Long-time Queenstown chiropractor Neki Patel\u2019s\u00a0opened a new clinic\u00a0in Frankton after a long break to rehab from surgery.<\/p>\n
Patel recently opened Neki Patel Chiropractic\u00a0inside Flex Fitness gym\u00a0at the Five Mile shopping centre.<\/p>\n
He says he missed working while getting himself back to full fitness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was nice opening up my practice and seeing familiar faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just enjoy treating patients \u2014 I love the communication with people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m known for treating sports people, but I love the community stuff and integrating the different treatment protocols and getting people better.\u201d<\/p>\n
He found the process of undergoing surgery and rehab\u00a0interesting\u00a0from a professional perspective, but it also gave him insight into the journey many of his patients are on.<\/p>\n
The uncertainty of full recovery\u00a0and the pressure you feel to get back to work, has an emotional toll, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy job\u2019s quite physical,\u00a0so there was that doubt in my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a bit of pressure\u00a0because you want to be earning an income.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, he took care to not rush back to work too early.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m now fully fit and ready to go,\u00a0so it was a good decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working in Frankton is a big change of scene given he ran the Queenstown Health Clinic in Gorge Rd\u00a0for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n
After he sold the\u00a0business last year, it was suddenly\u00a0closed and put in liquidation by its new owner in November.<\/p>\n
He still owns the building though\u00a0and has converted it into short-term accommodation.<\/p>\n
He began searching for new premises\u00a0at the end of last year and found it\u00a0\u201creally difficult\u201d to find the single-room space he was after.<\/p>\n
However, he\u2019s pleased to find himself in something of a fitness and therapy hub, with a neighbouring physio also inside Flex Fitness and physiotherapy clinic The Body Mechanics upstairs.<\/p>\n
He reckons there are pros and cons to being in Frankton after working downtown for so many years, but the plentiful parking at Five Mile is very\u00a0convenient for his patients, he says.<\/p>\n
After employing an administrator\u00a0for many years, he\u2019s embraced new technology by employing a Kiwi company-supplied AI secretary, \u201cSaffron\u201d, which takes his bookings.<\/p>\n