Sports Chiropractor in Suffolk County

Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy has been Suffolk County’s destination for sports chiropractic care since 1993. Our team of chiropractors and Doctors of Physical Therapy specializes in treating athletes, from high school competitors to professionals, as well as active adults with sports injuries, chronic pain, and movement limitations. With three convenient locations in Selden, Smithtown, and Massapequa, we provide the integrated, evidence-based care that keeps athletes at their best.

What Is a Sports Chiropractor?

A sports chiropractor specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and physically active patients. Unlike a general chiropractor, who focuses primarily on spinal manipulation, a sports chiropractor is trained to assess and treat the full range of injuries that affect athletic performance, from acute joint injuries and soft-tissue damage to biomechanical inefficiencies that limit speed, power, and endurance.
At Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, our sports chiropractic care goes further than pain relief. We evaluate how your entire body moves, identify the root causes of injury, and build a treatment plan that gets you back to full performance, not just out of pain.

Suffolk County’s Team Chiropractors

Our experience treating elite athletes is extensive. Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy serves as the official team chiropractors for:​
  • Stony Brook University
  • LIU Post
  • Queens College
  • New York Cosmos (soccer)
This institutional experience informs everything we do for everyday athletes and weekend competitors. When you come to Block, your care is guided by the same principles and techniques used to keep collegiate and professional athletes on the field.
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Sports Chiropractic Services at Block

Our sports chiropractic team uses a combination of specialized techniques tailored to each patient’s injury, sport, and performance goals.

Active Release Technique (ART)

Active Release Technique is one of the most effective soft tissue treatments available for athletic injuries. Every ART session begins with a thorough examination and ends with a chiropractic adjustment. The technique targets muscles that have been shut down due to previous injury or overuse, restoring proper function, reducing pain, and eliminating the scar tissue that restricts movement.
ART is particularly effective for:
  • Sciatica and sciatic nerve pain
  • Shin splints
  • Lower back pain
  • Shoulder pain and impingement
  • Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Headaches and cervicogenic pain
ART resolves many of these conditions quickly and permanently, making it one of the most requested treatments at our offices.

Graston Technique

The Graston Technique uses precision stainless-steel instruments to detect and break down scar tissue, fascial adhesions, and soft tissue restrictions. It provides deeper, more targeted treatment than traditional massage alone and is especially effective for athletes with stubborn overuse injuries or chronic soft-tissue restrictions that have not responded to other treatments.
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Graston is commonly used for tendonitis, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, hamstring strains, rotator cuff tightness, and post-surgical adhesions. Our certified Graston providers use it as part of a comprehensive plan that includes exercise and movement retraining to make the improvements last.

Cox Flexion-Distraction

Cox Flexion-Distraction, also known as Cox Technic, is a gentle, non-surgical technique for treating back pain, disc injuries, and leg pain. Using a specialized table, our providers apply controlled traction and flexion forces to the spine that decompress the discs, open the spinal canal, and reduce nerve pressure without surgery or medication.
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Benefits include improved spinal range of motion, reduced nerve irritation, decreased headaches, and better posture. Athletes with disc herniations, lumbar stenosis, or chronic low back pain often respond exceptionally well to this approach.

Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP)

Chiropractic Biophysics is one of the most rigorously researched techniques in chiropractic care. Developed to restore normal spinal alignment and posture, not simply to relieve symptoms, CBP uses mirror-image adjustments, traction, and rehabilitation exercises to structurally correct the spine over time. For athletes, optimal spinal alignment means reduced wear and tear, better nerve function, and a more resilient foundation for performance.

SFMA: Selective Functional Movement Assessment

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment is a movement-based diagnostic system used by our physical therapists and sports chiropractors to identify the root cause of pain and dysfunction. Built around seven fundamental movement patterns, SFMA distinguishes between mobility restrictions and motor control deficits, allowing our team to design a more precise, effective treatment plan rather than treating symptoms in isolation.
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SFMA uses the principle of regional interdependence: the idea that the true source of pain is often not where the pain is felt. A knee problem may originate from hip restriction; a shoulder injury may trace back to thoracic stiffness. SFMA provides our clinicians with a systematic, repeatable framework for identifying and fixing the actual cause.

Additional Therapies

Cold Laser Therapy — Using the Vectra Genesys Transport Laser by Chattanooga, cold laser therapy accelerates healing, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain for patients with arthritis, joint pain, muscle strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other chronic conditions.
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Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) — EMS uses targeted electronic pulses to stimulate specific muscle groups, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and prevent muscle atrophy. Sessions typically last 10–20 minutes, with intensity calibrated to your needs.
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Soft Tissue Therapy — Our soft tissue work encompasses Graston, ART, myofascial release, and manual therapy techniques for conditions such as sciatica, plantar fasciitis, fibromyalgia, tendon injuries, nerve tension, and muscle spasm.

