Hillcrest · Upper Highway
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession focused on diagnosing, treating and managing problems of the spine, nervous system and musculoskeletal system. It has come a long way since the 1800s. Where treatment once revolved almost entirely around spinal manipulation, modern chiropractic takes a far broader, more holistic view, looking at how you move, how you live, and the many factors that feed into pain. Chiropractors in South Africa are highly trained, regulated healthcare professionals who use evidence-based methods to help you move better and feel better.
This guide answers the questions I am asked most often about chiropractic in South Africa: what we do, what we treat, whether it is safe, and how medical aid cover works. I am Dr Neil Cuninghame, a Hillcrest chiropractor and interdisciplinary pain management specialist with over 17 years of experience, so you always know who is behind the advice.
The person behind the guide
Dr Neil Cuninghame is a chiropractor and interdisciplinary pain management specialist based in Hillcrest, in the Upper Highway area of KwaZulu-Natal. He qualified with a Master of Technology in Chiropractic from the Durban University of Technology in 2009, and has spent the years since trying to understand pain properly rather than simply chasing symptoms.
His early career took him through practices in Ladysmith, Vryheid and Westville before he moved to Hillcrest in 2019 to focus on pain management. In 2020 he earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Pain Management from the University of Cape Town, and he continues to train in modern pain science. That background shapes the way he works: looking for the root cause of a problem and building a plan around it, rather than treating the pain in isolation.
It is not only academic. As a keen endurance athlete, Dr Neil has had his own share of injuries and setbacks, so he understands first-hand what it takes to recover and stay active. He treats patients from right across the Upper Highway and Outer West.
The basics
Chiropractors in South Africa complete six years of university training. They study anatomy, physiology, biology and diagnostics, alongside chiropractic-specific skills such as motion palpation, biomechanics and manual therapy, as well as spinal manipulation, dry needling, exercise therapy and soft-tissue work. Much of that training is hands-on, treating patients in campus clinics under supervision, and it ends with a Master's dissertation before they can qualify.
Once qualified, a chiropractor can diagnose, manage and treat a wide range of conditions affecting the muscles, joints and nerves, from the spine to the shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, and the hips, knees, ankles and feet. If something falls outside a chiropractor's scope, part of the job is recognising that and pointing you towards the right healthcare provider.
What we treat
Chiropractors are best known for everyday aches and pains such as lower back pain, neck pain, headaches and shoulder or hip pain. While the spine remains a central focus, modern chiropractic care extends to the nerves, muscles and joints throughout the body. That includes sports injuries, sciatica, disc-related pain and longer-standing problems such as persistent and chronic pain.
For complex or persistent pain, my interdisciplinary training means the focus shifts towards helping you understand, manage and reduce pain over time, rather than simply chasing each flare-up as it comes.
How it works
Spinal manipulation is the best-known chiropractic technique, but it is not really about the click. That popping sound is just gas releasing in the joint, and it is not the point of treatment. Manipulation is used to influence the nervous system, change the way pain is processed and improve how a joint moves. If you want the detail, I cover the science behind spinal manipulation more fully in my article on what a chiropractor does.
Alongside manipulation, chiropractors use techniques such as dry needling, soft-tissue massage, instrument-assisted soft-tissue work (the so-called spoon technique), stretching and exercise therapy. Some also use electro-modalities such as TENS, laser and shockwave therapy. Practical lifestyle advice and a broader pain management strategy are just as much a part of modern care as anything done with the hands.
Good to know
Yes. In the hands of a well-trained, registered professional, chiropractic care is safe. Before any treatment begins, a chiropractor carries out a thorough assessment, including neurological, orthopaedic, biomechanical and pain evaluations. Research shows chiropractic care compares very favourably with over-the-counter pain medication, and is often more effective for managing musculoskeletal pain.
Comfort matters too. If you are uneasy about spinal manipulation, there are plenty of alternative techniques that can help you feel better and move more freely, and a good chiropractor will always work within what feels right for you.
No, chiropractors do not prescribe medication. Some, though, have advanced training in pain management and can talk you through how medicines such as anti-inflammatories might fit alongside your treatment. Where it helps, they will also work with your GP so that everyone is pulling in the same direction.
No. You do not need a referral or prior imaging such as X-rays or an MRI to see a chiropractor. Chiropractors are trained to assess and diagnose neuromusculoskeletal conditions, and to decide whether further imaging or a specialist opinion is actually needed.
Your first visit
Your first consultation at The Hillcrest Chiro runs about 45 to 60 minutes. It usually includes a detailed case history and a physical examination, along with the relevant orthopaedic and neurological tests to rule out anything serious and get to the bottom of what is causing your pain. Treatment from there is based on what we find, and varies depending on the plan we agree on together. If special tests or a specialist referral are needed, we will arrange them. Follow-up visits are usually around 30 minutes.
Cover and payment
Yes. Most South African medical aids cover chiropractic treatment, usually from your medical savings or day-to-day portion. Many chiropractors, myself included, can submit claims directly to your medical aid, though it is always worth confirming your cover with your provider first. You can see the schemes accepted at The Hillcrest Chiro on the medical aids page.
In the media
Health in Wealth® · Season 1, Episode 18 · 37 min
Fear, Pain, and the Brain: Why We Avoid What Could Free Us
Dr Neil joined the Health in Wealth podcast to explore why fear can keep us stuck in pain, and how understanding the brain's role in pain can help set us free.
When to come in
If you are in pain or discomfort, or even just nagged by a minor niggle, it is worth seeing a chiropractor. Catching things early often stops a small problem from turning into a bigger one. The goal is simple: to help you feel better, move better and get back to living your life.
Find me here
A1a Meyrickton Park,
2 Meyrickton Pl, St Helier,
Hillcrest, 3610
The practice is one of several suites in Meyrickton Park, a medical hub in Hillcrest, with easy on-site parking. I see patients from across the Upper Highway and Outer West, including Hillcrest, Kloof, Gillitts, Winston Park, Everton, Waterfall, Forest Hills, Assagay, Botha's Hill and Drummond, as well as Westville and Pinetown along the M13.
Ready when you are
Same-week appointments are usually available, and you do not need a referral. Book online, send a WhatsApp, or call reception.
Phone 031 035 1165 · WhatsApp 064 820 5203 · Online drneilcuninghame.com/chiropractic-online-booking
