If you have chronic lower back pain, a history of disc injuries, or keep hurting yourself every time you try to train, Andrew Cunningham’s functional training programme in Preston is designed specifically for you. Andrew is an AHPRA-registered chiropractor with 12+ years of clinical experience and 15+ years of personal training. He has applied what he’s learned treating thousands of spinal patients to develop a 1:1 strength coaching programme for people who need to build functional strength without wrecking their back.
Who this programme is for
This is not general personal training. This programme is specifically for:
- People with chronic lower back pain who’ve been told to “get stronger” but don’t know how to do that safely, or who keep re-injuring themselves when they try
- People with disc injuries (bulge, herniation, or prior surgery) who want to return to strength training with a practitioner who understands disc biomechanics at a clinical level
- Tradies and manual workers whose backs hurt on the job and who need a structured programme to build the load tolerance their work demands
- Lifters and CrossFit athletes who keep re-injuring the same areas (usually lower back, hip, or shoulder) and need their movement patterns assessed and corrected by someone who understands why it keeps happening
- Post-rehab graduates — patients who’ve completed chiropractic, physio, or clinical Pilates rehabilitation and need the next step: progressive strength loading to consolidate their gains and prevent recurrence
What makes this different from general personal training
Most personal trainers programme around injuries — they’re told to avoid certain exercises and work within them. Andrew programmes through injuries: he understands the pathology well enough to know what tissue is at risk, why it’s at risk, and how to progressively load the system without exceeding its current capacity. The programme doesn’t just make you stronger — it changes how you move and load your spine under intensity.
The approach Andrew has developed is built on three principles:
- Assess before loading: Every client starts with a clinical movement assessment. Andrew identifies hip hinge quality, spinal load tolerance, pelvic stability, and the specific breakdowns in your movement that are producing injury. Programme design starts from the assessment, not from a generic template.
- Progressive systematic loading: The programme advances load incrementally — always within your current tolerance, always moving forward. “Train to the edge of your capacity, not beyond it” is the operating principle.
- Technique-first: You don’t add weight until technique is solid. This is non-negotiable. Every rep of a deadlift or squat pattern is an opportunity to reinforce either good or bad motor patterns — bad patterns under load are exactly how back injuries happen.
Where sessions take place
Training sessions are conducted at Snap Fitness Preston — a fully equipped gym around the corner from the Advanced Health clinic at 4/107 Plenty Road, Preston. Snap Fitness has barbells, power racks, cable systems, dumbbells, and the space to train effectively. Andrew trains here himself and knows the facility well. The proximity to the clinic means that if a chiropractic treatment is indicated at any point during the programme, it’s available immediately.
How the programme works
Step 1 — Clinical assessment (at Advanced Health clinic): Andrew assesses your movement, spine, and injury history in a full 45-minute chiropractic consultation. This gives him the complete picture before programming begins. If there’s an active issue that needs to be treated before loading begins, this is identified and addressed first.
Step 2 — Programme design: Based on the assessment, Andrew designs your initial training block. This is individual — not a template. It specifies exactly which exercises, loading parameters, and progressions are appropriate for your starting point.
Step 3 — Supervised sessions (at Snap Fitness Preston): 1:1 training sessions, typically 1–2 per week. Andrew is with you for every session, coaching technique and adjusting load in real time.
Step 4 — Programme review every 4–6 weeks: Andrew reassesses movement quality and pain levels, and progresses the programme based on what’s changed. The goal is always increasing capacity — not maintaining a comfortable holding pattern.
Pricing
Initial clinical assessment: $90 (at Advanced Health clinic). Ongoing 1:1 training sessions: call (03) 9484 9185 for current rates. Sessions are structured in blocks. NDIS Capacity Building funding may apply.
FAQs about functional training for back pain in Preston
Is this the same as general personal training?
No. General personal training aims at fitness and body composition goals. This programme is specifically designed for people with chronic back pain, injury history, or movement dysfunction that makes standard programming risky. The clinical assessment and injury-informed programming are what make it different.
Can I do this if I’ve had back surgery?
In many cases yes — post-surgical patients are a significant part of Andrew’s functional training caseload. Timing matters: most spinal surgeons want at least 3 months post-surgery before beginning progressive loading. Bring your surgical report and any clearance from your surgeon to the initial assessment.
What if I’m in pain right now — can I still start?
Yes, with a caveat. Andrew will assess your current pain level and what’s driving it. If there’s an active inflammatory or acute phase that needs to be managed first, he’ll treat that chiropractic ally before beginning the loading programme. Some patients do both concurrently from the start; others need 2–4 weeks of chiropractic management before their pain tolerance is sufficient for progressive loading.
Is this different from clinical Pilates?
Yes. Clinical Pilates is a rehabilitation discipline focused on deep stabiliser recruitment, motor control, and controlled progressive loading — typically using Reformer equipment. Functional training progresses to free weights, barbells, and higher load work that Pilates doesn’t reach. Many patients do clinical Pilates first, then graduate to functional training as their capacity increases. Andrew also offers clinical Pilates at Advanced Health and can direct you to the right starting point.
Book your initial assessment
Call (03) 9484 9185 to book your initial clinical assessment with Andrew. Advanced Health is at 4/107 Plenty Road, Preston 3072. Open Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–1pm.
