Get Back in the Game
Sports Injury Treatment Grand Rapids
A sports injury can sideline you from the activities you love. At The Chiropractic Doctors, we treat athletes of all levels, from weekend warriors to competitive players, at our Grand Rapids clinic on 28th Street SE. Dr. Matthew Phinney brings over 35 years of experience and a firsthand understanding of athletic injuries as a former Canadian National Rugby player.
Injuries We Treat
Common Sports Injuries We Treat
Sports injuries range from sudden impacts to slow-building overuse problems. At The Chiropractic Doctors, we see athletes from every sport and every skill level at our Grand Rapids location. Common injuries include sprains, strains, rotator cuff tears, shoulder impingement, IT band syndrome, shin splints, tennis elbow, and runner's knee. Contact sports like football, hockey, and wrestling often produce spinal misalignments that may not hurt right away but cause pain and stiffness weeks later.
Repetitive motion injuries are especially common among runners, swimmers, golfers, and baseball players in the Grand Rapids area. These injuries develop over time as small imbalances compound into pain, limited range of motion, or nerve irritation. Whether you play recreational softball in Cascade or compete at the varsity level in Forest Hills, our team can identify the source of your problem and get you on a path to recovery.
Dr. Phinney, Dr. Drew Bailey, and Dr. Alec Papes each bring specialized training in musculoskeletal injuries. We use a combination of chiropractic sports medicine techniques, including adjustments, soft tissue work, and Class IV laser therapy, to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing.
The Athletic Edge
Why Athletes Choose Chiropractic Care
Professional and college athletes have relied on chiropractic care for decades, and the reasons are simple. Chiropractic adjustments restore proper joint mechanics, improve range of motion, and help the nervous system function at its best. When your spine and joints are aligned, your body moves more efficiently, recovers faster, and is less prone to re-injury.
Dr. Phinney understands athletic injuries from both sides. As a former Canadian National Rugby player, he has experienced the physical demands of competitive sport firsthand. That perspective shapes how he treats every athlete who walks through our door. He knows what it takes to get back on the field, the court, or the trail, and he builds treatment plans that prioritize safe, complete recovery rather than quick fixes that risk re-injury.
Unlike pain medication, which masks symptoms, chiropractic care addresses the structural cause of your injury. Athletes across Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Ada, and Wyoming trust our team because we focus on correcting the problem and strengthening the body so it holds up under the demands of your sport. Many of our patients report improved performance even after their initial injury has healed.
All Ages, All Sports
Treatment for Youth and Adult Athletes
Young athletes face unique challenges. Their bodies are still growing, which means injuries can affect development if they are not treated correctly. Growth plate injuries, Osgood-Schlatter disease, and spondylolisthesis are conditions we regularly see in teenage athletes from schools across the Forest Hills, Kentwood, and Grand Rapids districts. Our doctors use gentle, age-appropriate techniques that support the growing body while addressing the injury.
Adult and recreational athletes deal with a different set of challenges. Years of wear, previous injuries that never fully healed, and the natural loss of flexibility all increase injury risk. Weekend golfers, pickleball players, CrossFit members, and distance runners make up a large portion of our patient base. Whether you are training for a 5K or playing in a local basketball league, we tailor treatment to your specific activity and goals.
For both youth and adult athletes, we provide a clear recovery timeline and guidance on when it is safe to return to activity. Rushing back too soon is one of the most common causes of re-injury. Our team works with you and, when needed, your coach or athletic trainer, to make sure you return stronger and ready to perform. Call (616) 432-3103 to schedule your evaluation.
Your Comeback Plan
Returning to Your Sport After an Injury
Getting out of pain is only part of the process. A successful return to sport requires that your body has regained full strength, stability, and range of motion. At The Chiropractic Doctors, we build return-to-play programs that progress through phases: reducing pain and inflammation, restoring mobility, rebuilding strength, and finally returning to sport-specific movements.
Our rehabilitation programs include targeted exercises you can do at home between visits. These exercises reinforce the corrections made during your adjustments and help your body hold its alignment under stress. We also address compensating patterns, which are the subtle ways your body shifts to avoid pain, because these patterns often lead to secondary injuries if left uncorrected.
Patients from across Grand Rapids, Cascade, and the surrounding communities trust our team to guide them back to full activity safely. Whether you are recovering from an ankle sprain, a herniated disc from a tackle, or chronic shoulder pain from swimming, we will help you get back to doing what you love. Schedule your $47 consultation to get started.
Common Questions
Sports Injury Treatment FAQ
How soon after a sports injury should I see a chiropractor?
The sooner the better. Early treatment helps prevent compensating movement patterns that can lead to additional injuries. Most patients are seen within the same week at our Grand Rapids clinic. Call (616) 432-3103 or use the form on this page to request your appointment.
Can chiropractic care help prevent future sports injuries?
Yes. Regular chiropractic care keeps your spine and joints properly aligned, which improves balance, flexibility, and reaction time. Many athletes in Grand Rapids visit us on a maintenance schedule to stay in peak condition and reduce the chance of re-injury.
Do you treat youth athletes?
Absolutely. Dr. Phinney, Dr. Bailey, and Dr. Papes treat young athletes from middle school through college. Growing bodies are especially vulnerable to repetitive stress, and early correction helps young athletes stay healthy as they develop. We work with families across Cascade, Kentwood, Forest Hills, and Ada.
What types of sports injuries do you treat most often?
We commonly treat sprains, strains, shoulder impingement, IT band syndrome, shin splints, tennis elbow, runner's knee, and spinal misalignments caused by impact or repetitive motion. Our $47 new patient consultation includes a full exam so we can identify exactly what is going on and build a treatment plan.
START FEELING BETTER
Schedule your visit today
Ready to Recover
Get Back to the Sport You Love
Dr. Phinney and the team at The Chiropractic Doctors have helped thousands of athletes in Grand Rapids recover from injury and perform at their best. Start with a $47 new patient consultation at our clinic on 28th Street SE.