About Andrew Ziakas | Chiropractor Mooroolbark | Optimal Wellness Chiropractic

Dr Andrew Ziakas — Chiropractor, Optimal Wellness Chiropractic Mooroolbark

The honest bit

A few years ago, I got sick. Really sick.

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma — and suddenly, the person who'd spent 20-something years helping other people through health challenges was facing one of his own.

Running a practice while going through treatment is not something I'd wish on anyone. I had to scale back. I had fill-in chiropractors covering for me. There were days where keeping the clinic going felt like too much — and days where it felt like exactly the right thing to keep going for.

I'm in remission now. And I came back to practice with a different perspective than I left with.

I understand what it's like to have your body not cooperate. To keep showing up anyway. To need help and find it hard to ask for it. If you're dealing with something that's been grinding you down — physically or otherwise — I get it more than most.

The philosophy

Why chiropractic? Here's the honest answer.

I didn't stumble into this. The philosophy genuinely resonated with me from the start — the idea that the body has an extraordinary capacity to function well when the spine and nervous system aren't under unnecessary stress. That made sense to me. It still does.

Twenty-six years later, the part I love most isn't the adjusting — it's being hands-on in someone's life. Getting to know people. Watching them go from guarded and frustrated to moving freely and feeling like themselves again.

We have a bit of a family feel at the clinic. Patients who've been coming for years. People who send their partners, their mates from work, their parents. That's not something I take for granted.

What to expect

What to expect when you come in

1

Thorough, not rushed

The first visit is 45 to 60 minutes. I want the full picture — not just where it hurts, but why it's there and what's keeping it there.

2

Straight with you

If chiropractic is the right fit for what you're dealing with, I'll tell you. If something else is a better option, I'll tell you that too. I'm not interested in keeping anyone coming in longer than they need to.

3

Tailored to you

I use a range of techniques — Gonstead, Diversified, Torque Release, Activator, Thompson Drop — because one size doesn't fit all spines. What I use depends on what I find and what works best for you.

Outside the clinic

When I'm not in the clinic

I've been married for twenty years. We have two teenage boys who keep us very honestly busy — mostly running them to basketball, watching them play basketball, and talking about basketball.

Most lunchtimes when I'm not with patients, you'll find me on a walk around Mooroolbark. I'm a big believer in moving your body every day — partly professional habit, mostly because it keeps me sane.

I've worked in this area for a long time. A lot of my patients are locals, people I see around the place. That suits me. I like knowing the community I work in.

I'm also a St Kilda football supporter — which, if you know anything about the Saints, probably explains a lot about why I'm so good at helping people manage long-term pain. You develop resilience. It's been since the 60s. We don't talk about it.

Qualifications

Qualifications & approach

AHPRA Registered Chiropractor

26 Years Clinical Experience

Advanced Torque Release Certified

SD Dominance Practitioner

Gonstead Technique

Activator Method

Thompson Drop Technique

Diversified Technique

26 years. A few battles. One practice.