Sports Injuries Chiropractic in Los Gatos
Sports, lifting, running, golf, or that “just for fun” league can all hit different when your body is hurting.
At On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic in Los Gatos, Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC helps active people and athletes get out of pain and back to the things they love with non invasive, medication free care.
With 25 years of experience and a nervous‑system‑focused approach, he looks beyond the sore spot to how your whole body is moving and loading. Keep reading to see how an athlete chiropractor in Los Gatos can help you perform and recover better.
Call (408) 354-8044 to schedule your consultation.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Athletes
Athletes push their bodies harder and more often than most people. That extra load shows up in joints, discs, muscles, and the nervous system. Dr. Kleinberg talks a lot about spinal “physics.” If certain areas are taking too much pressure, they start to break down faster. That does not just mean back pain. It can show up as shoulder, hip, knee, or leg issues that keep popping back up.
A chiropractor for sports injuries in Los Gatos helps by:
- Improving joint motion so you are not fighting your own body with every step, swing, or lift.
- Balancing how the spine and extremities move together, which supports better biomechanics and performance.
- Using conservative, non invasive care that aims to calm irritation instead of just covering it.
- Giving you realistic tools for recovery and prevention, not just “go home and rest.”
It is not just about getting you through the next game. It is about helping your body handle training and competition long term.
Common Athletic Pain Patterns and Injuries
- Ankle sprains and foot pain: Common in running and field sports, especially when mechanics or footwear are off.
- Knee pain and IT band irritation: Often tied to hip, pelvis, and foot alignment, not just the knee itself.
- Hip and groin strains: Show up with cutting, sprinting, or kicking sports when the core and pelvis are not syncing well.
- Low back pain and sacroiliac joint issues: Big with lifters, golfers, and athletes who rotate or load heavy.
- Sciatica or radiating leg pain: Nerve irritation from the spine or piriformis that can wreck running or sitting.
- Shoulder and rotator cuff problems: Overhead sports, throwing, and lifting can stress weak links in the shoulder complex.
- Elbow pain (tennis or golfer’s elbow): Repetitive grip and swing patterns overload the tendons at the elbow.
- Neck pain and headaches: Contact sports, falls, or poor posture under training load can irritate neck joints and nerves.
Sports Chiropractic Treatment Plan Overview
injury actually happened. With athletes, Dr. Kleinberg is not just asking “where does it hurt?” He wants to know what your training looks like, how often you play, and what your long term goals are.
A typical plan for sports injuries might include:
- Initial assessment to map out which joints, muscles, and movement patterns are involved.
- Full spine and regional adjustments to clean up alignment and improve how force moves through your body.
- Extremity work for ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, or wrists when they are part of the problem.
- Specific exercises and mobility drills to stabilize key areas and build better mechanics.
- Gradual return‑to‑play guidance, so you are not jumping from “injured” to “all out” overnight.
Plans are personalized. A runner with chronic shin pain will not be managed the same way as a powerlifter with low back issues.
Assessment & Diagnosis
When an athlete walks into On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic, the evaluation is both clinical and practical. First comes the conversation: what sport you play, what position, how often you train, and what changed when the problem started. Dr. Kleinberg asks about previous injuries, surgeries, and patterns like “it always hurts after games but eases on off days.”
Next is the physical exam. That can include:
- Posture and gait analysis, to see how you walk and stand when you are not thinking about it.
- Range of motion testing for the spine and key joints like hips, knees, and shoulders.
- Orthopedic tests to stress specific tissues and reproduce or rule out pain.
- Basic strength and stability checks, especially around the core and hips.
If needed, he uses digital X rays to study spinal curves and joint spaces, especially for chronic issues or when a disc or structural problem is suspected. Advanced imaging like MRI is referred out through your medical provider if red flags show up or progress stalls.
The end goal is a clear picture of whether you are dealing with an acute sprain, a chronic overload pattern, or a mix of both. Then, treatment can actually match reality.
Experience Treating Athletes
With 25 years in practice and more than 8,000 patients treated, Dr. Adam Kleinberg has seen a lot of athletes and active people come through his doors, from high school competitors to weekend warriors and serious recreational runners and lifters. He has also been very open about living an active life himself and understanding what it means when your body is the thing that keeps you from doing what you love.
Athletes often find him after trying other approaches that focused on the painful area but never really addressed the bigger picture. His whole philosophy is that if the physics of the spine and major joints are off, something is eventually going to give. That “something” might be a knee, a shoulder, or your low back.
By combining full spine chiropractic care with detailed attention to movement and load, he helps athletes not only get out of pain but learn how to train smarter. The goal is not perfection. It is better alignment, better mechanics, and a body that can tolerate the demands you put on it.
