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Stapleton Chiropractic - trusted by Adelaide families for over 50 years

528 Marion Road · Plympton Park · Adelaide

Pinched nerve chiropractor in Adelaide

That arm pain, tingling, or numbness that seems to start in the neck can make driving, lifting, and sleep harder than they should be. If you want to feel better and get a clearer picture of what may be going on, book a first visit: 7am to 7pm weekdays, Saturday mornings, and free on-site parking on Marion Road.

Pinched nerve is everyday language for cervical radiculopathy: a nerve root in the neck may be irritated. Pain, pins and needles, numbness, or weakness may travel into the shoulder, arm, or hand. A chiropractic assessment with Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) may help map what may be contributing. This is not a diagnosis from a webpage. Individual presentations vary.

Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) at Stapleton Chiropractic, Plympton Park
Dr Sam Johnson (Principal Chiropractor)
B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq) Pinched nerve · Marion Road

B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq) · AHPRA Registered

Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) has practised on Marion Road for over 10 years, continuing a clinic families have trusted since 1972.

Stapleton Chiropractic · Est. 1972 · ACA Member

(08) 8297 5277

Does this sound like you?

Educational wayline illustration of the neck and common arm nerve pathways

Everyone starts somewhere different.
Tap the one that sounds like you.

What Happens in Your First Assessment

Clear steps. You stay in control of what happens next.

Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) listening to a patient at the start of a first visit
1

We listen first

Your story, work demands, and what is getting in the way of normal days.

Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) completing a physical assessment
2

Thorough assessment

Movement, relevant orthopaedic tests, and a careful look at the area that bothers you.

Where possible, treatment may be provided on the first visit.*

*Only where clinically appropriate, based on clinical need and suitability. Individual responses vary.

Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) explaining assessment findings in clear language
3

Clear answers

What we found, what it may mean for you, and sensible options from here.

Reception at Stapleton Chiropractic during a patient handoff
4

A plan you control

If care may help, we outline options. You choose whether and how to proceed.

Assessment findings and any care offered are individual. Treatment is only provided where clinically appropriate. Individual responses vary.

How much does a first visit cost?

Clear numbers. No surprises.

Initial visit Save over 40% vs the SA average $69 initial · SA average $122*

Initial consultation

$69

SA average: $122*

Stapleton$69
SA average*$122

Standard visit

$60

SA average: $71*

Stapleton$60
SA average*$71
No lock-in plans All major health funds accepted

After your assessment, you choose how you'd like to proceed. You choose what happens next.

*Australian Chiropractors Association Consultation Fee Survey 2025 (SA data). All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.

Quick answers before you book

The five things people usually want cleared first.

Can chiropractic help with a pinched nerve in the neck? Most asked

Often, yes. Neck-related arm pain is a common reason people book here. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) examines you, explains what he finds in clear language, and maps a next step. Individual responses vary. If this is not the right path, we say so and help refer and point you in the right direction.

How much does a first visit cost? Most asked

Initial consultation $69. Standard visit $60. Over 40% below the SA average of $122 (ACA Fee Survey 2025). All major health funds accepted.

Do you accept private health? Most asked

All major private health funds accepted where your cover applies.

Do I need a referral?

No. Book directly. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) is happy to correspond with your GP when that is useful.

How do I know if my arm pain is coming from my neck?

Your first visit is a real examination. Pain, tingling, or numbness that follows an arm pathway, or that flares when you turn or look up, may sit with a neck nerve root. Shoulder, elbow, and wrist stories can look similar. Findings are explained in clear language. If it is not the right fit here, we say so and help refer and point you in the right direction.

More questions further down the page. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses vary.

Ready to book?

Choose a time that suits. No referral needed.

Your first visit
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)

Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)

B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq) · Marion Road, Adelaide

$69

Initial consultation

Open the live diary and pick a time that suits

  • $69 first visit
  • Weekdays 7am to 7pm
  • Saturday mornings
  • Free on-site parking
  • All major health funds
  • No lock-in plans

Prefer to call? (08) 8297 5277

All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.

