Sports Injuries Pain Treatment
Sports injuries can feel like a major setback, whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a weekend runner, or someone who loves staying active. The pain and limitations that follow can disrupt your routine and leave you feeling frustrated and unsure of how to recover.
Beyond the discomfort, untreated injuries can also lead to long-term issues like reduced mobility or chronic pain, impacting your ability to enjoy the activities you love.
That’s where Chiropractic care becomes so valuable. By addressing the root cause of your injury—not just the symptoms—Chiropractic care provides a natural, non-invasive approach to help you recover faster, move better, and stay active for the long haul.
Common Sports Injuries That Chiropractors Treat
We can diagnose and treat a wide range of sports-related injuries, including:
- Sprains and Strains as a result of overstretching or tearing of ligaments and muscles
- Tendonitis/Tendinosis which is inflammation of your tendons, often caused by repetitive movements (e.g., tennis elbow, jumper’s knee)
- Runner’s Knee, which is pain around the kneecap due to overuse or misalignment
- Shin Splints that cause pain along the shin bone, common in runners
- Shoulder Injuries like rotator cuff strains or frozen shoulder
- Plantar Fasciitis which is heel pain caused by inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot
- Stress Fractures caused by repetitive stress or overtraining
These injuries require expert care to ensure proper healing and to prevent long-term complications.
Signs You Should See a Chiropractor for a Sports Injury
Not sure if it’s time to consult a Chiropractor? Here are some signs to look out for:
1. Persistent pain or stiffness that doesn’t improve after a resting period.
2. Limited range of motion or difficulty performing routine movements.
3. Swelling or inflammation in the affected area.
4. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in joints or muscles.
5. Recurring injuries during training or gameplay.
6. Ongoing symptoms from a concussion, such as headaches, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, seeking Chiropractic care could be the key to regaining your strength, mobility and perhaps, most importantly, as an athlete, your FUNCTION and PERFORMANCE!
How Chiropractors Treat Sports Injuries
As chiropractors, we use a variety of techniques to address sports injuries and support the body’s natural healing processes. Here’s a closer look at how each approach works:
- Spinal Adjustments: Misalignments in the spine, often caused by impact or repetitive strain, can disrupt your body’s biomechanics, leading to improper movement patterns and added stress on other joints. Spinal adjustments gently realign the spine, helping restore proper posture, improve balance, and reduce overall strain on your body. These adjustments also enhance your nervous system function, which essentially speeds up the healing process—exactly what we want to do.
- Sports Massage: Injured or overused muscles and tendons often develop tension, knots, or scar tissue, which can restrict movement and exacerbate pain. With the help of our Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs), we help relax tight muscles, increase flexibility, and improve blood flow. This, again, promotes faster recovery and relieves discomfort.
- Kinotek: This is an advanced motion analysis system that accurately captures and evaluates your movement patterns. Using Kinotek’s state-of-the-art sensors, we get 3D visuals of your movement patterns from a single recording, before and after comparisons from the start and end of your care plan, and are able to quantify your progress over time with objective data. This tool is also amazing for comparing pre-injury movements to post-injury, so we can identify small and large movement changes and get you back to your pre-injury function properly and efficiently.
- Instrument-Assisted Techniques: Using tools like Graston instruments & myofascial cupping, we effectively break down scar tissue and adhesions that limit mobility and cause pain. These tools allow for precise targeting of problem areas, making this technique especially effective for chronic conditions or injuries that don’t respond well to manual therapy alone.
- Rehabilitation Exercises: Recovery doesn’t end at the clinic. Our Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, and Kinesiologists work together to design customized exercise programs for you to help strengthen weakened muscles, improve joint stability, and restore full range of motion. These exercises are tailored to your specific injury and athletic goals, ensuring a safe and gradual return to activity while minimizing the risk of re-injury.
