HealthWise

Martin Morrissey joined Healthwise in November 1995 after completing a four-year degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Acupuncture Colleges Australia (now part of UTS).

Martin completed certificates in Shiatsu (1988) and Swedish massage (1989), a Diploma of Remedial Massage (1989) and then studied Chinese Massage (Tui Na), Tai Chi and Qi Gong concurrently with his acupuncture degree from 1991-1995, part of it spent in China.

Before practicing full-time, Martin spent 10 years as a nurse in mainly orthopaedic wards in public and private hospitals. Based on this experience, Martin is keen to help his patients avoid having painful, expensive and disruptive elective orthopaedic surgery. Many people who have had hip or knee replacements, spinal laminectomies or fusion do not realise that there are less invasive, less dramatic and more convenient treatment options available to them. What we do know is that it is much better to look after the original parts than it is to replace them.

After having knee surgery himself in 1981, Martin became even more fitness conscious than he had previously, completing a Fitness Leader course with ACHPER in 1987.

Martin has practiced Yoga three times a week since 1985 and has been a keen investigator of different health philosophies and products for most of his adult life.

Acupuncture and massage are well known for their efficiency in treating muscular and arthritis pain. Martin treats a range of muscular-skeletal problems such as headaches, lower back, neck, shoulder, foot and hand conditions.

Martin also enjoys helping his patients with less well known conditions, for example, insomnia, anxiety, digestive upsets, morning sickness, PMS and fatigue, all of which can be effectively helped with acupuncture and massage.

Martin draws on his 11 years of experience to bring a good record of success, for the treatment of these conditions and many others.

Far from being a passive observer in your recovery, Martin believes that learning goes hand in hand with healing. It matters a lot to him that you not only understand what afflicts you, but also what you can do to help yourself. Whether you are trying to get on top of a long-standing problem or are recovering from a fresh injury or even surgery, acupuncture and massage has a lot to offer.

Martin has experience in working with Chinese herbal medicines, understands the effects of posture and exercise and is keenly interested in what other forms of therapy have to offer, so that if he cannot help you, he can refer you to someone who can.

Martin writes a weekly blog, pittwaterspirit.com/bodywork with information about what he treats, how he goes about it. He also provides free advice and suggestions for the possible causes of his (prospective) client's health complaints in the form of easy to read and understand 1 page articles (approx 500 words).

Apart from working at Healthwise Eastwood, Martin also works on the Northern Beaches at his clinic at 35 Coolangatta Avenue, Elanora Heights, phone 9970-5530 (email martin.morrissey@bigpond.com.au).