Chiropractic & Soft Tissue

Dr Luke Nichols
B.App.Sc (Comp Med Chiro.), M Chiro
MCAA. Cert IV SMT

Luke Nichols is an experienced practitioner who has worked at South Yarra Sports Medicine for the past five years. He is passionate about sports and has a keen focus on treating and preventing musculoskeletal injuries and discomforts associated with sport, occupation and lifestyle.

After completing a Masters of Clinical Chiropractic with Distinction, Luke has worked full time in private practice.  Being a keen athlete Luke is involved in working with many elite sporting teams in Melbourne. He has work with the Australian Rowing Team and continues to work with Australian Rowers at the Victorian Institute of Sports.

Luke has had the privilege of volunteering his services in India over the past three years with the Hands on India Project.  Luke has helped educate fourth year Murdoch University students in an international environment on the importance of accurately diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions.

Luke is committed to providing thorough, non-rushed consultations to accurately diagnose, treat and rehabilitate the presenting condition.  He is focused on empowering patients to manage and prevent injury to help them to achieve peak physical condition. He is committed to continuing professional development through further study.

Luke uses a holistic approach to treatment which includes, but is not limited to, the following.

  • Dry Needling
  • Trigger Point Therapy
  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Mobilisation/Joint Manipulation
  • Low force techniques – biomechanical blocks, activator, drop piece
  • Stretching
  • Applied Kinesiology (testing muscles for strength and symmetry)
  • Personalised Rehabilitation Programs
  • Musculoskeletal Screening
  • Support, functional and kinesio taping
  • Postural Assessment
  • Nutritional advice

Chiropractic

Chiropractors concentrate on the neuro-musculoskeletal system which consists of the nervous system, muscles, bones, cartilage and joints of the body.  The focus is on assessing the relationship between structure and function in the neuro-musculoskeletal system.  Dysfunction of these structures can result in many common aches and pains we experience such as low back pain, long term chronic neck pain, headaches, mid back discomfort, referred leg pain (sciatica), shoulder pain, knee pain and many other common muscular/ joint injuries and discomforts associated with sport, occupation and lifestyle.

The World Health Organisation defines Chiropractic as “a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuro-musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. There is a general emphasis on manual techniques including joint adjustment and/or manipulation with a particular focus on spinal joint dysfunction.”

Luke uses a thorough holistic approach to evaluate and assess the nuero-musculoskeletal system. His treatment is aimed at finding the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms.  Luke is trained in numerous treatment modalities on top of the traditional Chiropractic adjustment to treat such complaints. These techniques used include:

  • Manipulation
  • Mobilisation
  • Dry Needling
  • Soft tissue (massage), trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage
  • Low force techniques
    • Drop piece
    • Activator
    • Biomechanical blocking
  • Stretching
  • Applied Kinesiology (testing muscles for strength and symmetry)
  • Support taping/Functional and Kinesio Taping
  • Rehabilitation
  • Nutritional advice


The focus is on treating and preventing musculoskeletal injuries and dysfunctions, empowering patients to maintain peak physical condition.