Sports Injury Chiropractor in Orem, Utah
Can a chiropractor treat sports injuries? Yes. Chiropractic care combined with sports rehabilitation restores joint function, accelerates tissue healing, and builds the strength needed to return to competition safely. Dr. Drussel treats athletes of all levels at Integrative Motion in Orem, UT.
Understanding Sports Injuries
Sports injuries fall into two broad categories: acute injuries (sudden trauma from a specific incident, like a sprained ankle or a collision) and overuse injuries (gradual damage from repetitive stress, like runner's knee or tennis elbow). Both types involve damage to musculoskeletal structures including muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and sometimes bones.
What makes sports injuries different from general musculoskeletal pain is the context. Athletes need to return to a high level of physical demand, which means treatment must go beyond pain relief. The injured tissue needs to be fully rehabilitated, movement patterns need to be corrected, and strength and stability need to be rebuilt to meet the specific demands of the athlete's sport.
This is where Dr. Dustin Drussel's credentials make a meaningful difference. His Master of Science in Sports Rehabilitation from Logan College gives him specialized expertise in athletic injury treatment, return-to-sport protocols, injury prevention screening, and sport-specific rehabilitation that most chiropractors do not have.
Sports Injuries We Treat
Dr. Drussel treats the full range of sports injuries at Integrative Motion. Some of the most common conditions he sees include:
- Ankle sprains and instability from basketball, trail running, soccer, and other cutting sports
- Knee injuries including runner's knee (patellofemoral syndrome), IT band syndrome, meniscus irritation, and patellar tendinitis
- Shoulder injuries including rotator cuff strains, impingement syndrome, and labral irritation from overhead sports
- Lower back pain from deadlifting, cycling, running, and contact sports
- Hamstring and quadriceps strains common in sprinting, soccer, and football
- Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow (lateral and medial epicondylitis) from racquet sports, CrossFit, and weightlifting
- Shin splints and stress reactions from running and high-impact activities
- Plantar fasciitis from running, jumping, and prolonged standing
- Hip flexor strains and hip impingement from soccer, martial arts, and weightlifting
How Dr. Drussel Treats Sports Injuries
Sports injury treatment at Integrative Motion follows an evidence-based rehabilitation model. Dr. Drussel uses Functional Movement Screening (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) to identify the biomechanical factors that contributed to your injury, not just the injury itself.
Treatment combines multiple modalities based on your specific injury and recovery phase:
- Chiropractic adjustments to restore joint mechanics in the spine and extremities
- Soft tissue therapy to address scar tissue, muscle spasms, and fascial restrictions
- Progressive exercise rehabilitation moving from mobility to stability to strength to sport-specific function
- Kinesiology taping for support and proprioceptive feedback during recovery
- Acupuncture for pain management and inflammation reduction
Every treatment plan includes clear return-to-sport criteria so you know exactly when it is safe to resume full activity. Dr. Drussel does not guess. He uses objective benchmarks including strength testing, functional movement assessment, and sport-specific performance measures.
Signs You Should See a Sports Chiropractor
- Pain during or after athletic activity that does not resolve with rest
- Swelling, bruising, or instability in a joint after an injury
- Decreased performance or range of motion compared to your baseline
- An injury that keeps coming back despite rest and self-treatment
- Sharp pain with specific movements during your sport
- Difficulty completing your normal training volume due to pain
- You want a structured return-to-sport plan after an injury
- You want injury prevention screening to catch problems before they sideline you
What to Expect
Your first sports injury visit takes 45 to 60 minutes. Come prepared to discuss your injury, your sport, your training schedule, and your goals. Wear athletic clothing that allows Dr. Drussel to observe your movement patterns and access the injured area.
Dr. Drussel will perform a comprehensive evaluation including orthopedic testing, functional movement assessment, and sport-specific movement analysis. He will explain his findings, give you a clear diagnosis, and outline a treatment plan with estimated timelines for your return to sport. In most cases, treatment begins during the first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Integrative Motion, you get both. Dr. Drussel's combination of chiropractic training and a Master's in Sports Rehabilitation means you receive joint manipulation, soft tissue treatment, and exercise-based rehabilitation from one provider. This integrated approach eliminates the need to visit multiple providers and ensures your entire treatment plan is coordinated.
In many cases, yes, with modifications. Dr. Drussel will advise you on which activities are safe to continue, which should be modified, and which should be temporarily paused. The goal is to keep you as active as possible during recovery while protecting the injured area and allowing it to heal properly.
Absolutely. Integrative Motion treats athletes at every level, from youth sports to high school, college, and adult recreational leagues. Dr. Drussel understands the unique pressures of competitive athletics and works with coaches, trainers, and parents to create treatment plans that align with competitive schedules when possible.
Yes. Most health insurance plans cover chiropractic treatment for sports injuries. Integrative Motion accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, SelectHealth, DMBA, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and most other major insurers. We verify your benefits before your first visit so you know what to expect.
Not resolving as expected?
When structural treatment alone isn't producing the results you'd expect, there may be something systemic underneath. Chronic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, or metabolic imbalances can prevent your body from healing properly. Dr. Drussel's functional medicine approach investigates these deeper root causes.
Get Back in the Game
Schedule your sports injury evaluation with Dr. Drussel at Integrative Motion in Orem, Utah. Recover right. Recover fast.