Sports Injuries
//Denver sports chiropractor
Sports Injury Chiropractic Care & Recovery
Sports injuries can limit movement and performance, but proper chiropractic care and rehabilitation can help relieve pain, restore function, and prevent future injury.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow often improves with time, but persistent pain usually responds well to non-surgical care. Despite its name, it affects far more than tennis players and is caused by repetitive use of the forearm and wrist. Common in adults ages 30 to 50, it can develop from work, sports, or everyday activities that strain the forearm muscles.
What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?
People with tennis elbow complain of pain that expands from the outer elbow into their forearm and wrist. The pain primarily occurs where the tendons of your forearm attach to the bony areas on the outside elbow. In addition to pain, people with tennis elbow experience weakness that makes it particularly difficult to hold a coffee cup, turn a doorknob, or even shake hands. Tennis elbow can cause weakness when twisting or grabbing objects.
How is tennis elbow diagnosed?
In many cases, your doctor can diagnosis tennis elbow simply by listening to you describe your symptoms, performing a physical examination, and learning about your lifestyle and activities. However, if your physician suspects other reasons like a pinched nerve, fracture, or arthritis are causing your pain, he may suggest X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or Electromyography (EMG).
How can chiropractic care help with tennis elbow?
A chiropractor can assess whether spinal, neck, or shoulder misalignments are contributing to your tennis elbow. In some cases, a simple adjustment may relieve pain. Care often includes identifying and avoiding activities that triggered the injury, resting the arm, using ice regularly, and reducing inflammation with supportive measures like compression and elevation. If symptoms persist, a guided physical therapy plan may be recommended to strengthen and stretch the arm, improve technique, and support healing—sometimes with the help of a brace or forearm strap.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries can cause shoulder pain, weakness, and limited range of motion, making everyday activities difficult. Chiropractic care focuses on improving shoulder mechanics, reducing inflammation, and restoring proper movement through gentle adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and targeted rehabilitation exercises.
What are common symptoms of a rotator cuff injury?
Symptoms often include shoulder pain, weakness, stiffness, difficulty lifting or rotating the arm, and discomfort when sleeping on the affected side.
How are rotator cuff injuries diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically involves a physical examination, range-of-motion testing, and a review of your symptoms. Imaging such as X-rays or MRI may be recommended if needed.
How can chiropractic care help rotator cuff injuries?
Chiropractic treatment may include joint adjustments, soft tissue therapy, corrective exercises, and posture guidance to reduce pain, improve mobility, and support healing.
Golfer's Elbow
Golfer’s elbow causes pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow due to repetitive strain of the forearm muscles and tendons. Chiropractic care helps reduce pain, improve joint alignment, and restore strength and flexibility through targeted adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and guided rehabilitation exercises.
What are common symptoms of golfer’s elbow?
Symptoms include pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow, stiffness, weakened grip strength, and discomfort when gripping or lifting objects.
How is golfer’s elbow diagnosed?
Diagnosis is usually made through a physical exam, symptom review, and movement testing. Imaging may be used in some cases to rule out other conditions.
How can chiropractic care help golfer’s elbow?
Chiropractic treatment focuses on correcting joint imbalances, relieving muscle tension, reducing inflammation, and strengthening the forearm to promote healing and prevent recurrence.
Runner's Knee
Runner’s knee is a common overuse injury that causes pain around or behind the kneecap, often worsened by running, squatting, or going up and down stairs. Chiropractic care helps address joint imbalances, improve lower-body alignment, and reduce stress on the knee through targeted adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and corrective exercises.
What are common symptoms of runner’s knee?
Symptoms include dull or aching pain around the kneecap, stiffness, swelling, and discomfort during or after activity, especially when bending the knee.
How is runner’s knee diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically involves a physical exam, gait and movement assessment, and a review of activity history. Imaging may be used to rule out other knee conditions.
How can chiropractic care help runner’s knee?
Chiropractic treatment focuses on improving hip, knee, and ankle alignment, reducing muscle tension, and strengthening supporting muscles to relieve pain and prevent future injury.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling along the back of the ankle, often affecting runners and active individuals. Chiropractic care focuses on improving lower-body alignment, reducing strain on the tendon, and promoting healing through soft tissue therapy, joint adjustments, and targeted rehabilitation exercises.
What are common symptoms of Achilles tendonitis?
Symptoms include pain or stiffness near the heel, tenderness along the tendon, swelling, and discomfort during or after activity.
How is Achilles tendonitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on a physical examination, activity history, and evaluation of ankle movement. Imaging may be used in more severe or persistent cases.
How can chiropractic care help Achilles tendonitis?
Chiropractic treatment helps reduce inflammation, improve ankle and foot mechanics, and strengthen supporting muscles to relieve pain and prevent recurrence.