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Sports Injuries

Sports Injury Treatment in Calgary 

Whether you're a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, runner, golfer, CrossFit athlete, hockey player, or simply enjoy staying active, injuries can interfere with your ability to train, compete, and enjoy the activities you love. 

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Sports injuries can occur suddenly following a traumatic event or develop gradually due to repetitive stress, overtraining, poor movement mechanics, or insufficient recovery. While some injuries improve with rest, many benefit from a structured rehabilitation program designed to address the underlying cause and help prevent recurrence. 

The goal of treatment isn't simply to reduce pain—it's to help you safely return to the activities you enjoy while improving performance and reducing future injury risk. 

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Dr. Michael Hoiles has created this resource to help you better understand the common causes of sports injuries , treatment options, rehabilitation strategies, expected recovery timelines, and when it may be appropriate to seek a professional assessment.   

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What Are Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are injuries that occur during exercise, recreational activities, or athletic participation. They may involve muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, bones, nerves, or connective tissues. 

Sports injuries can occur in athletes of all levels, from beginners starting a new exercise program to competitive athletes training multiple times per week. 

Some injuries occur suddenly, while others develop gradually over weeks or months due to repetitive loading and insufficient recovery. 

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Some of the most common sports injuries include: 

Running Injuries 

  • Runner's Knee  

  • IT Band Syndrome  

  • Achilles Tendinopathy  

  • Plantar Fasciitis  

  • Shin Splints  

Gym & Weightlifting Injuries 

  • Shoulder Impingement  

  • Rotator Cuff Injuries  

  • Low Back Pain  

  • Hip Impingement  

  • Elbow Tendinopathy  

Court & Racquet Sports 

  • Tennis Elbow  

  • Golfer's Elbow  

  • Rotator Cuff Injuries  

  • Ankle Sprains  

Field & Team Sports 

  • Ankle Sprains  

  • Knee Injuries  

  • Hamstring Strains  

  • Groin Strains  

  • Shoulder Injuries  

General Fitness Injuries 

  • Muscle Strains  

  • Tendinopathies  

  • Joint Irritation  

  • Mobility Restrictions  

  • Overuse Injuries  

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Common Causes 

Sports injuries often develop due to: 

  • Sudden increases in training volume  

  • Poor recovery between workouts  

  • Training errors  

  • Muscle weakness  

  • Mobility restrictions  

  • Poor movement mechanics  

  • Previous injuries  

  • Inadequate warm-up  

  • Overtraining  

  • Insufficient sleep  

  • Improper equipment or footwear  

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Many injuries occur when training demands exceed the body's current capacity. 

 

Common Symptoms 

Sports injuries may cause: 

  • Pain during activity  

  • Pain after activity  

  • Reduced performance  

  • Stiffness  

  • Swelling  

  • Weakness  

  • Reduced mobility  

  • Loss of strength  

  • Difficulty training  

  • Difficulty returning to sport  

  • Recurrent flare-ups  

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Symptoms can vary significantly depending on the injured structure and severity of the injury. 

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What Makes It Worse? 

Common aggravating factors include: 

  • Continuing to train through significant pain  

  • Returning to sport too quickly  

  • Ignoring mobility restrictions  

  • Increasing training volume too rapidly  

  • Poor recovery habits  

  • Inadequate sleep  

  • Repetitive loading without sufficient recovery  

  • Failing to address underlying weaknesses  

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What Helps? 

Many athletes improve with: 

  • Early assessment  

  • Appropriate activity modification  

  • Progressive rehabilitation exercises  

  • Strength training  

  • Mobility work  

  • Load management  

  • Improving movement mechanics  

  • Gradual return to sport  

  • Recovery optimization  

  • Addressing contributing factors  

 

The most successful rehabilitation programs focus on both symptom reduction and long-term performance improvement.

 

How Chiropractic Can Help 

A sports injury assessment focuses on identifying the factors contributing to your symptoms and determining why the injury occurred in the first place. 

Treatment may include: 

  • Movement assessment  

  • Joint mobilization and spinal adjustments  

  • Soft tissue therapy  

  • Active Release Techniques (ART)  

  • Graston or FAKTR therapy  

  • Exercise rehabilitation  

  • Strength and mobility programming  

  • Return-to-sport planning  

  • Load management strategies  

  • Injury prevention recommendations  

The goal is to reduce pain, restore function, improve performance, and help prevent future injuries. 

 

When Is Shockwave Therapy Recommended for Sports Injuries? 

