Summer sports injuries — including lower back strains from beach volleyball, shoulder impingement from swimming, knee pain from hiking, and overuse injuries from running the Strand — are best treated within days of occurrence. At West Los Angeles Chiropractic®, Dr. Michael C. Karr diagnoses the root cause with same-day digital X-rays and corrects it non-surgically, so you stay active all summer long.
West LA Summer Is Hard on Your Body
Beach volleyball at Santa Monica. Hiking Temescal Canyon or Runyon. Pickleball at Penmar. Tennis at Barrington Park. Cycling through Brentwood or Playa Vista. Running the Strand from Marina del Rey to Manhattan Beach.
West Los Angeles offers some of the most active outdoor environments in the country. And every summer, that activity level spikes — especially among residents and tech professionals who spend the week at a desk and push hard on weekends.
The result is a familiar pattern: the "weekend warrior" injury. You feel it Saturday afternoon. By Monday morning, it's telling you it isn't going away on its own.
The mistake most people make is waiting. They ice it. They rest it. They expect it to resolve. And sometimes it does — only to come back with the next workout, hike, or beach day. The structural problem was never corrected.
The Most Common Summer Sports Injuries We Treat
Lower back strains are the most frequent sports injury we see in summer. Beach volleyball, surfing, hiking on uneven trails, and sudden rotational movements from tennis or pickleball all stress the lumbar spine. When the supporting muscles are fatigued, a single awkward movement can cause a muscle strain, disc compression, or facet joint irritation.
Shoulder injuries are a close second. Swimming, volleyball, and overhead sports all place significant stress on the rotator cuff and shoulder joint. Shoulder impingement — where the rotator cuff tendons compress against the shoulder blade — is particularly common among swimmers and volleyball players who use their arms repetitively through a full range of motion.
Knee and hip pain from running and cycling are increasingly common as Westside residents log more miles in summer. IT band syndrome, patellofemoral pain, and hip flexor tightness from increased mileage without adequate recovery are the most frequent diagnoses.
Ankle and foot injuries from hiking and trail running affect patients who push into uneven terrain in Santa Monica Mountains, Temescal Gateway Park, or Griffith Park. Ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendon irritation often develop after trail activity spikes in summer.
Neck pain from swimming is underdiagnosed. The rotational neck movement required for freestyle stroke — combined with inadequate flexibility — compresses cervical discs and irritates cervical facet joints. Patients often dismiss this as "muscle soreness" until it becomes chronic.
Why Summer Injuries Become Chronic Problems
The physiology of sports injuries is straightforward: when soft tissue — muscle, tendon, or ligament — is damaged, the body responds with inflammation followed by a repair process. If that repair process isn't supported correctly, scar tissue forms in a disorganized pattern that leaves the tissue weaker and more prone to re-injury.
The spine adds a layer of complexity. Disc injuries from summer activities often present initially as muscle soreness. But if a disc is compressed or herniated, the underlying structural problem will not resolve on its own. Each subsequent workout puts more stress on an already compromised disc — accelerating degeneration and increasing the risk of nerve compression.
This is why patients who "rest and ice" a summer injury and return to activity two weeks later often find the injury returns — and is worse the second time.
How Chiropractic Care Treats Summer Sports Injuries
At West Los Angeles Chiropractic®, Dr. Michael C. Karr — a UCLA Kinesiology graduate with 35+ years of clinical experience treating active patients across West Los Angeles — uses a precise, non-surgical approach to sports injury recovery.
Same-day digital X-rays allow Dr. Karr to diagnose the structural source of your injury at your first visit — eliminating guesswork and ensuring treatment targets the actual problem, not just the symptoms.
Chiropractic adjustments correct spinal and joint misalignments caused by impact, overuse, or compensatory movement patterns that develop after injury. Restoring proper alignment removes nerve interference and allows the surrounding muscles to relax and heal.
Cold laser therapy uses FDA-cleared photobiomodulation to reduce inflammation at the cellular level. It accelerates tissue healing, reduces pain without drugs, and is particularly effective for acute sports injuries in the first 72 hours after injury.
MedX spinal rehabilitation rebuilds the structural support system around the injured area — strengthening the specific muscles that stabilize the spine and joints. This is the step most athletes skip, and it's why injuries recur. Strength imbalances that contributed to the original injury must be corrected or the cycle continues.
When Should You See a Chiropractor After a Summer Sports Injury?
The short answer: sooner than you think. The inflammatory window — typically 24 to 72 hours after injury — is the most responsive period for treatment. Early intervention reduces recovery time, minimizes scar tissue formation, and significantly lowers the risk of chronic pain developing.
You should call us immediately if you experience:
- Pain that doesn't improve within 48 hours of rest
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg
- Pain that radiates from your back into your hip, leg, or foot
- Severe muscle spasm that limits your range of motion
- Shoulder pain that prevents you from raising your arm overhead
Any of these symptoms may indicate nerve involvement or structural injury that requires clinical evaluation — not continued rest.
Insurance, Pricing & Getting Started
West Los Angeles Chiropractic® accepts most PPO insurance plans — including Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. If you work at a Westside tech company, your employer PPO likely covers chiropractic care. We verify your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Medicare is accepted for chiropractic care. Workers' Compensation, MedPay, personal injury liens, and CareCredit financing are also welcome.
New patients: our $99 new patient special includes a comprehensive exam, digital X-rays (when clinically indicated), and your first treatment.
Same-day appointments are often available. We are open Saturdays. Our office is on the ground floor with free parking — located at 11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 165, Los Angeles, CA 90064, near the 10 and 405 freeways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How quickly can chiropractic care help a sports injury?
Many patients experience meaningful pain reduction after the first or second visit. Full recovery timeline depends on injury severity — most acute sports injuries resolve within 4 to 8 visits when treated promptly.
Q: Can I see a chiropractor the same day I'm injured?
Yes. West Los Angeles Chiropractic® offers same-day appointments. Early evaluation and treatment produces the best outcomes — call Betty at 310-914-9400.
Q: Does chiropractic care work for shoulder injuries?
Yes. Chiropractic care is effective for rotator cuff irritation, shoulder impingement, and cervicogenic shoulder pain. Dr. Karr will evaluate the source of the injury and recommend the appropriate treatment protocol.
Q: Is chiropractic care covered by my PPO for a sports injury?
Most PPO plans — including major tech employer plans from Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare — cover chiropractic care for musculoskeletal injuries. We verify your benefits before your first visit.
Q: What's the difference between resting an injury and treating it?
Rest reduces inflammation temporarily but does not correct structural misalignments, restore joint mobility, or rebuild supporting musculature. Chiropractic care addresses the structural root cause — which is why it produces lasting results where rest alone does not.
Q: Do you treat hiking and trail running injuries?
Yes. We treat ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, hip flexor injuries, and lower back pain from hiking and trail running — all common in West LA's active outdoor community.
📞 Call Betty: 310-914-9400
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West Los Angeles Chiropractic® has served West LA, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Culver City, Westwood, Playa Vista, Beverly Hills, Venice, Mar Vista, and Pacific Palisades since 1989.
Last Updated: June 17, 2026
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