First Visit (30–45 minutes) Your chiropractor will take a thorough health history, assess your posture and movement, and perform a physical examination. If you have any scans or imaging, bring them along — they’re reviewed as part of your assessment. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what’s contributing to your pain and a personalised treatment plan with realistic goals and timeframes.

Manual treatments at Cornerstone is gentle, targeted, and explained every step of the way. Depending on your needs, your care may include:

• Spinal adjustments — precise, controlled movements to restore joint function and reduce pain
• Mobilisation — gentler joint movement for those who prefer a lower-force approach
• Soft tissue therapy — hands-on muscle release and trigger point work
• Corrective exercises — tailored home programs to build strength and lasting change
• Adjunct therapies — dry needling, taping, or instrument-assisted soft tissue techniques
• Integrated care — combination with spinal decompression, laser therapy, or shockwave therapy where appropriate

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your treatment is shaped around what works for your body and your life.

Chiropractic and Physiotherapy treatments have a strong safety record when delivered by a qualified, registered practitioner. Before any treatment begins, your chiropractor screens for any conditions that may require a modified approach or referral — including bone health, cardiovascular factors, and recent injuries or surgeries.

If a hands-on adjustment isn’t suitable for you, there are always gentle alternatives. Your safety and comfort come first.

The sound you hear during a chiropractic adjustment is called cavitation, and it comes from the joint itself — not from bones grinding or cracking against each other.

Here’s what’s actually happening:

Your joints are surrounded by a capsule filled with synovial fluid, which lubricates and nourishes the joint. Dissolved within that fluid are gases — mainly carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen.

When a chiropractor applies a quick, controlled movement to a joint, the pressure inside the joint drops suddenly. This causes the dissolved gases to rapidly form a bubble — and that bubble pops. That’s the sound.

It’s the same basic phenomenon as when you crack your knuckles.

Not necessarily. A successful adjustment is about restoring movement and reducing nerve irritation — not about achieving a sound. Many effective chiropractic techniques produce no sound at all, including mobilisation, soft tissue work, and instrument-assisted methods.

Some people hear a loud crack; others feel a gentle release with nothing audible. Both are completely normal.

No. The cavitation itself causes no damage to the joint. Research does not support the old concern that “cracking joints” leads to arthritis — that myth has been well and truly debunked.

It’s a satisfying sound for many patients, but it’s the movement restored — not the noise — that’s doing the therapeutic work.