- Laser Therapy (LLLT): Low-level laser therapy uses targeted light energy to penetrate deep into tissues, stimulating cellular repair and reducing inflammation. This non-invasive treatment accelerates the body’s natural healing process and provides relief for conditions like tendonitis, sprains, or post-surgical recovery.
- Shockwave Therapy: This is a great modality for many sports injuries. It’s a non-invasive, high-energy treatment to accelerate healing and relieve pain from sports injuries. By delivering acoustic waves to the affected area, Shockwave Therapy stimulates blood flow, promotes tissue regeneration, and breaks down scar tissue—helping athletes recover faster from conditions like tendonitis, muscle strains, and ligament injuries.
- Lifestyle and Nutritional Advice: Healing from a sports injury requires more than just hands-on care. Our team takes a holistic approach, offering guidance on proper posture, ergonomics, and daily habits that support your recovery.
- Plan to Prevent Injuries in the Future: Prevention is key to long-term wellness. We work closely with you to identify potential risk factors, such as muscle imbalances or improper movement patterns, to develop personalized strategies, including targeted exercises, adjustments, and lifestyle modifications, to help you stay injury-free and perform at your best.
Patient Success Stories/Testimonials
“I’m a local track athlete, and MYo lab has helped me reach my personal best over the last 3 months. They have an array of services such as personal training, massage, chiropractic and acupuncture, all of which have helped me reach my full potential!”
Aiden G.
“I came to MYo Lab to see Zack for a massage as I had reoccurring injuries from years of football. During the massage, Zack recommended that I see Terrence for chiropractic to go along with the massage therapy so that I could stop these injuries from reoccurring. I have been seeing Zack and Terrence regularly for the past few weeks and am amazed at how my body is changing. I didn’t think this was possible in my 40s with injuries that I have amassed from my teens through my 30s.
I highly recommend the team at MYo Lab. They are professional, courteous, and pay attention to detail. I can’t recommend them enough.”
Colin C.
“In February, I had strained my lower back from deadlifting. I was extremely frustrated as I was preparing for a meet in May and almost gave up powerlifting completely(…)
I was hesitant to see another chiropractor because of my bad experiences with chiropractors in the past(…)
After just 2 sessions, my lower back pain was almost gone. Dr.Hartley incorporates a variety of effective evidence based methods such as cupping, graston and other manual therapy techniques. As well provide rehabilitation exercises. With Dr.Hartley sports background, it was a lot easier to explain to him my injury as a powerlifter and for him to be able to pin point exactly what was causing me pain. I would highly recommend Dr.Hartley from Myolab as your Chiropractor! Dr.Hartley is one of the reasons for my ability to complete injury free for the first time in 2 years and perform at my full potential as a competitive powerlifter.”
Christine T.
How Chiropractic Care Benefits Athletes
For athletes, chiropractic care offers numerous benefits beyond treating injuries:
- Quicker recovery. Faster healing times mean you can get back to your sport sooner.
- Improved strength, speed, and flexibility.
- Prevents future injuries. Regular care helps address muscle imbalances and joint restrictions before they become problematic.
- Natural, effective solutions without the need to rely on pain medications
Resources for Athletes
Here are some videos you can check out from our YouTube channel:
FAQs About Sports Injuries
Is chiropractic care safe for athletes?
Yes, chiropractic care is generally safe for athletes. We’re trained to provide care tailored to each individual, taking into account your specific condition, age, and level of activity.
As an athlete, how often should I see a Chiropractor?
The frequency of visits depends on the nature of the injury and the treatment plan prescribed by your Chiropractor. Initially, more frequent visits may be necessary, followed by maintenance visits to prevent future injuries and ensure optimal performance. Chiropractors at MYo Lab have a clear intention of determining through a thorough assessment if we are confident we’ll be able to help you, at which point, we will provide a clear breakdown of the number of sessions and cost so you can make an informed decision.
When can I expect to feel better after starting care with a chiropractor for my sports injury?