Shockwave Therapy may be recommended for certain chronic tendon injuries that have not responded fully to exercise and other conservative treatments. 

Conditions that may benefit from shockwave therapy include: 

  • Tennis Elbow  

  • Golfer's Elbow  

  • Achilles Tendinopathy  

  • Patellar Tendinopathy  

  • Certain Rotator Cuff Tendinopathies  

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic pressure waves that are thought to stimulate the body's natural healing response, improve blood flow, and promote tissue repair. 

Not every sports injury requires shockwave therapy. During your assessment, we'll determine whether it is an appropriate component of your treatment plan. 

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Recovery Timeline 

Recovery depends on the type and severity of the injury. 

  • Mild: Minor strains and overuse injuries often improve within 2–6 weeks. 

  • Moderate: More significant injuries may require 6–12 weeks of rehabilitation. 

  • Severe: Complex injuries or long-standing conditions may require 3–6 months or longer to fully recover. 

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Successful recovery depends on addressing the underlying cause of the injury and progressing rehabilitation appropriately.

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Exercises Commonly Recommended 

Exercise recommendations vary depending on the injury but commonly include: 

Early Phase 

  • Mobility exercises  

  • Range of motion exercises  

  • Isometric strengthening  

  • Walking or light aerobic activity  

Recovery Phase 

  • Progressive strengthening  

  • Balance training  

  • Stability exercises  

  • Movement retraining  

  • Functional rehabilitation  

Return-to-Sport Phase 

  • Plyometrics  

  • Agility drills  

  • Sport-specific training  

  • Strength progression  

  • Return-to-play testing  

Rehabilitation should be individualized based on the athlete, sport, and injury. 

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Can I Still Exercise? 

In many cases, yes. 

Complete rest is often unnecessary and may actually slow recovery. Most athletes can continue training in some capacity while temporarily modifying aggravating activities. 

The goal is to maintain fitness while allowing injured tissues to recover. 

Following an assessment, recommendations can be made regarding which activities can safely continue, which should be modified, and how to return to full participation.

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When To Seek An Assessment 

Consider booking an assessment if: 

  • Pain is affecting your ability to train  

  • Symptoms have lasted longer than 1–2 weeks  

  • Performance is declining  

  • Pain repeatedly returns  

  • You are unsure whether to continue training  

  • Home management has not been effective  

  • You want guidance on returning to sport safely  

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Early assessment often results in faster recovery and less time away from activity. 

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Common Mistakes That Slow Recovery 

Some of the most common mistakes include: 

  • Resting for too long  

  • Returning to sport too quickly  

  • Ignoring pain signals  

  • Focusing only on pain relief  

  • Skipping rehabilitation exercises  

  • Failing to address strength deficits  

  • Poor recovery habits  

  • Not identifying why the injury occurred  

The goal should be to build resilience, not simply eliminate symptoms. 

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When Should I worry?  

Seek prompt medical attention if you experience: 

  • Significant swelling following injury  

  • Inability to bear weight  

  • Suspected fracture  

  • Joint dislocation  

  • Severe weakness  

  • Loss of sensation  

  • Significant trauma  

  • Symptoms that rapidly worsen  

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These situations may require urgent medical evaluation. 

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Why an Accurate Diagnosis Matters 

Many sports injuries produce similar symptoms but require very different treatment approaches. A runner with knee pain, a hockey player with hip pain, and a golfer with elbow pain may all have completely different underlying issues despite describing similar symptoms. 

A thorough assessment helps identify the structures involved, determine why the injury occurred, and develop an individualized treatment plan designed to help you return to training, competition, and the activities you enjoy. 

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Summary 

Most sports injuries respond well to early assessment, progressive rehabilitation, and appropriate load management. 

✔ Stay active while modifying aggravating activities. 

✔ Focus on strength, mobility, and movement quality. 

✔ Address the underlying cause—not just the pain. 

✔ Follow a progressive return-to-sport plan. 

✔ Seek an assessment if symptoms persist, repeatedly return, or interfere with performance. 

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Ready to Get Back to Moving Comfortably?

If your sports injury isn't improving, keeps returning, or is preventing you from your sport, exercising, or enjoying your daily activities, an assessment can help identify the underlying cause and determine the most appropriate treatment plan. 

Dr. Michael Hoiles is a Calgary chiropractor who provides evidence-informed care combining hands-on treatment, exercise-based rehabilitation, and practical advice to help people recover from injury, move better, and stay active. 

Book an appointment with Dr. Michael Hoiles today to start your recovery and get back to doing what you enjoy. 

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