Chiroprator in Plettenberg Bay

Treatments

Chiropractic & Acupuncture: A Complementary Approach

Combining chiropractic care with acupuncture offers a distinctive way to support musculoskeletal and nervous system health. While each can be beneficial on its own, together they create the conditions for faster recovery, deeper relaxation, and improved nervous system balance. As a registered chiropractor with additional training in acupuncture, I often integrate it into treatment, when appropriate, to support and extend the benefits of the adjustment. For patients who are uncomfortable with needles, acupressure provides an alternative with similar benefits

Benefits of Combined Treatment

✔ Relaxes muscle tension, improving spinal alignment

✔ Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest)

✔ Supports vagus nerve function, which regulates heart rate, digestion, breathing, and mood

✔ Encourages a calmer, more balanced response to stress

Chiropractic restores function. Acupuncture supports the system.

Acupuncture for Stress & Energy

Acupuncture can also be used on its own to restore balance and resilience, particularly when stress, fatigue, or low energy are the main concerns.

How acupuncture may help

Calms the nervous system
Improves sleep quality and mental clarity
Supports digestion and immune function
Enhances resilience to daily stress and burnout
Promotes a steadier mood and emotional balance

Common reasons patients seek acupuncture

Persistent stress or anxiety
Poor sleep or restless mind
Digestive discomfort or sluggishness
Fatigue or low energy
Tension headaches or muscle tightness

Many patients describe acupuncture sessions as a gentle “reset” for both body and mind.

A Tailored Approach to Care

Integrating acupuncture with chiropractic treatment is not about doing more—it’s about choosing what works best for each person. This tailored approach helps restore alignment, ease and balance across the whole system.

Acupuncture vs Dry Needling – Key Differences

Acupuncture and dry needling may look similar at first glance, but their purpose and outcomes are very different.

Acupuncture

Works within a broader system that regulates both the musculoskeletal and nervous system
Encourages relaxation, blood flow, and oxygenation
Helps calm stress responses and supports the parasympathetic nervous system
Creates the best environment for a precise chiropractic adjustment

Dry Needling

Targets local muscle trigger points to produce a brief twitch response
Can sometimes cause irritation or short-term muscle guarding before easing
Focuses on a single area rather than overall system balance

Why I use Acupuncture
Acupuncture works with the body’s natural rhythms. Dry needling disrupts local tension points. My focus is on whole-system support for sustainable change.

I adopt a patient centred and family friendly approach to my care and treat patients of all ages from newborn infants to seniors, understanding the unique needs of each stage of life.

I offer the option of either a Chiropractic adjustment or Acupuncture as individual treatments, or they can be combined in the same treatment. Acupuncture enhances the benefits of your chiropractic care by encouraging the body to realign. It works with chiropractic treatments by relaxing your muscles and improving energy and blood flow. This allows the body to remain in alignment longer and enjoy the comfort created by your chiropractic treatments.

Chiropractic and acupuncture both work on the central nervous system but through very different methodologies. While acupuncture seeks to instigate chemical responses, chiropractic seeks to realign the body. Using the two together has tremendous benefits for patients and I have seen exceptional results.

Sports Injuries & Chiropractic Care

My introduction to sports injuries began in November 1994 on the Springbok rugby tour of the UK & Ireland. One of my first patients was the captain, Francois Pienaar, and I was asked by team physiotherapist Evan Speechly to examine and treat Francois’s knee. That moment began a journey of working with professional athletes and deepening my focus on and understanding of sports chiropractic.

While chiropractic is often associated with the spine, many chiropractors, including myself, also specialise in treating the extremities: shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. These areas are just as important for both injury recovery and performance.

Alongside my private practice, I served as team chiropractor for the Sharks Rugby team for 15 years and provided ad hoc care for the Proteas cricket team. My additional qualification as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) has given me extensive experience in helping athletes prevent injuries, recover effectively, and perform at their best.

Chiropractic for Injury Prevention & Recovery

Corrects underlying joint and spinal misalignments that may contribute to recurring injuries.
Restores proper biomechanics to reduce strain on muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Supports faster healing and rehabilitation of both spinal and extremity injuries.

Chiropractic for Sports Performance Enhancement

Improves mobility, flexibility, and balance.
Enhances nervous system function, coordination, and reaction time.
Helps athletes - from professionals to weekend runners - perform at their best. Corrects underlying joint and spinal misalignments that may contribute to recurring injuries.

The same principles that benefit professional athletes also apply to people who participate in sports such as golf, padel, tennis, cycling, running and gym. Chiropractic care supports your body’s ability to stay active, recover well, and keep performing at your best.

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Restoring Balance for Everyday Life

Stress relief is not just about feeling better in the moment, it’s about giving your body and nervous system the space to recover, adapt, and thrive.

Understanding Stress and the Body

Stress is more than a feeling - it’s a physical state that leaves its imprint on the body and mind. Tight shoulders, shallow breathing, restless sleep, and constant tension are signals that the nervous system is stuck in overdrive.

Key Benefits of Stress Relief Treatment

Release of built-up muscular and postural tension.
Improved regulation of breathing, digestion, and heart rhythm via vagus nerve support.
Calmer stress responses and reduced “fight-or-flight” dominance.
A greater sense of body–mind balance and relaxation.

Chiropractic and Acupuncture for Stress Relief

Through a combination of chiropractic and acupuncture (or acupressure when needed), I focus on helping the body move out of “fight-or-flight” and into recovery. Chiropractic adjustments ease spinal and muscular tension, restoring freedom of movement. Acupuncture supports the parasympathetic system and gently regulates the vagus nerve, allowing the body to settle into calm and balance.

The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Stress Recovery

The vagus nerve is the body’s main communication pathway between the brain and vital organs. When functioning well, it regulates heart rhythm, breathing patterns, digestion, and emotional balance. Chronic stress can interfere with vagus nerve activity, leaving the body stuck in a loop of tension and over-alertness. Combining chiropractic care with acupuncture, helps to restore healthier vagal tone, supporting better sleep, steadier energy, and greater resilience to stress.

How Acupuncture Supports the Parasympathetic System

Acupuncture is especially effective in reducing stress because it activates the body’s relaxation response. By stimulating specific points, acupuncture signals the nervous system to release endorphins and calm stress hormones. This not only eases physical symptoms like tight muscles and headaches, but also helps regulate the parasympathetic system - the part of the nervous system responsible for rest, recovery, and healing.

Long-Term Benefits of an Integrative Approach

This integrative approach offers more than temporary relief. It helps create the conditions for resilience—supporting steadier energy, clearer focus, and a deeper sense of well-being in everyday life.