More questions people ask

Deeper answers if you want them. The booking path is still above.

What is cervical radiculopathy, and how is it different from general neck pain?

Cervical radiculopathy is the clinical name for a pinched nerve in the neck. A nerve root may be irritated. Pain, pins and needles, numbness, or weakness may travel into the shoulder, arm, or hand.

General neck pain often stays local. A webpage cannot give you that label. Your visit is where we work out what may be contributing to your pattern.

How do I know if my arm pain is actually coming from my neck?

Useful clues include symptoms that follow an arm pathway, flare when you turn or look up, or sit with a cough or sneeze. Shoulder, elbow, and wrist stories can look similar.

Assessment may include sensation, strength, reflexes, and a cluster of bedside tests. That is orientation, not a diagnosis from this page.

Do I need an MRI?

Not always. Many people with a suspected pinched nerve in the neck may be managed with a period of careful conservative care. Imaging is typically considered where there are progressive neurological changes, red flags, or when a surgical opinion is being considered.

X-rays only with your agreement. A scan is a clue, not the whole plan.

Is chiropractic generally well-tolerated if I think I have a pinched nerve?

Many people with neck-related arm pain are managed conservatively. Hands-on care is not right for every presentation. A careful assessment helps decide whether manual therapy is suitable, which techniques fit, and whether a gentler low-force option is wiser. Temporary discomfort can occur. Individual responses vary.

Where do I park and how do I find you?

528 Marion Road, Plympton Park SA 5038. Free on-site parking at the clinic. Easy access via the main road if you are already driving past. Open in Maps.

How many visits will I need?

There is no fixed number for everyone. Progress is reviewed regularly. Individual responses vary.

When should I see a GP instead of booking a chiropractic consultation?

You do not need a GP referral to see a chiropractor in Australia. If sudden severe neck pain with neurological signs, rapidly progressing arm weakness, gait change, fever, or pain after major trauma is present, start with your GP or emergency care.

For a more typical mechanical presentation, starting here is a common path. We will coordinate with your GP when imaging or further review is indicated.

Should I see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist for a pinched nerve?

Both are qualified to assess musculoskeletal presentations. Here the first visit is an honest check of joint, disc, and nerve-root clues. If physio or something else may fit better, Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) will say so and help refer and point you in the right direction.

Do you use spinal manipulation or mobilisation?

Hands-on care including adjustments, and gentle low-force options, are available when appropriate. Suitability is decided after assessment, not in advance from a page. Options are explained so you can decide.

Can I still drive?

Many people continue to drive if they can do so safely. If pain, weakness, or restricted turning affects blind-spot control or concentration, do not drive and seek medical advice. We can discuss sitting comfort after assessment. This is not a driving clearance.

Is a pinched nerve in the neck the same as sciatica?

No. This page is neck and arm. Sciatica is the everyday word people use when the pathway is down a leg. If that is the louder story, see our sciatica page.

Does a pinched nerve always mean surgery?

No. Many neck-related arm presentations are managed conservatively. Surgery is a medical decision when red flags, progressive neurological change, or failed conservative care make it the wiser path.

We do not pressure that decision. If a surgical opinion is needed, we help refer and point you in the right direction.

Which mechanical patterns may be involved?

Several patterns may look similar. Tap a card. Assessment decides. Nothing here is a diagnosis.

General information only. This is not a diagnosis and does not replace a proper clinical assessment. Individual presentations vary.

When should I seek urgent care for a pinched nerve?

Many neck and arm presentations are mechanical. Call 000 or attend ED if you develop any of the following.

Seek urgent care if these signs appear Call 000 or attend ED. Many neck and arm presentations are mechanical.

Sudden severe neck pain with neurological signs

Sudden severe neck pain or headache with dizziness, visual change, difficulty speaking, facial droop, or unsteadiness.

