Dr Jo the Chiro

20/04/2026

If your little one dreads the car seat, you’re not alone. 🚗💺

For some babies and kids, it’s more than just restlessness — it can be discomfort, restriction, or even car sickness. Car seats are designed for safety (as they should be), but they’re not always ideal for posture, especially on longer trips.

Over 20 years in clinical practice, I’ve noticed something interesting: kids who are adjusted before travel often cope much better — even those who previously struggled with car sickness.

Why might this be?

It comes down to how the body and nervous system work together. The brain is constantly processing input from the eyes, inner ear (vestibular system), and body. When there’s imbalance or restriction — particularly through the spine or pelvis — that information can become a bit “noisy,” which may contribute to nausea or discomfort.

Add in factors like:
• Facing backwards
• The angle of the car seat
• Pressure through the pelvis and hips

…and it’s easy to see how some kids feel unsettled.

Ever wondered why you’re more likely to feel car sick as a passenger than as the driver? Same idea — it’s all about how your brain interprets movement versus what your body expects.

Alongside exploring gentle chiropractic care, you can also support your child’s system with simple vestibular activities at home:

✨ 1. Head turns + eye tracking
Have your child focus on a toy or your finger while gently turning their head side to side. This helps the brain coordinate movement and visual input.

✨ 2. Rolling games
Encourage slow rolling on the floor (like a “log roll”). This stimulates the vestibular system in a safe, playful way.

✨ 3. Swinging or gentle rocking
Using a swing or even rocking in your arms can help regulate the inner ear and improve tolerance to movement.

These simple strategies can help the brain and body communicate more clearly — making car rides a little smoother for everyone.

If car rides are a challenge in your household, it may be worth exploring a combination of chiropractic support and movement-based exercises.

17/03/2026

17/03/2026

Getting some CPD learning hours up for 2026! Learning about the knee, foot and shoulder.

10/03/2026

A couple of afternoon spots have become available today with at West Gosford. Jump online to book!

03/03/2026

Feeling dizzy when you roll over in bed? Or like the room is spinning when you look up or bend down? 😵‍💫

You might be dealing with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) — one of the most common causes of vertigo.

BPPV happens when tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear get displaced and move into the wrong canal. When you change head position, those crystals shift — triggering short bursts of spinning dizziness, nausea, or imbalance.

The good news? It’s very treatable 🙌

As chiropractors, we assess whether your dizziness is coming from the inner ear, neck, or another cause. If it’s BPPV, we can perform a specific repositioning technique called the Epley’s manoeuvre.

This gentle series of guided head movements helps move the crystals back where they belong — often giving fast relief, sometimes in just 1–2 sessions.

But that’s not all 👇

The neck and upper spine play a HUGE role in balance. The joints, muscles, and nerves in your cervical spine constantly send information to your brain about where your head is in space.

If there’s stiffness, restricted movement, or dysfunction in the neck, it can:
• Contribute to dizziness
• Prolong recovery from BPPV
• Create “cervicogenic” dizziness alongside inner ear issues

Specific chiropractic adjustments to the spine can help:
✔ Improve joint mobility
✔ Restore proper movement patterns
✔ Support better communication between the neck and brain
✔ Enhance overall balance and stability

By addressing both the inner ear (with the Epley’s manoeuvre) AND the spine, we take a comprehensive approach to getting you steady again 💙

✨ What you might notice after treatment:
• Reduced spinning sensations
• Improved balance
• More confidence moving your head
• Less anxiety about triggering dizziness

If you’ve been avoiding certain movements because of vertigo, don’t ignore it — BPPV is common, manageable, and you don’t have to live with it.

Book an assessment and let’s get you steady again 🙌

08/02/2026

Heavy backpacks, long sitting, and screen time can add up fast.

A chiropractic check-up helps catch posture and spinal issues early before aches, headaches, or bad habits set in.

🦴 Chiro Back-to-School Tips:

✔ Backpack = 10–15% of body weight
✔ Use both straps
✔ Sit tall at desks
✔ Take movement breaks
✔ Get regular spinal check-ups

Healthy spine. Better focus. Strong school year 💙

05/02/2026

🧊 Frozen Shoulder ≠ “Just Stiffness”

Adhesive capsulitis causes deep shoulder pain + major loss of movement — often with no clear injury.

🚨 Common signs:
• Night pain
• Aching shoulder
• Can’t reach overhead or behind your back
• Trouble with bras, jackets, seatbelts, sleep

❄️ The 3 Stages:
Freezing (2–9 mo): pain ↑, movement ↓
Frozen (4–12 mo): pain settles, stiffness locks in
Thawing (6–24 mo): slow return of motion

🔥 Why perimenopause matters:
Fluctuating estrogen = more stiffness, inflammation, slower healing.
Frozen shoulder is most common in women 40–60.

💆‍♀️ How care can help:
✨ Chiropractic → improves joint mechanics & reduces guarding
✨ Acupuncture → reduces pain, inflammation & supports healing

💥 Bottom line:
Sudden shoulder pain during perimenopause is common, real, and treatable — especially with early, hormone-aware care.

20/01/2026

✨ 20 years a Chiropractor ✨

This week marks 20 years since I started my journey as a chiro, and I’ve been reflecting on what that really means.

I’ve truly loved being a chiropractor. I love solving problems in the body, helping people feel better, and genuinely connecting with people every single day. It is such a privilege to be trusted with someone’s body and their health. Even after 20 years, I’m still in awe of how incredible the human body is and what it’s capable of.

