CHIROPRACTORS COMMENCE SPINAL HEALTH MONTH WITH RESEARCH IN MENTAL HEALTH Promising results in clinical study integrating routine physical care with online psychological therapies
With
Dr Kim Lie Jom, Chiropractor
Chatswood, New South Wales &
Board Director
Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA)
Alex Malley, Chief Executive Officer,
Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA)
Dr Aimee Mason, Chiropractor
Sydney, New South Wales &
Chair, Eastern Regional Committee,
Australian Chiropractors Association
Dr David McNaughton PhD (Psychology),
Chiropractor
Chatswood, New South Wales &
Senior Lecturer, Central Queensland University
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | June 2026
A new Australian-first clinical research study has found promising results for reducing the mental health impacts of chronic musculoskeletal pain by combining online psychological therapies with routine physical care. The research, funded by the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) and conducted through CQUniversity and Macquarie University’s MindSpot programme, highlights the strong connection between chronic pain and mental wellbeing.
The findings are supported by a national survey of 1,040 Australians, which revealed that 66.4% of people experiencing back pain say it has negatively affected their mental health. The survey also found that chronic pain lasting more than three months has increased significantly, rising from 30% of Australians in 2024 to 44.1% in 2026.
Cost-of-living pressures are also affecting healthcare access, with 44% of back pain sufferers reporting they cannot afford treatment. As a result, visits to healthcare professionals have declined while reliance on over-the-counter pain medication has increased.
Back pain affects an estimated 6.1 million Australians and costs the economy approximately $55.1 billion each year. With musculoskeletal conditions projected to grow by 43% over the next two decades, the findings underscore the need for integrated approaches to physical and mental health care.
The research coincides with National Spinal Health Month in June 2026, which marks the 30th anniversary of the ACA’s spinal health campaign and promotes the theme: “A healthy spine supports a healthy mind.”
Source: Adapted from ACA Media Release (May 2026)
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Clinical pain neuroscientist talks about how the brain processes pain information
Persistent pain affects one in five Australians and costs the nation an estimated $73 billion per year in health system costs, lost productivity and other financial costs.
Persistent pain also has debilitating personal costs – negatively impacting quality of life and the ability to engage in meaningful work and life activities.
Despite the enormity of this problem, very few effective treatments exist with most showing only small to moderate improvements. New treatments are desperately needed. The group believes the best way to create impactful change is to work with people with lived experience of persistent pain to devise solutions with them, not for them.
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Recognised as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence by The Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a visionary leader whose work lies at the intersection of design, technology, health, disability, and education. With a focus on human-centred design, digital strategy, and service design, she leads transformative initiatives as a Manager in Design, Digital and Data at Nous Group, a global consulting firm. Her work is driven by a deep passion for using creativity and technology to solve complex social challenges.
