Sports Chiropractic - in Melbourne

Chiropractic done different

1:1 Care for 1 HOUR. Focused on Personalised, Exercise and Movement-Based Care. Not Pushing Towards 15min Adjustments-Only or Regular Maintenance Care

01. WHAT SEPARATES US

Sports Chiropractic is not the same as traditional chiropractic.

Sports chiropractic is not the same as traditional chiropractic. The clinical focus is musculoskeletal injury in active people — not spinal maintenance, not adjustment-only care, and not 15-minute appointments where you're processed through a room and handed the same exercises as everyone else.

At Pinnacle Rehab and Performance, every appointment is 60 minutes, 1-on-1, with the same clinician. The goal is not pain relief in isolation — it is understanding why you are injured, building the capacity to recover fully, and ensuring you return to your sport or training stronger than before.

02 HOW IT WORKS

What a Sports Chiropractor Does

A sports chiropractor is trained to assess, diagnose, and manage musculoskeletal injuries in active individuals and athletes. The scope of practice includes:

01

Comprehensive assessment

Movement analysis, orthopaedic testing, neurological screening, and load tolerance evaluation

02

Clinical diagnosis

Identifying the structures involved, the contributing factors, and the appropriate management pathway

03

Manual therapy

03 HOW IS IT DIFFERENT

Including joint mobilisation and manipulation, and soft tissue therapy

04

Exercise rehabilitation

Structured, progressive loading programs targeting the specific strength, mobility, and movement deficits driving the injury

04

Return to Activity

Sport-specific loading, training integration, and criteria-based discharge — you leave with the strength and capacity to stay injury-free

What Makes This Approach Different?

At Pinnacle, sports chiropractic integrates directly with a Strength & Conditioning background — meaning the rehabilitation process does not stop at clinical discharge. It continues into sport-specific conditioning, training integration, and performance development.

Sessions are 60 minutes, 1-on-1, with the same clinician. You get a structured program with clear milestones delivered via our training app (TrainHeroic), and your return-to-sport goals are built into the plan from day one — not added as an afterthought.

You will not leave your first appointment without understanding what is wrong, why it is happening, and what the path forward looks like.

04 WHO WE HELP

Who This is For?

Sports Chiropractic at Pinnacle Rehab and Performance is designed for:

  • Athletes recovering from acute injuries — sprains, strains, tears, post-surgical rehabilitation

  • Active individuals with chronic or recurring conditions — back pain, tendinopathy, joint pain that keeps coming back

  • People who have been through standard treatment and haven't achieved lasting results

Anyone whose goal is not just pain relief but full return to training, sport, or physical activity at capacity

05. OUR EXPERTISE

What We Treat. Performance-focused rehab.

Including lumbar disc injuries, facet joint irritation, SI joint dysfunction, and chronic non-specific low back pain. Management targets load tolerance, movement quality, and long-term strength.

Lumbar Disc

Facet Joint

Chronic LBP

SI Joint

Gluteal tendinopathy, hip flexor strains, hip impingement (FAI), labral injuries, and groin-related conditions. Rehabilitation addresses hip loading strategies, strength, and movement mechanics.

Impingement

Gluteal Tendinopathy

Labral Tear

Hip Flexor

Rotator cuff strains and tears, shoulder impingement, AC joint sprains, and glenohumeral instability. Rehabilitation focuses on rotator cuff strength, scapular control, and sport-specific loading.

Rotator Cuff

AC Joint

Instability

ACL and MCL sprains and tears, meniscus injuries, patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendinopathy, and post-surgical knee rehabilitation. Return-to-sport criteria driven by strength symmetry and functional testing.

ACL

MCL

Patellar Tendinopathy

Runner’s Knee

Meniscus

Lateral ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy/ruptures, plantar fasciitis, peroneal tendon injuries, and chronic ankle instability. Progressive loading and return-to-sport programming are central to management.