Walking, balance, or both-arm change

Unsteady walking, hand clumsiness, numbness or weakness in both arms, or new bladder or bowel change.

Progressive arm weakness

A hand that will not grip, an arm that will not lift, or weakness that is clearly getting worse over hours or days.

Trauma, fever, or unexplained weight loss

Neck or arm pain after a major fall or crash, or new pain with fever, night pain that wakes you, or a history of cancer.

General information only, not medical advice. This is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure, contact your GP, healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or emergency services.

What may be contributing to your pinched nerve?

A short orientation only. Tap a card. Assessment decides. Nothing here is a diagnosis.

General information only. This is not a diagnosis and does not replace a proper clinical assessment. Individual presentations vary. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability.

Which nerve pathway may this follow?

A short orientation only. The starting point is a careful assessment, not a label from a webpage.

Cervical nerve roots leave the neck and travel into the shoulder, arm, and hand. People often describe this as a pinched nerve. The clinical name is cervical radiculopathy.

A C6-type story may sit with the thumb side of the forearm. A C7-type story may sit with the middle finger. A C5-type story may sit more in the shoulder and outer arm. A C8-type story may sit with the little-finger side of the hand. Those maps are clues. They are not a diagnosis from this page.

Live assessment here has long included history plus a bedside cluster: sensation, strength, reflexes, and orthopaedic tests such as Spurling, cervical distraction, and an upper-limb tension test. When several tests point the same way, the probability of nerve-root involvement may be higher. Individual presentations vary.

If the story is down a leg, that belongs on our sciatica page. If the scan language is bulge or herniation, see our slipped disc page. If the ache stays local in the neck, see neck pain.

General information only. This is not a diagnosis and does not replace a proper clinical assessment. Individual presentations vary. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability. Individual responses to treatment vary.

What does research suggest about pinched-nerve care?

Guideline and review-level context for conversation. Individual responses vary. This is not a personal prognosis.

$69Initial consult here
$122SA average initial*
1972Clinic established
6 daysMon to Sat hours

Wainner bedside cluster

A Spine study of the clinical examination for cervical radiculopathy described a cluster of bedside tests. When several tests point the same way, the probability of nerve-root involvement may be higher. Study context, not a diagnosis from this page.

Wainner et al., 2003 · PMID 12544957

NASS-style guideline

An evidence-based clinical guideline on cervical radiculopathy from degenerative disorders summarises diagnosis and conservative-care options. Suitability still depends on assessment. Individual responses vary.

Bono et al., 2011 · PMID 21168100

How the pattern presents

A population study in Brain described cervical radiculopathy as a clinical presentation rather than a scan label alone. History and examination remain the starting point. No webpage incidence figure is a personal prediction.

Radhakrishnan et al., 1994 · PMID 8186959

Non-operative first path

A family-medicine review of non-operative management describes conservative care as a common first path for many cervical radiculopathy presentations. That is review context, not a personal plan.

Childress and Becker, 2016 · PMID 27175718

Manual therapy plus exercise

A Cochrane review of 27 randomised trials reported moderate-quality evidence that cervical manipulation and mobilisation produced similar effects on pain, function, and satisfaction for neck disorders. Multimodal care combining manual therapy with exercise was also described as beneficial in some presentations. Study context, not a prediction for you.

Gross et al., 2010 · PMID 20510644

Neck-pain clinical guideline

The JOSPT neck-pain guideline recommends thoracic manipulation, cervical manipulation or mobilisation, range-of-motion exercise, and strengthening when suitable. That is guideline context, not a personal plan.

Blanpied et al., 2017 · JOSPT neck pain CPG

Red flags stay open

Serious pathology is uncommon. Screening still matters. Sudden severe neck pain with neurological signs, progressive arm weakness, or trauma with severe pain means urgent medical care first.

