Chiropractor in Templestowe
Chiropractor for Templestowe golfers and tennis players: back, shoulder and hip pain from swinging sports. Exercise physiology, HICAPS, free parking.
Golf, Tennis and the Rotating Spine
Templestowe and the surrounding area have plenty of golf courses and tennis courts, and many locals play every weekend. Golf and tennis both rely on fast, repeated rotation through the hips and spine, plus a lot of shoulder and elbow work. When one area is stiff, another area has to work harder, which is often where pain starts.
Swing-Related Problems We Treat
- Lower back pain during or after a round or match
- Stiff mid-back that limits your turn
- Shoulder pain on the backswing or serve
- Hip stiffness and groin tightness
- Golfer’s and tennis elbow
- Neck stiffness from repeated head turning
Treatment That Looks at How You Move
We start with a full assessment of the painful area and the joints above and below it, especially hip and mid-back rotation. Treatment may include chiropractic adjustment, soft tissue work and targeted mobility exercises. As an exercise physiologist, Dr Mifsud can also build a warm-up and conditioning plan so the problem is less likely to come back. Myotherapy and remedial massage are available on site too.
Meet Your Chiropractor
Dr Phillip Mifsud is the founder of Bodyline Health and has over 25 years of experience as a chiropractor and exercise physiologist. Read Dr Mifsud’s full profile or see our main Lower Plenty chiropractic page.
A Five-Minute Pre-Round Warm-Up
- Brisk walk or light jog for two minutes
- Gentle standing trunk rotations, both directions
- Hip swings forwards and sideways
- Arm circles and shoulder rolls
- A few half swings or easy groundstrokes before full effort
Getting Here from Templestowe
Bodyline Health is at 17 Main Road, Lower Plenty, a short drive from Templestowe, with free on-site parking. Saturday morning appointments are available, so you can get sorted before or after your game. HICAPS is available and no referral is needed.
Book online or call (03) 9017 4784. We also see patients from nearby Templestowe Lower, Eltham, Heidelberg and across the Diamond Valley.
Chiropractor, Templestowe: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chiropractor help with golf back pain?
Yes. We look at your spine and hip rotation as well as the painful area, and combine hands-on care with exercises to support your swing.
Do you treat tennis elbow?
Yes. We assess the elbow and the shoulder and neck above it, and can combine care with our myotherapists if needed.
Should I stop playing while I am being treated?
Not always. We will tell you whether to rest, modify or keep playing based on your assessment.
Are you open on Saturdays?
Yes, 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed for a standard appointment.
Can I claim through my health fund?
Yes, HICAPS is available if your extras cover includes chiropractic.
Chiropractor Templestowe at a Glance
- Who: Dr Phil Mifsud, who combines chiropractic with exercise physiology and has practised for over 25 years, sees golfers, tennis players and other rotational-sport players wanting a chiropractor Templestowe locals can reach easily.
- Where: Bodyline Health, 17 Main Road, Lower Plenty – a short drive from Templestowe, with free on-site parking and full accessibility.
- When: Chiropractic sessions run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, plus Saturday mornings, so a weekend round need not clash with your appointment.
- Referral and claiming: Book a chiropractor Templestowe residents choose at Bodyline directly – no GP letter required – and claim eligible extras cover via HICAPS on-site.
- Book: Phone (03) 9017 4784 or use our online booking for your chiropractor Templestowe appointment.
A sore back rarely announces itself at a convenient time. It might be the morning after a club championship or halfway through a doubles season. This section is for anyone who has searched for a chiropractor Templestowe golfers and racquet players can rely on, and who wants practical guidance on getting back out there, staying out there, and knowing when something needs a different kind of help.
Returning to the Course or Court After a Back Flare-Up
Coming back too quickly is one of the most common reasons a back niggle lingers. Coming back too cautiously can leave you stiff and unsure of your swing. A staged return, which a chiropractor Templestowe players visit can map out with you, aims to find the middle ground.
Many people find a sequence like the one below helpful, although your own timeline will depend on what was found at your chiropractor Templestowe assessment and how your body responds:
- Stage one – everyday movement: walking comfortably, sleeping reasonably and bending to tie shoelaces without guarding.
- Stage two – rehearsal without a ball: slow, half-length practice swings or shadow strokes, focusing on smooth hip and upper-back rotation.
- Stage three – short game or mini-tennis: chipping, putting or rallying from the service line, where forces are lower and stopping is easy.
- Stage four – range or hitting session: a small bucket of balls or a 30-minute hit, with irons before drivers and groundstrokes before serves.
- Stage five – nine holes or a social set: then build towards full rounds and competition.
A useful rule of thumb is that mild soreness that settles by the next morning is usually acceptable, while pain that builds through the session or lingers for days suggests stepping back a stage. At each review, a chiropractor Templestowe players see at Bodyline can help you judge which stage suits you.
Off-Season Conditioning for Rotational Sports
Winter is often when golfers put the clubs away and tennis players drop to one hit a week. It is also a good window to build the capacity that the rotating spine relies on in summer. Because Dr Phil is also an exercise physiologist, a chiropractor Templestowe players see at Bodyline can help shape a simple program that suits your age, history and available time.
Off-season work commonly includes:
- Hip mobility: both hips need to rotate well, otherwise the lower back can end up doing more of the turning than it should.
- Upper-back rotation: the thoracic spine is designed to rotate; drills such as open-book stretches aim to keep it moving.
