Frequently Asked Questions

Chiropractic care is about how well your brain and body communicate. Your nervous system is constantly reading signals from your body and deciding how to respond - whether that's staying calm and regulated, or shifting into a stressed, guarded state. When that communication is under strain, it can show up in sleep, digestion, mood, immunity, and how well you recover from stress or injury. At First Chiropractic, we assess how your nervous system is adapting and coping, and use gentle, specific care to support better regulation - helping your body do what it's designed to do.

An adjustment is a precise, gentle input to the spine and nervous system that helps calm an overloaded stress response and restore better communication between brain and body. Every adjustment is tailored to the individual - some patients prefer gentle instrument-based techniques, others prefer manual adjusting, and all of our chiropractors are trained and comfortable in both. We'll always explain what we're doing and why before we do it.

Yes. Chiropractic has a strong safety record and is one of the most widely used forms of natural healthcare in New Zealand. Because our approach supports your nervous system's ability to regulate and adapt, rather than forcing structural change, our techniques are gentle and specifically matched to each person, including babies, children, pregnant women, and older adults. Every visit starts with a thorough assessment, and your chiropractor will always talk you through anything specific to your situation.

Your first visit runs 45–60 minutes (babies' first visits run around 30 minutes). After some paperwork, your chiropractor will take a thorough health history and run an INSiGHT nerve scan - an objective measure of how your nervous system is functioning and where it may be under strain. X-rays are taken only if clinically indicated, using our on-site digital X-ray facility, the only one at a chiropractic practice in Napier. Depending on what your chiropractor finds, care may begin at this first visit.

That depends on what your chiropractor finds during your assessment. In many cases, yes - but it's always at your chiropractor's clinical discretion and with your full understanding and agreement. We never rush into care. If it makes more sense to wait until your report of findings, we'll explain exactly why.

Your report of findings is a dedicated second appointment where your chiropractor walks you through your results in plain language - your nerve scan findings, X-rays if taken, and what they mean for how your nervous system is coping and adapting. You'll leave with a clear picture of what's going on and a care plan built around your goals.

Yes. Pregnancy places significant demand on your body and nervous system as it adapts week to week, and chiropractic care during this time is safe, gentle, and can be genuinely valuable. We use pregnancy-specific techniques and have supports that let you lie comfortably face-down even in later stages. Many of our pregnant patients find regular care helps with lower back pain, pelvic discomfort, and overall wellbeing as their body changes.

In most cases, yes, and it can often support a smoother recovery. We start with a thorough history to understand your situation fully. If your surgery involved your back or neck, your chiropractor will work around the surgically modified area and instead focus on supporting the segments above and below, which often carry extra load and can benefit from care after surgery. We also offer seated assessments, have tables that lower you into position without awkward movement, and extra supports for comfort. If you're unsure whether your situation is suitable, give us a call and we'll talk it through.

Yes. Babies' nervous systems are highly adaptable and respond to very gentle input, often just the weight of a fingertip applied to key areas. Dr Kate Anderson has advanced training in paediatric and infant care, including cranial work and dural system assessment, and sees babies regularly from birth. The whole team works closely together, so infant care is something all of our chiropractors are confident and experienced with.

Yes, in some cases. If your condition results from an accident or injury and meets ACC requirements, ACC covers a portion of your care (a surcharge applies), and no GP referral is needed - we handle the paperwork and claim for you. Some health insurance policies also cover chiropractic care; it's worth checking directly with your provider. We're a Southern Cross Easy-Claim provider, so if you're with Southern Cross, we can check your cover and process the claim directly.

We offer competitive fees, with discounts available for children, students, and Community Services Card holders. For current pricing, visit our fees page or give us a call.

We're at 164 Kennedy Road, Napier, with on-site car parking and wheelchair/pram access via a ramp.

Monday–Friday: 7:45am–6:15pm. Saturday: 8:30am–11:30am. Closed Sunday.

We use INSiGHT nerve scanning technology to objectively measure how your nervous system is functioning, rather than relying on guesswork. We're also the only chiropractic practice in Napier with an on-site digital X-ray facility, meaning faster, more complete assessments with no referrals elsewhere for imaging.