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Stapleton Chiropractic - trusted by Adelaide families for over 50 years

528 Marion Road · Plympton Park · Adelaide

Posture correction chiropractor in Adelaide

That forward slump at the desk, or the ache between the blades after a screen day, can make work, driving, and evenings 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.

Posture here means how your head, neck, and upper back sit through a desk, drive, or lift week. It is a movement pattern, not a moral grade. Forward head position, rounded upper back, or a tight line between the blades may sit with neck, shoulder, or headache discomfort. 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) Posture · 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 head, neck, and upper-back region

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 posture-related discomfort? Most asked

Often, yes. Desk, screen, and commute posture patterns are a common reason people book here. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) examines how your head, neck, and upper back sit through the week, 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.

Can posture really change, or is it just how I am?

It may change. It is not a promise of a new alignment. Research suggests targeted exercise, and in some reviews manual therapy plus exercise, may help some people with forward-head or desk-related neck discomfort. Assessment decides what is sensible for you. Individual responses vary.

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.

Is my desk setup causing my pain?

It may be contributing. A laptop below eye height, a long sit, or a phone hour can load the neck and upper back. That is a clue, not a certainty from a webpage.

Bring a photo of your setup if you like. Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) still assesses you in person. Individual presentations vary.

Can posture really change, or is it just how I am?

It may change. It is not a promise of a new alignment and it is not a moral grade. Research suggests targeted exercise may help some people with forward-head patterns. Assessment decides what is sensible for you.

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

Should I use a standing desk?

A standing desk may help some people as one way to change position. It is not a magic fix. Alternating sit and stand, and moving through the day, is often more useful than standing still for hours.

We can discuss your setup after assessment. This is not a product recommendation.

Why does my upper back hurt between my shoulder blades?

A tight band between the blades is a common desk-week clue. The thoracic spine may stiffen in a rounded position. The blades may feel stuck. That is orientation, not a diagnosis.

If the story stays in the mid-back, see our thoracic mid-back page. Assessment still decides.

Can posture-related discomfort sit with headaches?

It may. A base-of-skull ache after screens can sit next to a desk slump. That does not mean this page will change your headaches.

If headache is the main story, see our headaches page. Sudden severe headache is urgent-care first.

Do I need imaging for posture-related pain?

Not always. Imaging is typically considered where there are red flags, significant trauma, progressive neurological change, or when a surgical opinion is being considered.

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

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 chest tightness, sudden severe headache, fever, unexplained weight loss, rapidly progressing weakness, 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.

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.

Should I see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist for posture?

Both are qualified to assess musculoskeletal presentations. Here the first visit is an honest check of neck, thoracic, and desk-week 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.

Is this the same as tech neck?

Not always. Tech neck is the phone-and-screen downward tilt. That dedicated URL already exists at our tech neck page.

This page is the broader posture map: desk slump, commute, lift weeks, and the neck-and-blade cluster. Assessment decides which map fits you. We are not building a second tech-neck URL.

Should I buy a posture brace?

A brace is a product, not a plan. Some people feel held up for a short time, then the slump returns. We do not sell braces from this page.

If you already have one, mention it at your visit. Assessment still decides what is sensible next. Individual responses vary.

What if my work is driving, nursing, or trade work?

Work load may sit with a posture flare. Driving, looking up, lifting, or a long stand can all be clues. We ask about your week. We do not write a job-site protocol from this page.

If care here is not the right fit, we 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 posture-related pain?

Many desk and posture 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 posture-related presentations are mechanical.

Progressive weakness or walking change

A hand that will not grip, an arm that will not lift, numbness or weakness in both arms or legs, unsteady walking, or new bladder or bowel change.

Trauma, fever or unexplained weight loss

Pain after a major fall or crash, or new pain with fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer.

Sudden severe headache or neurological change

The worst headache of your life, new double vision, slurred speech, facial droop, or sudden confusion. Seek emergency care first.

Chest, jaw or tearing pain

Chest tightness, jaw or left-arm pain, breathlessness, sweating, or tearing pain into the upper back. These may suggest a cardiac or vascular emergency, not a desk slump.

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 posture discomfort?

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 region may this follow?

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

Posture discomfort is a regional pattern. How you sit is not always the only driver. The cervical spine, thoracic spine, scapular region, and shoulder girdle may all sit in the same week.

A forward-head type story may sit with screens, a base-of-skull ache, or trouble turning. A thoracic type story may sit as a tight band between the blades after sitting. A mixed desk-week story may load all three. Those maps are clues. They are not a diagnosis from this page.

Live assessment here includes history plus a bedside cluster: sitting and standing posture, neck range, thoracic mobility, and a screen of red flags. A brace, a photo of your desk, or a Google label can be useful. It is not the whole plan. Individual presentations vary.

If the story is mainly local neck pain, see our neck pain page. If the blades or a reach pinch are louder, see shoulder and upper back. Phone-and-screen language also lives on our existing tech neck page.

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 posture-related 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

Forward head and neck pain

A systematic review reported an association between forward head posture and neck pain in some age groups, with age acting as a confounder. Association is not the same as a cause label for you.

Mahmoud et al., 2019 · PMID 31773477

Exercise for forward head posture

A systematic review of therapeutic exercise for forward head posture reported that exercise may change craniovertebral angle and may help neck pain in some participants. Review context, not a personal loading plan.

Sheikhhoseini et al., 2018 · PMID 30107937

Manual therapy plus exercise

A Cochrane review of randomised trials reported that cervical manipulation and mobilisation produced similar effects on pain, function, and satisfaction in neck-pain samples, and that multimodal care combining manual therapy with exercise was beneficial for some mechanical neck disorders. Study context, not a prediction for you.

Gross et al., 2010 · PMID 20510644

Clinical practice guideline

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

Blanpied et al., 2017 · JOSPT neck pain CPG

Office and screen load

Research in Australian office workers found new neck-pain episodes are common across a work year. Desk and device load is a clue, not a diagnosis, and not proof that posture is always the driver.

Hush et al., 2009 · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Red flags stay open

Most desk and posture presentations are mechanical. Screening still matters. Progressive weakness, trauma with severe pain, sudden severe headache, or chest tightness 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 focusNeck, thoracic, and desk-week mechanics, with 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. Mahmoud NF, Hassan KA, Abdelmajeed SF, Moustafa IM, Silva AG. (2019). The relationship between forward head posture and neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 12(4):562-577. PMID 31773477.
  2. Sheikhhoseini R, Shahrbanian S, Sayyadi P, O'Sullivan K. (2018). Effectiveness of therapeutic exercise on forward head posture: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 41(6):530-539. PMID 30107937.
  3. Gross A, et al. (2010). Manipulation or mobilisation for neck pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. PMID 20510644.
  4. Blanpied PR, et al. (2017). Neck pain: revision 2017. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 47(7):A1-A83.
  5. Hush JM, et al. (2009). Risk factors for neck pain in office workers: a prospective study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Last clinically reviewed 14 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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