Sports Injury Chiropractor in Clayton
Sports injuries can interrupt training, competition and the activities you enjoy most. Whether you’re a recreational athlete, regular gym-goer or competing at a higher level, your injury and goals are unique.
At Chiropractic Flow, our chiropractors provide personalised assessment and management for sports and exercise-related injuries in Clayton, with care tailored to your presentation, activity level and return-to-sport goals.
Sports Injuries Can Happen in Many Ways
Some sports injuries occur suddenly following a collision, awkward movement or unexpected load. Others develop gradually as training volume, intensity or repetitive physical demands increase.
Symptoms may involve muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments or surrounding structures and can affect strength, movement, confidence and performance.
Because every sport and every person places different demands on the body, our assessment considers both your symptoms and the specific activities you are trying to return to.
Injuries We Commonly Assess
We regularly work with active people experiencing:
- Running-related injuries
- Gym-related injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Tendon-related pain
- Overuse injuries
- Back pain associated with sport or exercise
- Neck pain associated with sport or exercise
- Hip and lower limb pain
- Return-to-sport rehabilitation
Your assessment and management plan are tailored to your individual injury, sport, activity level and goals.
Understanding the Demands of Your Sport
Your consultation begins with a discussion about your injury, how it occurred, what movements aggravate it and how it is affecting your training or sport.
We will also consider your training history, recent changes in workload, previous injuries and the physical demands of the activities you perform.
Depending on your presentation, your assessment may include joint movement, muscle function, strength, mobility and relevant movement patterns.
Where appropriate, we may also assess movements that more closely reflect the demands of your particular sport or training.
If further investigation or specialist assessment may be required, we will discuss this with you and recommend appropriate referral.
Returning to Running
Running places repeated demands on the hips, knees, ankles, feet and surrounding muscles and tendons.
Symptoms may become noticeable following changes in training distance, speed, frequency, terrain or overall workload.
Where appropriate, your assessment and rehabilitation can consider the physical requirements of running and the areas that may be relevant to your individual presentation.
A gradual return-to-running plan may form part of your management where appropriate.
Learn More About Knee Pain →Injuries During Gym Training
Strength training can place significant demands on the body, particularly as loads, volume or exercise complexity increase.
Gym-related symptoms may involve the back, shoulders, knees, hips or other joints and soft tissues.
Our assessment considers the movement or exercise associated with your symptoms and the training demands you are working towards.
Where appropriate, rehabilitation can be progressed towards the specific movements and loads required for your training rather than stopping once basic daily activities become comfortable.
Learn More About Shoulder Pain →
Building Capacity to Return to Sport
Returning to sport often requires more than simply waiting for symptoms to settle.
Depending on your injury, rehabilitation may focus on restoring mobility, strength, movement control and progressively increasing your ability to tolerate the demands of training and competition.
Exercises can be progressed according to your current capacity and the movements required for your particular activity.
Our goal is to develop a plan around what you need to do, rather than applying the same rehabilitation program to every athlete.
Our Approach to Sports Injuries
Sports injury management at Chiropractic Flow is tailored to your individual presentation, sport and goals.
Depending on your needs, care may include chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, soft tissue therapy, rehabilitation, movement retraining, exercise prescription and education.
We may also incorporate Functional Range Conditioning (FRC), Functional Movement Systems (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) where appropriate.
Rather than relying on one technique, the approaches used are selected according to your assessment findings and may evolve as your rehabilitation progresses.
Working Towards Your Individual Goals
Your return-to-sport goals may range from getting back to a weekly social run or gym session through to returning to competitive training.
Your management plan can take these goals into account and, where appropriate, progressively introduce the movement, strength and physical demands required for your activity.
Progress is considered on an individual basis rather than according to a fixed timeline that applies to everyone.
When Further Investigation May Be Needed
Sports injuries can range from relatively minor musculoskeletal concerns to injuries requiring imaging, medical assessment or specialist management.
Your history and assessment findings help determine whether management at Chiropractic Flow may be appropriate.
Where another form of investigation or care is indicated, we will discuss this with you and recommend appropriate referral.
Where appropriate, we can also work collaboratively with your GP, physiotherapist, specialist or other healthcare professionals involved in your recovery.
Is an Injury Keeping You From Training?
If a sports or exercise-related injury is affecting your ability to train or participate in the activities you enjoy, our team can assess your individual presentation and discuss appropriate management and rehabilitation options.
Learn More About Sports-Related Conditions
Sports and exercise injuries can affect many different areas of the body. Learn more about shoulder pain, knee pain, back pain and neck pain, or explore all conditions we commonly see at Chiropractic Flow.
Not sure where to start? Ask our team a question or book an appointment for an individual assessment.