Many people start to feel better within the first 3–4 visits. However, the care plan recommended for you is not just able to reduce pain but also address the underlying cause of the pain, so it’s important to follow the plan laid out for you. The second phase of care often begins once the pain is reduced and is focused on exercise rehab to correct the underlying causes of the injury.
Can Chiropractic care prevent sports injuries?
Absolutely! Regular chiropractic care can help prevent sports injuries by improving body mechanics, enhancing flexibility, and ensuring proper alignment. This can reduce the risk of injury and improve overall athletic performance. Of course, injuries can still happen even with the best-laid plan and adherence due to the uncertain nature of sports; if that happens, we have you covered. Many of us are athletes, too, and understand the importance of an efficient and sustainable return to sport rather than a continual cycle of injuries due to improper healing.
What should I expect during a chiropractic visit for a sports injury?
During a visit, our Chiropractor will conduct a thorough assessment that may include a physical examination, medical history review, and possibly imaging studies. Based on the assessment, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan that may include adjustments, therapies, and exercises.
Do Chiropractors only treat back and neck injuries?
No, Chiropractors can treat a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries, not just those related to the back and neck. They can also address issues involving shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles.
Can Chiropractic care improve athletic performance?
Yes, Chiropractic care can enhance athletic performance by improving joint function, increasing flexibility, reducing pain, and promoting faster recovery. This can lead to better overall physical performance and reduced risk of injury.
How long does it take to recover from a sports injury with chiropractic care?
Recovery time varies depending on the severity of the injury, the individual’s health, and adherence to the treatment plan. Some injuries, if acute, may require a few weeks of care, while others that are chronic and long-term may need several months.
Will I recover from my sports injury faster with Chiropractic care?
Injuries that are properly assessed, diagnosed, and treated have better outcomes overall than injuries that are either not rehabbed or where rest is the only intervention. We can help aid recovery by improving joint mobility, reducing inflammation, and optimizing biomechanics. Techniques like spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and tailored rehabilitation exercises help restore function and prevent re-injury.
Can I play sports with my injury?
That depends on the nature of your sport, the nature of your injury, and the timeline to recovery. Pain is often a signal in the body that something is wrong and needs to heal, and continuing to perform the activity that caused the injury in the same way will likely lead to a worsened injury. Return-to-sport is an important component of a robust care plan, and your Chiropractor will have specific milestones they want you to reach before returning to practice and full sports participation. Those milestones will be based on your injury, your level of play, and your sport, so it’s important to discuss your case with your Chiropractor.
What should I do if I think I have a concussion?
If you think you’ve sustained a concussion or suffered a hit to the head while playing sports, it’s important to get assessed by a healthcare provider who has additional training in diagnosing and managing concussions. This assessment can confirm if you have a concussion and set up a return-to-sport plan for you to reduce your risk of long-term symptoms from the concussion.
We have a great concussion management program in place that includes everything from pre-season baseline testing to treatment and rehabilitation, focused on helping our patients and athletes safely return to learning, working, and playing.
What are the common symptoms of a concussion?
Concussions can present with symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, memory problems, or sensitivity to light and sound. If you experience any of these after a head injury, it’s important to seek professional care.
Do I need a referral to see a Chiropractor?
No referral is needed to book an appointment with a chiropractor at MYo Lab. Simply reach out to us to get started.
What are your fees and payment options?
We offer competitive pricing and flexible payment options. Contact us to learn more about our packages and insurance coverage, or visit our booking page here to find out more.
Can chiropractic care prevent injuries for high-performance athletes?
Absolutely. Regular Chiropractic care helps maintain optimal alignment and function, reducing the risk of injuries and enhancing performance.
MYo Lab Can Help
If you’re in Calgary and dealing with sports injuries that are keeping you down, you can book an appointment with one of our Chiropractors. Alternatively, you can call us at (403)930-8686.
We’re currently accepting new patients.