Conversation context, not a personal prognosis

After we assess, we talk it through

Care is discussed after assessment. Progress is reviewed regularly. If imaging, your GP, or another path is wiser, we say so. In-house cold laser may be discussed if a soft-tissue picture fits. Ask at your visit. Individual responses vary.

Conversation context, not a personal prognosis

What this means here

Citations support a conversation. They do not promise your outcome. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) will explain what he finds and what is sensible next. You choose.

Book a first visit to apply this to you

QuestionChiropractic herePhysiotherapy
Primary focusCervical mechanics, nerve-root screening, and hands-on care including adjustments where suitableOften more exercise-focused or soft-tissue-centric
ExerciseExercises and stretches may be prescribed where appropriate, alongside hands-on careExercise rehabilitation is often a main focus
Soft tissueIn-house cold laser may be discussed if a soft-tissue picture fits. Ask at your visitSoft-tissue work varies by clinic
Referral needed?No. Book directlyNo
Plan or contract?You choose the next stepVaries by clinic
If this is not the right fitWe refer and point you in the right directionYour physio may refer on

Citations support conversation, not a guarantee. Not a diagnosis. Individual responses vary. All care is provided subject to clinical assessment and individual suitability.

Does your work pattern sound familiar?

Three common situations. Tap a card. This is orientation, not a diagnosis.

General information only. This is not a diagnosis and does not replace a proper clinical assessment. Individual presentations vary.

Location, Hours and Practical Details

What you need for a smooth first visit.

Location

528 Marion Road, Plympton Park SA 5038 Free on-site parking at the clinic.

Get directions

Open early, late, Saturday

  • Mon to Fri7am to 7pm
  • Saturday8am to 12pm
  • SundayClosed

Health funds

All major health funds accepted where your cover applies.

What to bring

Comfortable clothing. Recent imaging or reports if you have them. No referral needed.

Ready when you are

on Marion Road

Est. 1972

Stapleton Chiropractic
528 Marion Road, Plympton Park SA 5038 · Directions
(08) 8297 5277
Mon to Fri 7am to 7pm · Sat 8am to 12pm
(08) 8297 5277
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) during a hands-on assessment at Stapleton Chiropractic

References

  1. Wainner RS, Fritz JM, Irrgang JJ, Boninger ML, Delitto A, Allison S. (2003). Reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the clinical examination and patient self-report measures for cervical radiculopathy. Spine, 28(1):52-62. PMID 12544957.
  2. Bono CM, Ghiselli G, Gilbert TJ, et al. (2011). An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical radiculopathy from degenerative disorders. Spine Journal, 11(1):64-72. PMID 21168100.
  3. Radhakrishnan K, Litchy WJ, O'Fallon WM, Kurland LT. (1994). Epidemiology of cervical radiculopathy. A population-based study from Rochester, Minnesota, 1976 through 1990. Brain, 117:325-335. PMID 8186959.
  4. Childress MA, Becker BA. (2016). Nonoperative management of cervical radiculopathy. American Family Physician, 93(9):746-754. PMID 27175718.
  5. Gross A, et al. (2010). Manipulation or mobilisation for neck pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. PMID 20510644.
  6. Blanpied PR, et al. (2017). Neck pain: revision 2017. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 47(7):A1-A83.
Last clinically reviewed 13 August 2026 by Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor), B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq). AHPRA registered. Individual responses vary.
© Stapleton Chiropractic. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor), B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq). AHPRA registered. 528 Marion Road, Plympton Park SA 5038
author avatar
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor), B.Chiro.Sc (Macq), M.Chiro (Macq), is the Principal Chiropractor and Clinic Director at Stapleton Chiropractic in Plympton Park, Adelaide. He provides evidence-informed chiropractic care with a focus on musculoskeletal health, spinal movement, and functional improvement. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) works with adults, older adults, and families across all stages of life, supporting concerns such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, and postural issues. He is committed to clear communication, personalised care planning, and long-term patient outcomes.
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