Ankle Sprains

Achilles Tendinopathy

Chronic Instability

Hamstring strains (grade I–III), proximal hamstring tendinopathy, and quadriceps injuries. Progressive loading and eccentric strengthening are key to managing these conditions in active individuals.

Proximal Tendinopathy

Hamstring Strain

Quad Strain

06. WHY PINNACLE REHAB AND PERFORMANCE

Not all rehab is
built the same.

Here's how Pinnacle Rehab and Performance compares to the traditional approach — and why the model matters for athletes and active people who want to stay active and come back stronger.

Pinnacle Rehab & Performance Recommended Typical
Chiro / Physio Clinic
Personal Trainer /
S&C Coach
Dedicated 1-on-1 care Full session — no sharing
Every session is 60min and 1-on-1 — your practitioner is with you the entire time
High-volume model or short 20-30min appointments
1-on-1 attention, but no clinical qualification to assess injury
Holistic full-body assessment Root cause, not just symptoms
We assess the site of pain and the whole system — movement, load, and contributing factors
Assessment often limited to the symptomatic region only
Fitness-based assessment — not designed for injury evaluation
Structured rehab roadmap Clarity from session one
A clear phase-by-phase plan from your first visit — you always know where you're headed
Session-by-session approach — no programme structure communicated
Training plan available, but not built around clinical recovery stages
Sport & performance integration Return to sport — stronger
Rehab is bridged directly into sport-specific loading, movement, and performance goals
Discharge often at "pain free" — without sport-specific return-to-performance criteria
Sport-specific programming available, but not integrated with injury management
Dual clinical + S&C expertise Diagnosis meets programming
(Sports) Chiropractic qualification combined with an S&C background — both in one practitioner
Clinical expertise only — performance programming requires a separate referral
S&C expertise only — injury assessment and clinical diagnosis outside scope of practice

Comparisons reflect general service model differences and are not intended to discredit other practitioners or professions. Individual clinical outcomes vary depending on each person's presentation, history, and engagement with their management plan. All care provided at Pinnacle is evidence-informed and within the scope of practice of a registered AHPRA chiropractor.

07 COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.

Questions about sports chiropractic, injury management or how Pinnacle Rehab and Performance can help you? — answered directly.

  • A sports chiropractor has training and experience focused on musculoskeletal injuries in active individuals and athletes. At Pinnacle Rehab and Performance, this is combined with a strength and conditioning background — meaning rehabilitation is performance-integrated from day one, not just pain management. Sessions focus on load, movement quality, and sport-specific capacity, not passive treatment alone.

  • The key difference is the integration of clinical and evidence-based chiropractic care with a genuine strength and conditioning background — and the structure of sessions.

    Every appointment is 60 minutes, 1-on-1, with the same clinician. Rehabilitation is structured across clear phases with objective milestones, with the goal of full return to sport and performance — not just pain relief.

  • Chiropractors and physiotherapists have overlapping scopes of practice in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The distinction at Pinnacle is not primarily about the profession — it is about the clinical model: 60-minute appointments, performance-integrated rehabilitation, criteria-based return to sport, and the integration of S&C coaching within the clinical process. These features are not standard in either profession.

  • No referral is required. You can book directly online. If you have existing imaging or specialist reports relevant to your condition, bring those to your first appointment — they will inform the assessment process.

  • Yes. Online rehab consultations are available for those outside Melbourne or who prefer remote access.

    Online sessions include full assessment, program design, and ongoing coaching support via the TrainHeroic app.

    These are available across Australia and around the world.

  • Many of our clients come to us after traditional PT hasn’t helped. We focus on finding and treating root causes — not just symptoms — and create a plan tailored to your body and goals.

Our Programs Take You Through Our Proven 4 Stage Return to Play Protocol

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Cover of a guide for a 4-stage return to play process from injury to performance, featuring the Pinnacle Rehab & Performance logo and a smiling man with folded arms, with a blurred athlete running in the background.

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