COMMON MUSCULOSKELETAL CONDITIONS
At Dance Chiropractor Sydney, Petros Vournelis treats a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions affecting dancers, athletes, and everyday Australians. With over 30 years of clinical expertise combining chiropractic care, osteopathy, acupuncture, and targeted rehabilitation, Petros addresses both acute injuries and chronic pain to restore pain-free movement and optimal function.
Posture Problems
Poor posture from prolonged sitting, desk work, or repetitive activities can lead to chronic pain, muscle imbalances, and reduced mobility. Postural dysfunction places excessive stress on the spine, shoulders, and hips, causing tension headaches, neck pain, and lower back discomfort.
Treatment approach: Petros uses spinal adjustments, postural correction exercises, and ergonomic education to restore proper alignment. Targeted strengthening and stretching programs retrain movement patterns and build resilient posture for long-term relief.
Common symptoms: Rounded shoulders, forward head position, upper back tension, chronic fatigue, breathing difficulties.
Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are common in athletes, performers, manual workers, and office professionals. Conditions like rotator cuff strains, impingement syndrome, and frozen shoulder can significantly impact daily activities and performance.
Treatment approach: Comprehensive assessment identifies the root cause—whether joint restriction, muscle weakness, or movement dysfunction. Treatment combines manual therapy, soft tissue work, acupuncture for inflammation, and progressive rehabilitation to restore strength and range of motion.
Common conditions: Rotator cuff tears, shoulder impingement, frozen shoulder, AC joint injuries, labral tears, bursitis.
Knee Injuries
Knee pain affects runners, dancers, sports participants, and those with degenerative conditions. Whether from acute trauma, overuse, or biomechanical dysfunction, knee injuries require expert assessment and targeted treatment.
Treatment approach: Petros addresses knee pain by examining the entire kinetic chain—hip mobility, ankle stability, and movement patterns. Treatment includes joint mobilisation, strengthening exercises for stability, and gait retraining to prevent recurrence.
Common conditions: Patellofemoral pain syndrome, meniscus tears, ligament sprains, IT band syndrome, patellar tendinitis, osteoarthritis.
Joint Pain and Arthritis
Joint pain and arthritis can limit mobility, reduce quality of life, and interfere with work and recreation. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and general joint degeneration require ongoing management to maintain function and reduce discomfort.
Treatment approach: Manual therapy improves joint mobility and reduces stiffness. Exercise prescription focuses on maintaining range of motion, building supportive muscle strength, and slowing progression. Treatment is tailored to manage flare-ups and support long-term joint health.
Commonly affected areas: Hips, knees, spine, hands, shoulders, ankles.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis (inflammation of tendons) results from overuse, repetitive strain, or sudden increases in activity. Common in athletes and manual workers, tendonitis causes pain, swelling, and reduced function if left untreated.
Treatment approach: Acupuncture reduces inflammation and pain. Soft tissue therapy addresses muscle tension contributing to tendon stress. Progressive loading exercises rebuild tendon strength and resilience while addressing biomechanical factors causing overload.
Common types: Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, rotator cuff tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, De Quervain's tenosynovitis.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons Australians seek musculoskeletal care. Whether from acute injury, chronic strain, disc problems, or postural stress, back pain can be debilitating and impact every aspect of life.
Treatment approach: Petros identifies the specific cause through thorough assessment—disc injury, facet joint restriction, muscle strain, or nerve irritation. Treatment combines spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, core strengthening, and movement retraining for lasting relief.
Common causes: Disc bulges and herniations, facet joint dysfunction, muscle strains, sacroiliac joint pain, sciatica, postural strain, degenerative disc disease.
Neck Pain and Stiff Neck
Neck pain and stiffness affect people of all ages, often caused by poor posture, desk work, whiplash injuries, or sleeping positions. Left untreated, neck pain can lead to headaches, shoulder tension, and reduced quality of life.
Treatment approach: Gentle cervical adjustments restore neck mobility. Soft tissue massage releases muscle tension. Postural correction and neck strengthening exercises address underlying causes and prevent recurrence.
Common causes: Cervical disc injuries, facet joint restrictions, muscle strain, whiplash, text neck, cervical radiculopathy.
Headaches and Migraines
Tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches (originating from the neck) respond well to chiropractic and osteopathic care. Many headaches result from neck dysfunction, jaw tension, or postural stress rather than primary neurological causes.
Treatment approach: Upper cervical adjustments, jaw mobilisation, and soft tissue release reduce muscle tension and nerve irritation. Trigger point therapy and acupuncture provide rapid relief. Lifestyle and postural advice prevents future episodes.
Common types: Tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, migraine management, cluster headaches, jaw-related headaches (TMJ).
Sciatica
Sciatica is pain radiating down the leg caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Common causes include disc herniations, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, or facet joint dysfunction.
Treatment approach: Comprehensive assessment identifies the source of nerve irritation. Treatment combines spinal adjustments, nerve mobilisation techniques, soft tissue therapy, and targeted exercises to decompress the nerve and address underlying biomechanical issues.
Common symptoms: Shooting leg pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, burning sensation, pain worsening with sitting or bending.
Expert Assessment and Personalised Treatment
Every condition is unique, and every patient receives individualised care at Dance Chiropractor Sydney. Petros combines hands-on therapy with evidence-based rehabilitation to address the root cause of your pain—not just the symptoms.
If you're experiencing any of these conditions, contact us today to schedule your consultation and start your journey to pain-free movement and lasting recovery.
