Sports Injury Treatment

Whether you're a weekend hiker exploring the trails around Tucson, a high school athlete, or someone who plays recreational softball or golf, sports injuries can happen to anyone at any level of activity. When they do, you want to get back to doing what you love as quickly and safely as possible. That's where chiropractic care comes in.

Common Sports Injuries We See

Sports injuries come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most common ones I treat at our clinic include sprains and strains, shoulder injuries, lower back pain from repetitive motion, neck stiffness from impact, and joint misalignments from falls or collisions. Runners often come in with hip and knee issues that actually stem from spinal alignment problems. Golfers and tennis players frequently develop mid-back and shoulder pain from the rotational forces of their sport.

What a lot of athletes don't realize is that many sports injuries aren't just about the muscle or joint that hurts. The pain is often a symptom of something else — a spinal misalignment, a compensation pattern from a previous injury, or a joint that's not moving the way it should. If you only treat the symptom, the underlying issue stays, and the injury tends to come back.

Dr. Carrion's Approach to Sports Injuries

My approach starts with a full evaluation. I want to understand not just where it hurts, but how you got hurt, what sport or activity you do, and what your body mechanics look like. This helps me identify the root cause of the injury, not just the painful spot.

Treatment typically involves Thompson drop table adjustments to restore proper spinal alignment and joint function. If the injury has created acute inflammation, I'll use the Activator method for a lighter-touch approach that's easier on tender areas. I'll also walk you through corrective exercises that target the specific demands of your sport — because the rehab for a runner's back injury is different from a pitcher's shoulder problem.

A lot of athletes also come in for maintenance care — not because anything is wrong, but because keeping the spine aligned and the joints mobile helps prevent injuries from happening in the first place. It's the same reason you'd stretch before a game or get your car serviced before a road trip. Prevention is always easier than recovery.

Got a sports injury that's keeping you sidelined? Walk in to our Speedway or Oro Valley location, or call (520) 319-1234.