A gentle, considered approach to lifelong health

Chiropractic care is a regulated health profession concerned with the function of the spine, nervous system, and musculoskeletal system — and with the way these systems support the well-being of the whole person. At Dynamic Neurodevelopment, we draw on nearly forty years of clinical experience to provide chiropractic care that is thoughtful, evidence-informed, and tailored to each individual who walks through our doors — from the youngest baby to the oldest grandparent.

Our name reflects our particular interest: the dynamic processes of growth, development, and adaptation that unfold over a lifetime. Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your child, or your whole family, we are here to help.

Nervous system regulation

The nervous system is the body's communication network — coordinating movement, sensation, digestion, breathing, sleep, and our responses to stress. Because the spine and cranial system house the central nervous system, chiropractic care has long been interested in how spinal and nervous system function influence one another. Gentle chiropractic techniques aim to support healthy nervous system regulation: the body's capacity to shift between states of activity and rest, recover from stress, and maintain the steady, adaptive function that underpins both physical and emotional well-being. 

Performance and function

Healthy movement is foundational to well-being, whether that means a baby progressing through tummy time, a child running freely in the playground, an athlete returning to training after injury, or an older adult moving with confidence in everyday life. Chiropractic care supports the body's capacity to move, adapt, and perform by attending to spinal and joint function, postural alignment, and the coordination between the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. The aim is not peak output for its own sake, but the kind of comfortable, capable function that allows people of every age to do what matters to them.

Pregnancy

The incredible physical and hormonal events occurring in a woman’s body during pregnancy are both miraculous and challenging…  It is a time when the body expresses an amazing wisdom.

Postural changes, ligament laxity, and shifts in the body’s centre of gravity are some of the extraordinary changes that accommodate a growing baby.  These changes sometimes create joint discomfort, particularly in the low back and pelvis and stress to soft tissues like muscles and ligaments.

Chiropractors are skilful at assessing improper joint motion and function.  Restoring balance to the neuro-musculoskeletal system can make pregnancy a more comfortable journey for many women.

We use gentle blocking procedures, and other SOT techniques to assist with healthy function throughout this time and to prepare the body for birthing.

We are experienced in the gentle care of women during all stages of pregnancy.

Babies and children

Many parents choose to bring their babies and children to the Chiropractor for the assessment of their neuro-musculoskeletal system. Infancy and childhood are times of rapid growth. It is important to ensure that the connections between the brain and body develop and function well. Healthy nervous system function can support the achievement of developmental milestones.

We are committed to the careful assessment and gentle correction of your child’s spine and neuro-musculo-skeletal system to support their healthy development.

Developmental Milestones 

Development is a remarkable, ongoing process, most visible in the first years of life, but continuing through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Each stage builds on the foundations laid before it, and healthy movement, posture, and nervous system function play an important role at every step. Chiropractic care can support children as they progress through milestones such as head control, rolling, crawling, and walking, and as they meet the postural and learning demands of school. For adolescents and adults, the same principles apply to the ongoing demands of growth, work, and life, the body's developmental capacity does not end in childhood, and neither does our care. 

Care across the lifespan **

Chiropractic for babies and children

Infancy and childhood are times of remarkable change. Babies grow more in their first year than at any other point in life, and the connections between brain and body are being laid down at an extraordinary pace. Healthy nervous system function supports the achievement of developmental milestones — from feeding and sleeping in the early weeks, through rolling, crawling, and walking, to the postural demands of school age.

Parents bring their babies and children to us for many reasons, including:

• Feeding, latching, or settling difficulties in infancy
• Asymmetries in head shape, neck movement, or preference for one side
• Support through the physical demands of crawling, walking, and early milestones
• Postural concerns as children grow and spend longer hours at desks and devices
• General developmental wellbeing and nervous system regulation

Our assessment of babies and children is careful, patient, and age-appropriate. Our techniques are gentle and adapted to each child's size, stage, and comfort.

What the research tells us

In 2019, the Victorian Government's Safer Care Victoria conducted a review of chiropractic care for children under 12, including a public consultation that drew 22,043 responses from parents who had accessed chiropractic care for their child. It was the largest public response the platform had ever received on any topic. Dr Genevieve Keating served on the review panel and, with permission, analysed the de-identified dataset for her doctoral research—the largest known parental response survey on chiropractic care for children published to date.

Across this body of research, families reported:

• High rates of perceived benefit, with the majority of parents reporting that their child had improved following chiropractic care
• High satisfaction with the information they received about both the benefits and the risks of care
• Strong satisfaction with the informed-consent process and with being involved in decisions about their child's care
• Care that most often sat alongside — not instead of — input from GPs, maternal and child health nurses, and medical specialists, with most children concurrently under the care of other health professionals

The themes parents raised most consistently were around the thoroughness of assessment, the gentleness of care, the time practitioners took to listen, and the value of feeling part of a collaborative team around their child. These findings inform how we work with every family who comes through our doors.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of extraordinary physical and hormonal change. Ligament laxity, weight gain, and shifts in the body's centre of gravity all help accommodate a growing baby — but these same changes can create discomfort, particularly in the lower back, pelvis, and surrounding soft tissues.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy aims to support comfort, mobility, and balance through each trimester. We use gentle blocking procedures, Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT), Webster Technique, and other low-force methods suited to the changing shape and needs of the pregnant body.

Many women continue chiropractic care into the postnatal period, as the body recovers, adapts, and takes on the new physical demands of caring for a newborn.

Our techniques

Between our practitioners, we offer a broad range of chiropractic techniques, allowing us to tailor care to each individual. These include:

• Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT) — a gentle, specific approach using blocks and indicators to address function through the pelvis, spine, and cranium
• Cranial techniques — light-contact work supporting the bones, membranes, and fluid dynamics of the head and face
• Activator Methods — a precise, low-force instrument used in place of manual adjusting
• Webster Technique — a specific protocol used in pregnancy to support pelvic balance
• Manual adjusting — traditional chiropractic techniques for the spine and extremities, where appropriate
• Soft tissue and rehabilitation techniques — supporting muscles, connective tissue, and movement patterns
• Paediatric-specific methods — gentle, low-force approaches developed for infants and children

Not every patient receives every technique. Your practitioner will choose the approach best suited to your age, presentation, comfort, and goals.

What to expect on your first visit

Your first visit begins with a conversation. We want to understand your history, your concerns, and what you are hoping to achieve. This is followed by a thorough physical and — where appropriate — neurological assessment.

From there, we discuss what we have found, answer your questions, and agree on a plan of care together. If chiropractic is not the right fit for your needs, we will say so, and help guide you to the care you do need.

Subsequent visits are typically shorter and focus on the specific work we are doing together. We take care to explain what we are doing and why, at every stage.

Ready to book?

You can contact us on 03 9882 7012.

Dynamic Neurodevelopment is located at 1/650 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East. We welcome new patients of all ages.

Sources

Safer Care Victoria (2019). Chiropractic spinal manipulation of children under 12: Independent review. State of Victoria.

Keating, G. M. (2021). Parent reports of chiropractic care for children: A preliminary report from 22,043 parents in Australia. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, 20(1), 1731–1732.

Keating, G. (2021). Parent reported experiences of chiropractic care for their children in Australia (Doctoral dissertation). Fielding Graduate University.

World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on basic training and safety in chiroprac