I’m still learning — new techniques, new treatment approaches, new research, and best practices. The profession is always evolving, with changing technology, expectations, and ways of caring for people, and I love that it keeps me curious and growing.

That said, it hasn’t always been easy. It’s definitely not been a walk in the park. Being a business owner is harder than most people realise — it can be a real roller coaster. Some days are tough. Some days you can’t fix everyone, no matter how much you want to. Balancing a practice and a family is challenging. Being face-to-face with people all day, every day, takes energy — and there’s no working from home in this job.

But despite the hard days, I wouldn’t change it. I’m grateful for the people I’ve met, the trust I’ve been given, and the work I get to do.

Here’s to seeing what the next 20 years brings 💙

❤️

11/01/2026

✨ Back to Clinic & Back to Routine – Let’s Start 2026 Well!✨

I’m back in clinic after the holidays and ready to help you reset for the year ahead 🙌

📍 West Gosford: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
📍 North Ryde: Tuesday & Thursday
⏰ Normal hours
📞 Bookings available online or by phoning the clinic

The holidays are great… but we often see the after-effects once routines return. Common complaints at this time of year include:

* Stiff or sore backs and necks after long drives or flights 🚗✈️
* Poor sleep from unfamiliar beds and pillows 🛏️
* Headaches, tension and fatigue from disrupted routines
* Flare-ups of old injuries once work or school resumes

Your spine and nervous system play a central role in how your body functions, adapts and recovers. When the spine isn’t moving well, it can interfere with how your nervous system communicates with the rest of your body. An adjustment helps restore motion, reduce stress on the nervous system, and reset your body so you’re better prepared for the demands of work, school and sport.

🎒 With school returning soon, now is a great time for a proper spinal check-up for both adults and kids—before small issues turn into bigger ones.

💳 Good news: Many health funds have reset for the new year, so you may have benefits available again.

🩺 You can also speak with your GP to see if you’re eligible for a Chronic Disease Management Plan, which may help with ongoing care.

Let’s start 2026 feeling aligned, moving better, and functioning at our best 💙
👉 Book online or call the clinic to secure your spot.
#2026

24/12/2025

2025 has been a HUGE year! But also one I’m really proud of. This year I returned to full time practice hours. Something I haven’t done since having my first baby 16 years ago. And this was commuting across 2 really busy clinics in Sydney and on the central coast.

I have had the privilege of adjusting many patients, families and kids and I have met some amazing new people along the way.

Thank you for trusting me with your health in 2025 and I look forward to another great year next year!

But for now, I’m clocking off for a few weeks to rest the hands and the brain. I’ll return to clinic on Jan 12th 2026.

08/12/2025

✨ Feeling that end-of-year burnout creeping in?

You’re not alone. This time of year piles on deadlines, events, travel, social pressure and a whole lot of nervous-system overload. When your body stays in “go-go-go” mode too long, you may notice:

• brain fog
• tight shoulders + jaw
• irritability
• trouble sleeping
• headaches
• that “I’m running on fumes” feeling

Here’s the thing: your nervous system is the command centre for how your body handles stress. When it’s stuck in overdrive, everything else feels harder.

💆‍♂️ That’s where a chiropractic checkup can help.
Gentle chiropractic care helps restore proper spinal mobility and alignment, which supports healthier nervous system function. When your nervous system can communicate clearly, your body shifts out of stress mode more easily—helping you feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded heading into the new year.

If your body is waving the white flag right now, consider this your sign to get checked.
Your nervous system deserves a reset, too. 💛

02/12/2025

✨ HEADACHES — What Your Headache Might Be Telling You✨

Not all headaches are the same — and the pattern matters. Here are some common types and clues to help you understand what’s driving yours:

💢 TYPES OF HEADACHES

🔹 Tension Headaches
Feel like a tight band around the head. Often linked to stress, posture + tight neck/shoulder muscles.

🔹 Migraines
Throbbing, one-sided pain. May come with nausea, light/sound sensitivity or visual changes.

🔹 Cervicogenic Headaches
Start in the neck and move upward. Often triggered by posture or reduced neck mobility.

🔹 Cluster Headaches
Severe, sharp pain around one eye. Occur in cycles.

🔍 CLUES THAT MATTER

🕗 Headaches worse on waking?
• Teeth grinding or clenching
• Sleep posture/pillow issues
• Possible blood pressure changes

🕓 Headaches worse as the day goes on?
• Posture strain (hello, desk work!)
• Muscle fatigue
• Eye strain

💛 Headaches that follow your cycle?
• Around ovulation
• Premenstrual phase
• Perimenopause
(Hormonal shifts can heighten sensitivity to triggers.)

💆‍♂️ HOW CHIROPRACTIC CAN HELP

Chiropractic care may help by:
✔ Improving neck + spinal mobility
✔ Reducing muscle + postural tension
✔ Supporting healthy movement patterns
✔ Helping you identify triggers that keep headaches coming back

Many people notice fewer and less intense headaches after addressing underlying mechanical stress.

📝 WHY A HEADACHE DIARY HELPS

A simple diary can reveal patterns like:
• Time of day
• Posture + activities
• Sleep quality
• Hormonal cycle
• Food + lifestyle triggers
• What eases or worsens it

More clarity = more effective care.

If headaches are interrupting your life, it’s time to listen to the clues your body is giving you ✨

Need help breaking the cycle? Book in — you don’t have to keep pushing through. 💛