- Trunk strength and control: exercises that resist twisting, such as pallof presses, aim to help the body control speed rather than simply create it.
Two or three short sessions a week are often enough to make a noticeable difference by the time competition returns, and your chiropractor Templestowe reviews can adjust the program as you go.
Tennis Elbow and Shoulder Overload: How the Team Works Together
Not every racquet-sport complaint starts in the spine. Tennis elbow, a sore serving shoulder or a tight forearm are often about repeated load on tendons and muscles. In those cases, chiropractor Templestowe care may be only one part of the picture, and other practitioners under the same roof may be better placed to lead.
- Chiropractic: looks at the neck and upper back, which influence how freely the shoulder blade and arm move, along with hands-on care, exercise advice and education.
- Myotherapy: Keryn Arrowsmith works with forearm and shoulder soft tissue, which many players find relevant to overuse problems.
- Physiotherapy: Mary Fleming may guide progressive tendon loading and shoulder rehabilitation programs.
- Remedial massage and podiatry: massage after heavy playing weeks, and podiatry for footwear or foot pain from court surfaces and long walks.
A chiropractor Templestowe racquet players see will discuss which combination makes sense, and the decision stays with you.
Recovering After a Long Round or a Weekend Tournament
Eighteen holes means several hours on your feet and dozens of full-speed rotations. A weekend tournament can mean three or four matches in two days. The hours afterwards matter as much as the warm-up before, and they are a regular topic in chiropractor Templestowe consults.
- Have a drink of water and something to eat soon after you finish, particularly on hot days.
- Take a gentle ten-minute walk rather than sitting straight down in the car or clubhouse.
- Prioritise sleep that night; many players notice stiffness is worse after a poor night.
Carrying, Pushing or Riding: Does the Bag Matter?
A single-strap bag carried over one shoulder for 18 holes places an uneven load on the neck and back. A double-strap bag shares the weight more evenly, while a push or electric buggy removes most of it. If you prefer to carry, keeping the bag light by trimming unused clubs and spare balls may help. A chiropractor Templestowe golfers consult will often ask about this, because small habits repeated every week add up.
Staying in the Game as an Older Player – Including Pickleball and Padel
Plenty of people in the Templestowe area play golf well into their seventies and beyond, and newer social sports such as pickleball and padel have brought many people back to racquets. The aim of seeing a chiropractor Templestowe seniors can reach easily is to keep you playing comfortably for as long as you enjoy it.
- Warm up longer: joints and tissues often take more time to feel ready as we age.
- Shorten the backswing: a slightly shorter, smoother swing may reduce the strain on a stiff lower back without costing much distance.
- Mind the quick stops: pickleball and padel involve short, sharp lateral steps and lots of bending for low balls, which can surprise backs and calves.
- Keep strength work going: leg and trunk strength support balance and may help reduce the risk of falls.
For older players, a chiropractor Templestowe locals visit will take a careful general health history, including bone health and medications, before choosing any technique. Gentler, low-force options are always available.
Your First Consult with a Chiropractor Templestowe Players Book: Step by Step
Here is how an initial consultation with a chiropractor Templestowe golfers and tennis players book is usually structured.
1. History
To open your chiropractor Templestowe consult, Dr Phil asks where you feel it, when it began, which shots or movements provoke it, how often you play, and any recent changes in equipment, coaching or training load. General health and previous injuries are covered too.
2. Assessment
In a chiropractor Templestowe assessment, expect checks of posture, hip and upper-back rotation, trunk control and joint movement, plus simple orthopaedic and neurological tests. You may be asked to mimic your swing or serve so the movement itself can be observed.
3. X-Ray Only if Clinically Indicated
Most sporting back pain does not need imaging. An X-ray may be considered after significant trauma, when certain findings suggest a structural problem, or when symptoms are not following the expected course. If it is warranted, onsite digital X-ray is available; if not, we will explain why it is not needed.
4. Your Plan
Findings are explained in plain language, along with a plan that fits your playing calendar. Care only begins once you understand the options and agree.
5. Home Exercises
Most people leave their chiropractor Templestowe visit with two or three movements to practise between visits, often designed to slot into your pre-round or pre-match routine.
When to See a GP or Call 000 Instead
Most sporting back and neck pain is not serious. Some symptoms, though, need medical care before you see a chiropractor Templestowe or anywhere else. Ring 000, or head to your nearest hospital emergency department, if you notice:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or pain spreading into the arm or jaw, especially during exertion on the course or court.
- Saddle-area numbness (between the legs or around the buttocks) or a sudden change in bladder or bowel control.
- Rapidly worsening weakness in the legs or arms.
- Severe pain after a fall, a collision or being struck by a ball or club.
Book a GP visit soon if your back pain arrives alongside a temperature, weight you have lost without trying, past cancer, pain at night that rest does not settle, or a steady decline. Healthdirect's back pain guide is a reliable general reference. If anything at your visit suggests medical care is needed first, the chiropractor Templestowe patients see will say so and recommend your GP.
Claiming and Booking Your Chiropractor Templestowe Visit
Golfers with chiropractic on their extras policy can swipe their fund card through HICAPS at the front desk after the chiropractor Templestowe session and settle only the difference. What you receive back is set by your fund and policy; our payments and funding page has more detail.
Whether you are easing back after a flare-up or preparing for next season, booking a chiropractor Templestowe golfers and tennis players can reach in a short drive is straightforward. Call (03) 9017 4784 or schedule your appointment online, and bring your playing questions along.