Unhurried, hands-on chiropractic care, the way it should be.
Chiropractic and sports injury care for people with persistent pain, recurring injuries, or a problem that keeps getting in the way of work, training and everyday life. Soft tissue therapy, chiropractic adjustment and exercise rehabilitation, with treatment chosen according to your history and assessment.
Calls and texts reach the chiropractor, not a call centre. Texts are usually answered the same day, even between patients.
Looking after the same local community since 2012. Plenty of the people who came in that first year still come in today.
Three things people come in for a lot
These come up often enough to have a page of their own. If yours is not one of them, it is still worth a call.
An injury that keeps coming back
The hamstring, shoulder or knee that settles down, then turns up again every time training picks up.
Sports injury assessmentKnee pain you have been told is arthritis
A diagnosis explains part of the picture. How the knee is moving and loading is worth assessing too.
Knee assessmentA neck you keep cracking yourself
Stretching, rolling and cracking through the day for a few minutes of relief that never seems to last.
Neck and upper backCare people commonly see us for
Assessment first, then treatment that suits what we find. We consider your symptoms alongside your history, movement, training and other factors that may be relevant to your presentation. If your problem needs a different kind of practitioner, we will tell you honestly and point you in the right direction.
Low back pain
Careful assessment of both recent and long standing lower back complaints, with hands-on treatment and practical advice for work and daily life.
Neck pain & headaches
Assessment and management of neck related discomfort, stiffness and tension-type headaches, including symptoms that build up through the working day. More on neck and upper back
Sports injuries
Muscle, joint and overuse injuries from BJJ, boxing, CrossFit and Hyrox through to soccer, rugby and weekend sport, with consideration of your training goals and return to activity. More on sports injuries
Knee, shoulder & hip complaints
Hands-on care and exercise guidance for joints that are restricted, painful, or being asked to do more than they are used to. More on knee pain
Sciatica-type leg pain
Assessment of leg pain and referred symptoms to work out what may be contributing, before any treatment begins.
Desk, driving & work strain
Practical, realistic advice for the aches that come from long hours at a desk, on the tools, or behind the wheel.
What happens at your first appointment
No surprises and no pressure. You will know what we found and what we suggest before you leave, and every decision about your care is yours to make.
We listen first
A proper conversation about your history, your symptoms, your work or training, and what you want to get back to doing. Not a two minute intake form.
Assessment
Orthopaedic, neurological and movement testing where appropriate, looking at the area that is bothering you along with anything else that may be relevant to it. If imaging or a referral to another practitioner is more appropriate, we will say so.
Explanation in plain language
What we found, what we suggest, roughly how many appointments that usually involves, and what you can do yourself in between. If we are uncertain about something, we will say so.
Treatment where appropriate
Hands-on treatment usually starts the same day where it is appropriate. What is used depends on your presentation rather than a set routine, and it is explained before it is used.
Exercise and practical advice
Exercise designed around your presentation, activity level and what you are working towards, plus advice you can actually apply during the week. We reassess as we go, and when things are going well, we say so.
Treatment doesn't end at the table
The hands-on work matters, and so does what happens between appointments. Care here is built around three things.
Exercise & rehabilitation
Progressive exercise designed around your presentation, activity level and rehabilitation goals, from the early stages after an injury through to returning to sport, training or work.
Practical advice for persistent symptoms
Long standing symptoms rarely have a single quick answer. Alongside hands-on treatment, you get practical advice on the day to day things that may be relevant to you, including activity, pacing, sleep and how you are loading the area.
Lifestyle & nutrition guidance
Straightforward advice on activity, sleep and nutrition where it is relevant to your recovery and general health. No fads, just sensible changes you can actually keep up.
Techniques that may be used
These are tools, not the plan. What gets used depends on your history and what the assessment finds, it is explained before it is used, and only where it is clinically appropriate. No two treatments here look the same.
Soft tissue & release therapy
Active and passive release techniques, trigger point therapy and PIR or PNF stretching, used to address areas of muscular tension or restriction as part of a broader treatment approach.
Chiropractic adjustment
Targeted joint work drawing on Gonstead, Diversified, Activator, Thompson and SOT techniques, used where appropriate as one part of a broader plan.
