Sports Chiropractor Bicton: Treating Athletes Across Perth's Southern Suburbs

If you're searching for a sports chiropractor in Bicton, you're probably dealing with one of two things: a new injury that's stopping you playing, or a nagging issue that keeps coming back.

At Southside Spine and Sport, sports injury care is a core part of what we do. We integrate soft tissue therapy, manual adjustments, and shockwave therapy as part of your standard consultation, treatment options most Perth chiropractors don't have.

What Does a Sports Chiropractor Do?

A sports chiropractor is a chiropractor with a focus on treating athletes and sport-related conditions. It's not a formally recognised credential as at the time of writing. In practice, it describes a chiropractor who's interested in working with athletes, and often has experience treating the conditions that come with sport: strains, sprains, tendon injuries, and the repetitive-load problems that build up over a season.

How We Assess Sports Injuries

Dr Russell Jensen is trained in Integrative Diagnosis, has completed training in Active Release Technique, and is experienced working with both radial and focused shockwave. He's treated a broad range of conditions over eleven years in practice, with a particular interest in nerve pain, and integrates all of this experience into his assessment and treatment of athletes.

Did you know? Nerve pain and syndromes are something we assess for in every patient, and it's often how we're able to find relief for people other treatments haven't helped.

Our Approach to Treatment

Every case is different, but sports injury treatments typically include:

Manual chiropractic adjustments

Used to restore movement in restricted areas of the spine and joints. If you'd rather avoid a specific area being adjusted, or don't want cracking-style techniques at all, we accommodate that with alternative methods.

Soft tissue therapy and adhesion release

We use combined pressure, tension, and movement to reduce adhesions that limit mobility and drive pain in overworked muscles and tendons.

Shockwave therapy

We use both a focused device (PiezoWave2) and a radial device (Chattanooga RPW2), for stubborn tendon, muscle, and nerve conditions that haven't responded to other treatment. It's included in your standard consult, not billed as an add-on.

Case Example: Amateur AFL Football Player

A footballer I've been working with initially came in with chronic hamstring tightness and lower back pain. This kind of presentation is common in this sport.

We started with a full workup, including range of movement testing, and began treating toward what we found. Most areas responded and his pain improved, but his hip flexion didn't, and his pain kept coming back. That mismatch was the trigger for us to dig deeper. We referred him for X-rays, which picked up hip impingement. That was the lightbulb moment, and it changed the whole management plan.

After quizzing him about his training in the gym, it was clear he was squatting and deadlifting heavily, and now knowing about the hip impingement, we were able to change his exercise choices to stop irritating his back. We moved him to single leg exercises to keep building strength without the same challenge to his hip range of movement. We also referred him back to his physio to integrate these changes into his training plan with these new insights.

He's not injury-free. He still plays football, and it still tests his hip, but he's substantially more free of lower back pain, has reduced hamstring tightness, and it's much more manageable now.

Common Sports Injuries We See

If you suspect you have a serious injury, such as a fracture, a joint that looks visibly deformed, loss of sensation, or you're unable to bear any weight at all, you should see the emergency department or your doctor first.

We Work Alongside Your Other Providers

If you're seeing a physiotherapist, GP, or personal trainer, we're always happy to coordinate.

If you need help finding a practitioner see our recommendations below.

For Physiotherapy, we recommend Sam O'Neill at OnField Physiotherapy here in Bicton.

For Podiatry, we recommend Ben Hodgetts at Melville Wellness Centre.

For Chiropractic we recommend Us!

Serving Bicton and the Southern River Suburbs

Southside Spine and Sport is based in Bicton and sees athletes and active people from Palmyra, Attadale, East Fremantle, Applecross, Melville, and Fremantle.

Sports Chiropractor Bicton: FAQ

What's the difference between a chiropractor and a sports chiropractor?

There's no formal difference in registration, "sports chiropractor" isn't a protected title in Australia. It describes a chiropractor with an interest in working with athletes, often backed by further training or experience in sport-related soft tissue conditions, overuse patterns, and return-to-play timelines.

Do I need a referral to see a sports chiropractor?

No. You can book directly. If you're also under the care of a GP, physiotherapist, or specialist, we're glad to work alongside them, and can loop them in with your permission.

Is shockwave therapy included when I see you for a sports injury?

Yes. Shockwave is included in the standard consult fee here rather than charged as a separate add-on, if it's the right treatment for what you're dealing with.

What sports injuries respond best to chiropractic care?

Tendon overload injuries (Achilles, patellar, gluteal), joint restriction and stiffness, sciatica and nerve entrapment conditions, and recurring soft tissue injuries where the underlying driver hasn't been identified all tend to respond well. A proper assessment is what determines fit for your specific case.

How many sessions will I need?

Every case is different, but a standard shockwave-based course runs around six weekly sessions, followed by a month off and a review appointment. Manual and soft tissue treatment plans vary more depending on what's driving the injury. You'll get a clear estimate after your first visit.

Book Your Sports Injury Assessment

Book Now

Written by Dr Russell Jensen, Chiropractor

AHPRA registration: CHI0001927257

Principal chiropractor at Southside Spine and Sport, Bicton.

Trained in Integrative Diagnosis (USA), with a strong focus on nerve entrapment conditions and Shockwave Therapy