If you're dealing with recurring headaches or migraine and considering chiropractic care, it helps to know what a visit involves and how to choose a practitioner. This page features Melbourne chiropractors who see people with headache and migraine concerns, and explains what to expect, typical costs and when to see your GP first.
Chiropractic care, remedial massage, sports massage, dry needling and cupping therapy offered in Vermont South. Services include spinal adjustments, joint mobilisation, and personalised treatment plans. Evening and weekend appointments available; booking online, by phone, or email.
Melbourne CBD chiropractic clinic offering personalised treatment plans addressing posture, spinal alignment and mobility. Services include care for back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica and posture correction. Bookings available online via Fresha; no referral required.
Mulgrave-based chiropractic clinic using the Gonstead technique, offering assessments and adjustments for back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica, and athletic performance. On-site X-rays available. Online booking via Cliniko; new patient offer and health fund rebates accepted.
Chiropractic clinic offering assessment and management of spinal and extremity issues using joint manipulation/mobilisation, soft tissue therapy, dry needling, spinal traction/decompression, posture and ergonomic assessment, pre/post-natal care, and tailored exercise programs. Appointments can be booked via the website's contact page.
Chiropractic clinic offering spinal assessment and adjustment, Posture Screen Analysis, Chiropractic BioPhysics, mirror image adjusting, neuromuscular rehabilitation and traction. Services include care for back, neck, headaches, sciatica, sports, posture, pregnancy, and paediatric patients. Online booking available via Nookal.
Chiropractic clinic in Moorabbin offering manual adjustments, soft tissue techniques, and drop-piece methods for back pain, neck pain, headaches, muscle/joint stiffness, and postural strain. Open 6 days a week with same-day and after-hours appointments. Online booking available; part of the wider Wellbeing Chiropractic group.
Multidisciplinary clinic offering physiotherapy, chiropractic, remedial massage, spinal decompression, laser and shockwave therapy, dry needling, clinical Pilates, and ergonomic assessments. Accepts GP referrals, WorkCover, NDIS, and private health claims. Online booking available.
Chiropractic clinic in Heidelberg offering assessment and hands-on care for back pain, neck pain, headaches/migraines, sciatica, postural issues and sports injuries. Same practitioner every visit, HICAPS on-site claiming, no referral required, online booking via Cliniko.
Chiropractors are trained to assess and provide care related to the muscles, joints and nerves of the spine and neck. When someone presents with headache or migraine concerns, a chiropractor typically starts with a history and physical assessment, looking at neck movement, posture, muscle tension and how the joints of the upper spine move. They may ask about your headache pattern, triggers, sleep, screen habits and any previous injuries.
Care may include manual adjustment (a controlled, targeted movement applied to a joint), joint mobilisation (gentler, rhythmic movement), and soft-tissue work such as massage or trigger-point techniques to the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Some practitioners also provide advice on posture, stretches, workstation set-up and other self-management strategies. These techniques are described here so you understand what care can look like — every person is different, and a chiropractor should explain what they propose and why.
A responsible chiropractor will not promise a particular result. If your presentation suggests something outside their scope, they should refer you to your GP or another health professional.
An initial appointment is usually longer than a follow-up. Expect the practitioner to take a detailed history, ask about your general health and medications, and carry out a physical examination. They should explain their findings in plain language, outline any proposed care and answer your questions before anything begins. You can decline any part of the care, and you should feel comfortable asking why a technique is being recommended.
If your headaches are new, severe, or accompanied by any warning signs (see below), a good practitioner will direct you to see a GP before proceeding.
Prices vary between clinics, so treat these as general guides only and confirm fees directly before booking:
Many private health insurance policies with 'extras' cover include chiropractic, which may reduce your out-of-pocket cost — check your level of cover and any annual limits. In some cases, a GP may include chiropractic in a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan under Medicare, which can subsidise a limited number of visits. This requires a GP referral and is only appropriate for certain chronic conditions, so speak with your GP about whether it applies to you.
Melbourne has many chiropractors, including those featured on this page across suburbs such as Mulgrave, Seddon, Moorabbin, Clifton Hill, Elwood, Sandringham, Essendon, Richmond, Brunswick, Glen Waverley and Maidstone. When choosing, consider:
Ratings and review counts can give a rough sense of a clinic's popularity, but they aren't a measure of clinical quality. Use them as one factor alongside registration and a proper consultation.
Some headaches need urgent medical assessment. See your GP — or seek emergency care — before booking chiropractic if you have any of these red-flag symptoms:
Your GP can rule out serious causes, discuss management options and, where appropriate, refer you on. Chiropractic care is one option some people consider for musculoskeletal contributions to headache, and it works best when it fits within your broader healthcare, coordinated with your GP.
Or read the full headaches & migraines guide, or browse all Melbourne clinics.
Chiropractors provide care focused on the muscles, joints and nerves of the neck and spine. Rather than promising to treat or cure migraine, a chiropractor assesses musculoskeletal factors and explains what care may involve. Discuss your headaches with your GP first, especially if they're new, severe or worsening.
As a general guide, an initial consultation is often around $80–$150 and follow-up visits around $50–$90, but fees vary between clinics, so confirm before booking. Private health 'extras' cover may reduce costs, and a GP may include chiropractic in a Medicare CDM plan in some chronic cases.
No referral is needed to book privately. However, a GP referral is required if you want to access a limited number of subsidised visits under a Medicare Chronic Disease Management plan, and it's wise to see your GP first if you have any warning symptoms.
All chiropractors in Australia must be registered with AHPRA. You can verify any practitioner's registration on the free public register at ahpra.gov.au before your appointment.
Expect a detailed history and physical assessment of your neck and spine, followed by an explanation of the findings and any proposed care. You can ask questions and decline any technique. If your symptoms suggest a medical cause, the chiropractor should refer you to your GP.