Sports Injury Chiropractor in Vancouver, WA
Dr. Bryan Gehm holds a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science and has spent over a decade treating athletes at every level, from youth leagues to weekend warriors.
Two Very Different Kinds of Sports Injuries
Athletes tend to land in one of two categories, and mixing them up leads to the wrong treatment plan. Knowing which one you’re dealing with changes everything about how we approach it.
Acute Injuries
Happened on a specific play, at a specific moment: a hard tackle, an awkward landing, a collision. Think sprains, joint jams, and sudden back or neck tweaks. These need to be assessed quickly to rule out anything that needs imaging before we start hands-on treatment.
Overuse Injuries
Built up gradually from repetitive stress, training volume, or a mechanical imbalance that’s been quietly compensating for months. Runner’s knee, swimmer’s shoulder, and recurring low back tightness usually fall here. These need a plan that addresses the underlying mechanics, not just the sore spot.
Why a Sports Science Background Matters Here
Understanding an athlete’s sport matters as much as understanding the injury. A pitcher’s shoulder mechanics, a distance runner’s gait, and a lineman’s low back demands are all completely different, and Dr. Gehm’s background in exercise and sports science means the rehab plan accounts for the actual movements you need your body to do, not a generic recovery checklist.
Our Return-to-Play Process
Calm Things Down
Reduce pain and inflammation enough that we can actually evaluate the injury without guarding or compensation getting in the way.
Restore Full Motion
Adjustments and soft tissue work to get the joint or region moving normally again, not just less painfully.
Rebuild Strength & Control
Targeted exercises for the specific muscles that failed or compensated, so the injury doesn’t just come back under load.
Sport-Specific Return
Cutting, throwing, sprinting, whatever your sport actually demands, tested before we clear you to go back full speed.
Questions We Hear Before a First Visit
Can I keep training while I’m being treated?
Often, in modified form. We’d rather adjust your training load than tell every athlete to fully stop, since deconditioning creates its own problems. What you can keep doing depends entirely on the injury.
Do you work with young athletes?
Yes, regularly, including youth league players. Growing bodies have their own injury patterns, and we adjust our evaluation and treatment accordingly.
What if I need imaging or a specialist referral?
If your exam suggests a fracture, ligament tear, or anything outside conservative care, we’ll tell you directly and refer out rather than treating something that needs a different level of care.
Get Back to Your Sport, Not Just Back to Normal
Same-day evaluations are usually available for acute injuries.
Request an Appointment
Call (360) 573-5500
We treat athletes from across Clark County, including Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, and Battle Ground.