Sports Injury Treatments

What Are Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries are aches, strains, and damage to muscles, joints, and connective tissues that occur during physical activity. They can happen suddenly—like a sprained ankle, trauma, or an accident during play——or develop gradually from repetitive stress, such as tendonitis. For athletes and active adults alike, these injuries not only limit performance but can also affect everyday mobility, sleep, and quality of life. Sports injuries are common among runners, weightlifters, recreational athletes, and anyone who exercises regularly.

Common Symptoms of Sports Injuries

Symptoms vary depending on the type of injury, but they often include:

• Pain, swelling, or stiffness in muscles and joints
• Limited range of motion or difficulty moving normally
• Weakness, instability, or recurring strains in the same area
• Bruising, inflammation, or warmth around the affected tissue
• Chronic pain, tightness or discomfort that worsens with activity
• Limited ability to return to play or activity

Because symptoms can overlap with other conditions, proper evaluation is essential to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Root Causes and Contributing Factors

Not all sports injuries are the result of a single accident. Many are influenced by deeper issues:

• Overuse and repetitive strain — common in runners, swimmers, or those with repetitive workouts. Cross training and general strength doesn’t match the required activity.
• Poor biomechanics — inability to control complex movementsplace excess stress on joints
• Muscle imbalances — weak or underperforming stabilizers  and tight muscles may increasevulnerability
• Underlying health factors — inflammation, nutrition deficits, or stress that affect recovery

At Aligned Modern Health, we look beyond the surface to identify whether your injury stems from training habits, systemic imbalances, or both.

How Sports Injuries Are Diagnosed

Our providers start with a thorough assessment of your movement, posture, and joint alignment. We may recommend additional diagnostics such as:

• Orthopedic exams for range of motion and joint stability
• Imaging (X-ray, MRI) if needed to rule out severe damage
• Functional movement pattern screening and assessment helps identify limitations or risks by reviewing activity-specific movements.
• Potential diagnostic testing to check for inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or metabolic issues that affect healing

Unlike conventional care that often stops at symptom management, our root-cause lens helps ensure your recovery is comprehensive and lasting.

Our Treatment Approach

Your care plan is personalized, based on the nature of your injury and your overall health goals. We integrate services across disciplines for the best outcomes:

• Chiropractic Care: Adjustments to restore joint mobility, improve movement patterns, and reduce pressure on injured tissues.
• Functional Rehabilitation: Corrective exercises and mobility work to strengthen weak areas and prevent recurrence. Activity specific goals are the baseline of the treatment plan
• Acupuncture: Reduces pain, calms inflammation, and promotes circulation for faster recovery.
• Nutrition & Functional Medicine: Co-treatment for targeted nutrition guidance, supplements, and testing to support tissue repair and reduce systemic inflammation.

This whole-body, collaborative model ensures that you not only heal but also return to your activity stronger and more resilient.

Conditions Commonly Linked to Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can be linked with:

• Shoulder pain with upper body movements
• Back pain during or after activity
• Neck pain
• Hip and Knee Pain limiting mobility and explosive movements
• Difficulty running

What to Expect From Care

Whether you’re training for a marathon or simply want to move comfortably again, here’s how our care process works:

1. Initial Visit – A provider listens to your history, reviews your symptoms, and conducts a movement assessment.
2. Diagnostic Testing – Advanced testing or imaging, when needed, to rule out underlying structural issues..
3. Personalized Care Plan – Tailored recommendations that may include chiropractic, acupuncture, functional rehab, or nutrition.
4. Ongoing Support – Three phases of rehab to reduce pain and make funcitonal progressto adapt your plan as you recover.

Appointments are available in-person across Chicagoland or virtually for nutrition and functional medicine. We accept major insurance plans and offer FSA/HSA options.

Is a Sports Injury Affecting You?

You don’t have to live with pain, risk reinjury, or fear activity. With personalized, root-cause care, recovery is possible—and lasting. Book a visit today and take the first step toward restoring mobility, preventing future injuries, and getting back to the activities you love.