My Approach - The Biomechanical model
If you're reading this, you’re likely dealing with some form of discomfort—whether it’s persistent pain in your lower back, tension in your neck, or a recurring issue in your shoulder, knee or somewhere else. When pain becomes a regular part of life, it can be physically exhausting and deeply frustrating, restricting your ability to enjoy the things you love and impact your confidence.
I often hear from people who feel quite disheartened about physical therapy, and are especially weary of chiropractic. They frequently tell me of their past experiences that provided initial relief, but only for the pain to return, trapping them in a cycle of recurring discomfort and frequent treatment visits. Some describe care that felt generic and impersonal, while others recall rushed sessions that lacked any real progress or adaptation.
These experiences are unfortunately common, and the truth is, while these approaches may provide some relief, they often fall short of addressing the unique complexities of the body.
The Pain-Based Approach: Why It Feels Familiar but Falls Short
Following graduation from university most practitioners follow what is known as the pain-based model. This approach focuses on alleviating symptoms—addressing pain where it occurs but rarely investigating the underlying causes. While this may bring relief, it often does not fully resolve the issue long term.
The reason this method is so common is twofold. First, the education system of chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists has largely adopted the medical model, emphasizing the treatment of symptoms rather than fully exploring the broader, interconnected systems of the body (biomechanics). When you consider this, coupled with the practicalities of running a clinic and not having the time to delve into the subject, it becomes easy to understand why practitioners default to simple, standardized treatments.
The second reason the pain-based model is still so common is because it makes intuitive sense to patients. After all, it feels logical that the location of pain is the source of the problem, and treating that area is the most direct way to fix it. Unfortunately, this reasoning oversimplifies the body's mechanical design.
I know the pain-based model very well because this is what I used for years! Fresh out of university, I joined a busy clinic, eager to put everything I had learned into practice. Like many new graduates, I was determined to help every patient who walked through my door. At first, it felt rewarding—many patients left singing my praises. But over time, I began to notice a pattern: while some improved, others returned a month later, often worse than before. Feeling increasingly dissatisfied and disillusioned, I started questioning everything I had been taught. At one point, I even considered leaving the profession entirely!
I should mention here, the symptom-based model is not inherently bad—it can provide fast relief, and in some cases, that is exactly what is needed. However, for many patients, it does not go far enough. It overlooks many principles of stability and movement control. This realization is what ultimately led me to shift my focus to a different concept—one that addresses the body's fundamental biomechanical principles.
The Biomechanical / Functional Model: A Holistic Approach to Lasting Relief
The biomechanical or functional model begins with a simple idea: the body functions as an interconnected system. Pain isn’t always a result of a problem in the area where it is felt—it often reflects underlying dysfunction in another part of the body. For example, lower back pain might stem from weakness or imbalances in the muscles of the core, poor foot mechanics, restricted spinal movement or a combination of all of these elements. Rather than focusing only on where the pain occurs, the biomechanical approach investigates how well the body functions.
This model recognizes that the body works much like a finely tuned machine, where each part depends on the others for everything to work optimally. If one component is out of alignment or underperforming, the rest must compensate, creating strain and imbalance. Imagine a house built on uneven foundations—over time, cracks begin to appear in the walls and ceilings. Treating the cracks might temporarily make things look better, but unless you address the foundation, the problems will continue to resurface.
Using this analogy, the biomechanical model shifts the focus to correcting the foundations of movement, posture, and balance. It’s a comprehensive approach that doesn’t ignore pain, but aims to address it by restoring proper function. By looking at the body from this perspective a clear path to lasting relief can be taken.
What You Can Expect: Individualized Care Tailored to You
At the heart of my method is the understanding that no two bodies are exactly the same. That’s why each treatment starts with a thorough functional assessment, designed to uncover what areas are needing addressed on that day.
Functional assessment focuses on how your body moves, how force s are distributed, and where imbalances or dysfunction may exist. From the insights gained, individualized treatment strategies and specific exercises can be prescribed. Each visit then becomes an opportunity to reassess, refine your progress, and build upon what was previously achieved.
During the course of sessions it is common for different areas to become symptomatic and for focus to be changed toward addressing the functional units that are likely involved. Alternatively, imbalances can be stubborn to shift, and focus may need to change toward movement pattern exercises. By working in this way treatment constantly evolves and adapts as your body responds, heals and strengthens.
Ultimately this model means treatment that is unique to your body. It means an individualised journey to recovery. Achieving more than just temporary relief, it aims to get you to improve in your movement capacity and for you to regain your confidence.
Empowering You with Knowledge
One of the most powerful aspects of assessing how well the body is working is its ability to uncover areas of weakness you may not have realized existed. This approach doesn’t just treat your pain—it equips you with the tools to understand where your body needs support. This knowledge is empowering. It helps you to understand the movement patterns, exercises, or treatment strategies that are most relevant to you. Once discovered, you can make better decisions about your posture, daily habits, and activities.