Long-Term Consequences of Ignoring Sports Injuries
Ignoring sports injuries is kind of like ignoring that weird noise your car makes every time you brake. You can pretend it is fine for a while, but the underlying problem is still there. Over time, your body starts to compensate. You might shift weight to the other leg, change your running form, or move differently through your spine to dodge pain.
Those compensations can create new problems in other joints, and the original injury can become chronic. Ligaments may stay lax, muscles can stay overworked, and irritated joints or discs can start to degenerate faster under load. Eventually, things that used to be easy, like long practices, heavy lifts, or even regular walks, feel harder and less fun. Early, conservative care gives you a better shot at staying active without needing more invasive interventions down the road.
At-Home Care & Immediate Relief
Between visits, there is a lot you can do to support healing. Rest does not mean doing nothing forever. It usually means backing off the specific movements that light things up while keeping some gentle circulation going. Short, easy walks or low impact movement are often better than full couch mode.
Ice can be helpful in the first couple of days after an acute injury to calm swelling. Later, light heat may help relax tight muscles. Gentle mobility work and stretching inside a pain free range can keep things from locking up, especially around the hips, ankles, and thoracic spine.
Hydration, solid nutrition, and sleep matter more than most people think for recovery. And if pain is sharp, worsening, or changing in a weird way, that is your cue to get checked rather than trying to “play through it.”
Case Studies
Case 1: High school soccer player with chronic knee pain
A teen soccer player came in with months of knee pain that flared every time she played more than one game in a weekend. Rest days helped, but the pain always came back when she pushed. Exam showed hip weakness, tight quads, and pelvic misalignment that changed how her knee loaded with each step. Her plan included full spine and pelvic adjustments, specific hip and core exercises, and gradual return to full minutes on the field. Over a couple of months, she was playing tournaments again without limping through school on Monday.
Case 2: Recreational runner with sciatic leg pain
A recreational runner in his 40s had sciatic pain that started halfway through long runs and eventually showed up with sitting and driving too. Testing and imaging suggested disc irritation in the low back plus tight hip rotators. His plan combined chiropractic adjustments, non surgical decompression, hip mobility work, and tweaks to his training schedule. Within several weeks he reported less leg pain, was able to sit through meetings again, and eventually built back up to comfortable 10K runs.
Equipment & Tools Used
For athletes, On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic uses a mix of diagnostic tools and treatment equipment that support performance and recovery. Digital X rays help Dr. Kleinberg see spinal curves and joint spaces clearly, which is huge for understanding how forces travel through the body.
Adjusting tables, including drop tables, allow for precise spinal and extremity adjustments with positions that work for athletes of different sizes and body types. A DRX‑style spinal decompression table is available for disc and nerve issues that contribute to leg or back pain. Simple rehab gear like exercise bands and blocks are used for teaching stability and mobility drills athletes can continue at home.
Reviews About Sports Injuries in Los Gatos
“I came in mid‑season with low back pain that made it hard to bend for ground balls. A few weeks of care and some core work and I finished the season strong.”
“As a runner, I was nervous about being told to stop. Instead, Dr. Kleinberg adjusted my training and helped fix the mechanics that were trashing my hip.”
“He actually listened when I explained my lifting program and found ways to keep me training while my shoulder healed.” .
“Super clear explanations, no pressure, and my knee has handled hikes and pickup ball way better since care.”
Why Choose On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic
Choosing a chiropractor for sports injuries in Los Gatos is a big deal when your sport is a big part of your life. With 25 years in practice and a 5.0 rating from hundreds of reviews, On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic has earned trust in the community. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC brings deep experience in spinal and nervous system based care and applies it to the demands athletes face.
You are not treated like a generic “back pain case.” Your sport, goals, and timeline matter. Plans are structured, communication is clear, and the focus is on long term function, not just short term fixes.
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FAQs
How many sessions will I need to recover?
It depends on the type of injury, how long you have had it, and how intense your training is. Some athletes notice changes within a few visits. Others with more chronic issues need several weeks of consistent care. You will get a game plan up front so you are not guessing.
Is chiropractic safe for athletes?
Yes. Chiropractic care is generally very safe when provided by a trained, licensed chiropractor. Techniques and force levels are adapted to your size, age, and sport. The goal is to help your body handle load better, not stress it more.
Will I need to stop training completely?
Not always. Many plans focus on modifying, not eliminating, activity. That might mean changing volume, intensity, or specific movements while you heal. Dr. Kleinberg will work with you to find the right balance between recovery and staying active.
Do I need a referral from my coach or doctor?
In most cases, no referral is required to see a chiropractor. You can schedule directly. If you are already working with a doctor, physical therapist, or trainer, Dr. Kleinberg is happy to coordinate care when that makes sense.
Does insurance cover sports‑injury chiropractic?
Coverage varies by plan. The office team can help you check your benefits, explain what is covered, and outline financial options. You will know the costs and choices before you commit to care.