Dry needling
Fine, single-use sterile needles applied to tight or overactive muscle tissue as part of broader treatment.
Cupping & gua sha
Traditional soft tissue techniques, used alongside hands-on treatment for areas of muscular tension.
Sports strapping & taping
Supportive strapping for training, competition and injury management, used where appropriate.
Feet, footwear & gait
Foot and ankle function, gait and footwear can be relevant to how you load your knees, hips and back, so they are assessed where that is relevant to you. The clinic stocks Xero Shoes barefoot footwear and custom orthotics, recommended only where they suit your feet, history and activity.
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (Chikly Method)
A very gentle, light-touch manual technique developed by Dr Bruno Chikly (MD, DO), used where appropriate as part of a broader treatment approach.
Brain Therapy (Chikly Institute)
Subtle manual therapy from the Chikly Institute's Brain Therapy curriculum. A gentle, non-invasive approach suited to people who prefer light-touch care.
Simple, transparent fees
Appointment length is matched to what you actually need on the day, never rushed and never padded. No packages, no lock-in plans, no upfront payments for future care.
Opening hours
| Monday to Thursday | 8:00am to 1:00pm & 4:00pm to 8:00pm |
| Friday | 8:00am to 1:00pm & 4:00pm to 7:00pm |
| Saturday | 9:00am to 1:00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Dr Mouhamed Saab (Chiropractor) · B.ChiroSc, M.Chiro
Fourteen years in the same community says something. Essential Health opened in Bexley in 2012, and plenty of the families who walked through the door that first year still come in today.
Care here is personal by design. You are looked after by the same practitioner from the first assessment through to the last appointment, your history is never re-explained to a stranger, and you are not rushed out the door to make room for the next booking.
It is also honest. If chiropractic treatment is right for you, we will explain why and what to expect. If it is not, we will say that too and point you toward what is.
Dr Saab (Chiropractor) trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and holds a black belt, and worked in the fitness industry before university. The practice has looked after the BJJ, boxing, CrossFit, Hyrox, soccer, rugby league and union communities for years, along with bodybuilders, and just as many families, desk workers and tradespeople who simply want to move well.
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
No. You can book directly for private appointments. A GP referral and care plan is only needed if you're coming through Medicare CDM (EPC). Workers compensation and CTP claims are also accepted.
Can I claim through my private health fund?
Yes. Health fund rebates are claimed on the spot via Tyro, so you only pay the gap on the day.
What happens at my first appointment?
A proper conversation about your history, an orthopaedic, neurological and movement assessment where appropriate, and a plain language explanation of what we found and what we suggest. Treatment usually starts the same day where it is appropriate. The initial appointment is $140.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on what we find, and there is no honest one-size answer before an assessment. You'll get a realistic estimate at your first appointment, and there are no packages, lock-in plans or upfront payments for future care.
Do you work with athletes and sports injuries?
Yes. The practice has looked after the BJJ, boxing, CrossFit, Hyrox, soccer, rugby league and union communities for years, with treatment and exercise designed around your presentation and with consideration of your training goals and return to activity. There is more detail on the sports injury page.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing you can move in. If your appointment involves assessing how you move, gym-style clothes make it easier, but regular work clothes are fine too.
Do you stock barefoot shoes?
Yes. The clinic stocks Xero Shoes barefoot footwear, alongside custom orthotics. Barefoot-style shoes have a wide toe box and a thin, flexible sole, designed to let your feet move and spread more naturally. Whether they suit you depends on your feet, your history and what you do, which is exactly what gets assessed before any recommendation.
Can you help me choose a pillow?
Yes. Pillow fit is part of looking after your neck, and the clinic keeps a range of supportive pillows you can try in person, with options for side sleepers, back sleepers and pregnant mums. Browse the range at our online pillow shop, or call or text 0416 922 566 to book a pillow consultation at the Bexley clinic.
Sore, stiff, or just not moving right?
Call or text and you will reach the chiropractor directly, not a booking service. New patients are welcome.
49 Bruce St, Bexley NSW 2207 · Get directions
Mobile: 0416 922 566 · Clinic: (02) 9587 3753
Email: info@essentialhealthcs.com.au · Fax: (02) 8323 4346