Nick’s Availability
Monday 11am-6pm
Wednesday 11am-6pm
Dr Nicholas “Nick” Nguyen
Chiropractor for Combat Sports, Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting and CrossFit
Sport-specific chiropractic care from a practitioner who understands training and competition firsthand.
Dr Nicholas Nguyen graduated from RMIT University with a Master of Clinical Chiropractic in 2013. Since graduating, he has developed broad clinical experience across private practice, multidisciplinary clinics and sport-specific gym environments.
Nick has competed at a high level across combat and strength sports. This competitive background gives him a practical understanding of the physical demands, injury risks and training culture associated with boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit.
Rather than assessing an injury without considering the athlete’s sport, Nick looks at how pain or reduced function affects the movements that matter most—whether that is punching, grappling, kicking, squatting, deadlifting, pressing or performing an Olympic lift.
Nick works with competitive athletes, recreational participants and active adults who want to recover from injury, continue training where appropriate and return to their sport with greater confidence.
Clinical Experience Backed by Competitive Experience
Nick’s clinical approach is supported by his own extensive background in sport and movement.
He has participated in gymnastics, martial arts and competitive lifting, as well as accumulating approximately a decade of hands-on experience as a gym instructor and coach. This allows him to understand an athlete’s injury from both a clinical and sporting perspective.
Nick currently works with athletes from:
Boxing
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Mixed martial arts
Martial arts
Powerlifting
Olympic weightlifting
CrossFit and functional fitness
General strength and conditioning
His sporting experience helps him understand the difference between being free from pain and being genuinely ready to train, spar, lift or compete again.
Combat-Sports Chiropractic
Combat sports place substantial demands on the neck, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, wrists and hands. Each discipline also involves different combinations of impact, rotation, grappling, striking, force production and fatigue.
Nick works with boxing, BJJ and MMA populations and understands the demands involved in:
Punching and striking
Clinching and grappling
Ground-based positions
Takedowns and changes of level
Kicking and rotational movement
Repeated high-intensity training
Managing training around competition
Returning to sparring following injury
His assessment considers not only where the athlete feels pain, but also how the condition affects their technique, training load and ability to perform sport-specific movements.
Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting and CrossFit
Nick’s competitive lifting experience gives him a detailed appreciation of the strength, mobility and technical demands involved in barbell training.
He can assess pain or movement limitations associated with:
Squats
Bench press
Deadlifts
Snatches
Cleans and jerks
Overhead pressing
Pulling movements
Gymnastics-based CrossFit movements
High-volume functional-fitness training
Treatment and rehabilitation are shaped around the athlete’s current training, competition goals and physical capacity. Where appropriate, Nick can help determine which movements can continue, which may require temporary modification and how training can be progressively rebuilt.
Nick’s Treatment Approach
Nick uses a combination of hands-on treatment, movement assessment and exercise-based rehabilitation. Treatment is selected according to the individual assessment and may include:
Chiropractic adjustments
Joint mobilisation
Low-force chiropractic techniques
Sacro-occipital technique
Activator techniques
Drop-piece techniques
Flexion-distraction
Soft-tissue therapy
Active Release Techniques
Dry needling
Cupping
Stretching and mobility work
Exercise rehabilitation
Strength and conditioning principles
Training and load-management advice
Return-to-sport planning
Nick does not currently incorporate Functional Neuro-Orthopaedic Rehabilitation into his clinical approach.
Professional Development in Sports Chiropractic
Nick is currently completing the International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic through the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic and is undertaking the professional pathway towards AICE Sports and Exercise Chiropractic titling.
These programs build on his existing clinical and competitive experience by expanding his education in sports injury management, athlete care and sports chiropractic practice.
Until completed, display these as:
Currently completing the FICS International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic
Currently undertaking the AICE Sports and Exercise Chiropractic titling path
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to stop lifting if I am injured?
Not necessarily. This depends on the injury, its severity and the movements that aggravate it. Nick may recommend temporarily modifying load, range, volume or exercise selection while you work through a structured rehabilitation plan.
Can Nick assess my lifting technique?
Where relevant to your injury, Nick can observe movements such as squats, deadlifts, presses and Olympic lifting positions. This is a clinical movement assessment rather than a replacement for specialist weightlifting or powerlifting coaching.
Does Nick only treat athletes?
No. Nick also works with active adults and members of the general community experiencing back pain, neck pain, joint pain or other musculoskeletal concerns.
Can I see Nick for a CrossFit injury?
Yes. Nick’s background across gymnastics, weightlifting and gym coaching gives him an understanding of the varied demands involved in CrossFit and functional-fitness training.
Does Nick work with martial arts?
Yes. Nick has a personal background in Wing Chun and currently operates a private practice within a taekwondo club. He has a particular interest in working with martial arts and combat-sport populations.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is normally required for a private chiropractic appointment. A referral or care plan may be required for particular third-party funding arrangements.