one whose approach makes sense to you and whose explanation is clear enough that you could relay it to someone else.
X-Ray Use: When It’s Appropriate
At Gordon Chiropractic & Exercise Physiology, we have access to bulk-billed 3D EOS Digital X-ray — a full-spine, weight-bearing imaging system with significantly lower radiation than conventional X-ray. When we take X-rays, we take them standing, because that’s how you actually load your spine.
Red Flags to Avoid When Choosing a Chiropractor
- Recommending long-term maintenance care from the first visit without a clear assessment rationale
- Applying the same treatment plan to every patient regardless of presentation
- Cannot or will not explain their findings in plain language
- Discourages you from seeing a GP or specialist when appropriate
- Makes claims that chiropractic treats conditions well outside the musculoskeletal scope without solid evidence
Questions to Ask at Your First Appointment
- What did your assessment find, and what does it mean for my specific symptoms?
- What technique will you use, and why is it appropriate for my situation?
- What are your goals for my care, and how will we know if it’s working?
- Are there presentations that would lead you to refer me to a GP or specialist?
- What’s your relationship with exercise rehabilitation?
Book with Dr Gordon: Call (02) 9371 7774 or book online at gordonchiropractic.com.au.