Conditions We Treat

Sports injury care in Allentown

Dr. Petrilak spent seven seasons as team chiropractor for two professional sports teams. Weekend athletes, high school players and runners get the same approach: find the problem, fix the mechanics, get back out there.

Dr. Petrilak explaining spinal mechanics to a patient

Sports Injuries

What it feels like, and where it comes from

Most sports injuries that are not fractures or full tears fall into two groups. Acute strains and sprains from a fall, a tackle or an awkward landing, and overuse injuries from doing the same motion thousands of times: runner's knee, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, shoulder tendon pain from throwing or swimming, low back pain from golf or lifting.

Athletes are often treated for the spot that hurts while the reason it hurts goes unaddressed. A hip that does not rotate fully overloads the knee. A stiff upper back forces the shoulder to compensate. Dr. Petrilak's background with professional athletes is built on finding and correcting that underlying mechanical fault so the injury does not keep coming back.

Strains and sprains from a game, a fall or a hard workout
Overuse pain in the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow or heel
Low back pain from golf, lifting or running
A nagging injury that keeps returning every season
Reduced power, range of motion or confidence in a joint
Wanting to stay in training while an injury heals

How We Help

Our approach to sports injuries

Pro-level experience

Seven seasons as team chiropractor for two professional sports teams and membership in the Pro Hockey Chiropractor Association. Dr. Petrilak is also a NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist and a lifelong athlete himself.

StemWave for tendons and soft tissue

Overuse injuries are tendon injuries, and tendons are where StemWave acoustic wave therapy is most often used. It stimulates the body's own repair response without injections or downtime.

Fix the mechanics

Gentle Activator adjusting restores motion to the joints that are forcing the injured area to compensate, so the fix holds when you return to play.

StemWave therapy used for a sports injury

Your First Visit

What to expect

Tell Dr. Petrilak about your sport, your training and exactly when and how the injury happened or built up. The exam covers the injured area and the whole chain of joints that feed into it, with movement testing specific to what you do.

Care is built around keeping you as active as the injury allows. Adjusting, StemWave sessions where tendon tissue is involved, and corrective guidance from his NASM training all aim at the same thing: a full return to your sport without the injury recurring.

Call 610-646-5677 Book a Visit

Patient Review

In their words

★★★★★

"I was always skeptical of seeing a chiropractor, but not anymore. I had lower back, hip and knee issues when I started. After a few months of care my back and hip issues are gone and my knee is significantly better. I can even go for runs again, which I haven't been able to do in years without pain. Thank you Dr. Alan!"

Kaitlyn DinkelackerGoogle review

See more on Google

Common Questions

Questions about sports injuries

Straight answers to the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, call us and we will help.

Do you treat high school and youth athletes?

Yes. Dr. Petrilak treats athletes of every age and level, from youth sports through professionals. The low-force Activator technique is well suited to younger patients.

Can I keep training while I am being treated?

Often yes, with modifications. Part of the plan is figuring out what you can safely keep doing so you do not lose fitness while the injury heals. Dr. Petrilak will be specific about what to avoid.

What is StemWave used for in athletes?

Mostly tendon and soft tissue injuries that have not responded to rest: patellar tendon, Achilles, plantar fascia, rotator cuff, tennis and golfer's elbow and chronic hamstring or hip tendon pain. It is applied in short sessions with no downtime.

Do you work with teams?

Dr. Petrilak served as team chiropractor for two professional sports teams over seven seasons. If you are a coach or trainer interested in care for your athletes, call the office.

Call 610-646-5677

Other conditions we treat

Shoulder Pain Hip & Knee Pain Back Pain Arthritis & Joint Pain All conditions

Ready to feel better?

Let's get you out of pain

No forced long-term contracts. Just an accurate diagnosis and care built around you. Call today or request an appointment and we'll take it from there.

Call 610-646-5677 Request an Appointment