North Coast Head Neck & Jaw Centre

North Coast Head Neck & Jaw Centre Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from North Coast Head Neck & Jaw Centre, Osteopathic Doctor, 32 Tamar Street, Ballina.

Appointments available in Ballina

We treat:
Headache & Migraine
Neck & Jaw pain
Whiplash & Concussion
Dizziness, Vertigo & BPPV

EPC Plans
Workcover
Private health rebates

Time for a long overdue introduction. I’m Leon, the founder of North Coast Head Neck & Jaw Centre. We are a Ballina-base...
17/04/2026

Time for a long overdue introduction. I’m Leon, the founder of North Coast Head Neck & Jaw Centre. We are a Ballina-based osteopathic clinic dedicated to evidence-informed management of conditions relating to the (surprise) head, neck and jaw. I trained as an Osteopath at Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland, New Zealand and have been working in Australia since 2018.

Almost two years ago I made the difficult decision to move on from co-owning a busy osteopathic practice with a great team. This has allowed me to focus on my clinical interests and quickly improve how I treat and manage my patients with more complex presentations. I have a particular interest in headache disorders, jaw dysfunction, acute and persistent concussion symptoms and BPPV.

My approach is simple - listen to the patients story, perform an examination relating to their complaints, set some goals, and work together to improve function and reduce symptoms. I treat each patient differently depending on their sensitivity level, their medical history and their preferences.

Outside of my practice, I work within the osteopathy programme at Southern Cross University as a casual lecturer and clinical educator (Lismore and Gold Coast campuses). I’m truely grateful to be involved in helping young osteopaths develop osteopathic skills, improve clinical reasoning, and assist with managing their patients at the student clinics.

When my osteo hat is off, you will find me with my family, on the beach wishing I could surf, drinking coffee, or rock-climbing at Jungl Ballina.

If you’re in the Ballina shire and looking for someone to help with your neck/jaw/head issues, reach out and say hi.

07/04/2026

Cervical radiculopathy is more than just a pain in the neck. Typically, we see people present with neck pain or restriction with pain radiating along the course of the nerve through the shoulder and/or arm. This is coupled with changes in sensation, most commonly in the hand and forearm.

A thorough physical assessment (mainly to rule out other more serious causes of the symptoms) accurate diagnosis, and individualised management plan is key to achieving good results.

I believe one of the most important aspects is taking the time to show the patient what is going on, why it’s happening, and what we can do about it. The more someone understands their symptoms, the less scary they are.

24/02/2026

Don’t neglect your eyes! Plenty of good resources available on this topic if you’re interested to learn more. If you’re a practitioner I can recommend the Complete Concussion online course.

12/02/2026

Part 2!

06/02/2026

This is a massive topic and I don’t plan these videos so I forgot lots of really important things.

Suspect UCI if patient has ongoing neck symptoms, worsened by neck movements or postures that are relieved lying flat. Symptoms may be mild and just neck pain/headaches or more severe - this is a massive spectrum and can change day to day. Further suspect UCI if patient has generalised hyper-mobility or other symptoms/signs indicative of connective tissue disorder.

Diagnosis is difficult and may not be necessary to manage people with mild-moderate musculoskeletal symptoms. For people with sever symptoms or neurological symptoms that indicate brain stem or cord compression further imaging and collaboration with GP and specialists will be important. Normal imaging modalities (standard X-ray and supine MRI) aren’t always enough to see instability so trusting patient history and clinical findings….

08/01/2026

Bring on 2026

16/12/2025

It’s estimated that over 25% of the general population has some form of jaw disorder. The most common structural problem is internal derangement of the articular disc. This can cause disc displacement which can lead to audible clicking and popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth. For the majority, this will be no more than an annoying sound but for others it will progress and have a larger impact on quality of life.

In acute displacement (usually trauma to the chin or jaw in sport or a fall) manual relocation of the disc is often effective in resolving the issue. For chronic issues we often work on the jaw with manual therapy and combine joint mobilisation, massage, and stretching with home exercises and self-management advice. This can take time to make changes and we are often battling behavioural and postural habits.

If you have persistent jaw issues, get in touch or make a booking to come see how we can help. Link in bio.

27/11/2025

Part 2 in our jaw series: Myogenic TMD.
Definitely the most common presentation in the clinic here is jaw pain and stiffness relating to muscle overuse.

30/10/2025

Probably one of my favourite things to talk about and treat in the clinic. Jaw problems are ridiculously common and often poorly treated and managed. This is the first of a few videos on the topic depending on how interested people are in the subject matter, this one is an introduction - next week will talk specifically about myogenic TMD and how to treat it.

17/10/2025

This video is intended to help people look at persistent neck problems from a different perspective. The neck is important for our balance and if there is a mis-match of signals between the eyes, vestibular organs and neck, our brain can try to prevent unpleasant symptoms such as dizziness/vertigo. In some cases, this can be a contraction of neck muscles to prevent movement of the neck and head to reduce this input.

Treating dizziness and vertigo can be complex and may take some time depending on the cause and how long it has been present.

If you have dizziness/vertigo or you suspect it could be a part of your neck problem, get in touch to make an appointment or go online to book.

10/10/2025

As an osteopath we often end up treating the whole family. Sometimes parents will ask about how we can help manage their kids issues, most commonly headaches or jaw problems. We love helping to address these issues, particularly in the early stages where we can make a big difference in a short time.

If you’ve got questions about any of this, feel free to send a DM.

What’s not to love.✅ Convenient location✅ Plenty of parking✅ Easy access✅ Friendly and professional staff ✅ Relaxing env...
30/09/2025

What’s not to love.

✅ Convenient location
✅ Plenty of parking
✅ Easy access
✅ Friendly and professional staff
✅ Relaxing environment

Address

32 Tamar Street
Ballina, NSW
2478

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30am

Website

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