How Sports Chiropractic Improves Athletic Performance

Injury treatment is only part of what a sports chiropractor does. Regular chiropractic care has direct performance benefits for athletes, regardless of sport or level.

Reduced Wear and Tear

Athletic training places repetitive stress on joints, discs, and soft tissues. Chiropractic adjustments maintain spinal and joint alignment, improve flexibility, and reduce the cumulative strain that leads to chronic breakdown over a career. Athletes who receive regular chiropractic care consistently report better range of motion and fewer overuse injuries.

Faster Injury Recovery

Chiropractic care addresses the mechanical cause of sports injuries, not just the symptoms. Spinal adjustments reduce nerve irritation between vertebrae, which accelerates the body’s healing response. Combined with soft-tissue work and rehabilitative exercise, this integrated approach helps athletes return to training significantly faster than rest alone.

Sustained Pain Management

Playing through pain is a risk athletes face regularly. Chiropractic care manages pain through natural mechanisms, restoring joint mechanics, reducing nerve compression, and improving tissue quality, without the side effects or dependency risks of medication. This allows athletes to maintain performance levels while safely managing existing injuries.

Sports Nutrition Guidance

At Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, we understand that recovery and performance happen both on and off the field. Our team provides practical nutritional guidance for athletes focused on fueling performance and supporting recovery:
  • Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for athletic output, stored as glycogen in muscles, and they power training and competition.
  • Protein helps maintain muscle mass and directly affects recovery speed between training sessions.
  • Sleep is critical for protein synthesis and tissue repair, non-negotiable for any serious athlete.
  • Electrolyte replenishment after training prevents dehydration and supports nerve signaling throughout the body.
  • Fruits and vegetables maintain micronutrient density and anti-inflammatory support, helping keep energy levels stable throughout a full season.
We work with each athlete to evaluate their current diet and activity patterns and suggest practical improvements, not overhauls, that fit their lifestyle and sport.
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Preventing and Treating Golf Injuries

Golf is one of the highest-volume back-stress activities available to adults of all ages. The rotational force of a golf swing, repeated over 18 holes and hundreds of practice sessions, places significant cumulative stress on the lumbar spine, hips, and thoracic region.
Our sports chiropractic and physical therapy team treats golfers at all levels for back pain, hip restriction, shoulder tightness, and the postural dysfunction that develops over years of asymmetrical loading.
Prevention strategies we recommend:
  • Warm up with graduated swings before your round, not stretches alone.
  • Incorporate spinal rotation and hip mobility work into your pre-round routine.
  • Choose a golf bag with a stand or use a cart to minimize repetitive bending.
  • Address thoracic and hip restrictions with regular chiropractic care before they become painful.
If back pain is already limiting your game, our physical therapists will identify the exact source of restriction and design a targeted treatment program to resolve it, getting you back on the course and keeping you there.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a sports chiropractor and a regular chiropractor?

A sports chiropractor has advanced training in sports medicine, athletic injury patterns, and performance optimization. While a general chiropractor focuses primarily on spinal manipulation for pain relief, a sports chiropractor evaluates the entire kinetic chain, assessing how movement dysfunction in one area of the body drives injury in another, and integrates soft-tissue work, functional movement assessment, and rehabilitative exercise alongside traditional adjustments.

Do I need to be a competitive athlete to see a sports chiropractor?

No. Our sports chiropractic care is appropriate for anyone who is physically active, recreational runners, gym members, youth athletes, weekend athletes, and patients who simply want to move and feel better. The assessment and treatment principles that apply to competitive athletes also apply to anyone dealing with musculoskeletal pain or seeking to maintain function as they age.

How soon can I return to my sport after treatment?

Return-to-sport timelines depend on the type and severity of injury. Many patients return to light activity within one to three sessions. Our providers give each patient a clear, individualized timeline and, wherever possible, adjust treatment intensity to align with your training schedule.

Does Block Sports Chiropractic accept insurance?

Yes. We accept most major insurance plans as well as no-fault and workers’ compensation insurance. Our team will verify your benefits before your first appointment.

Which locations offer sports chiropractic care?

All three of our Long Island offices, Selden, Smithtown, and Massapequa, offer the full range of sports chiropractic services described on this page.

Schedule With Our Sports Chiropractic Team

Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy has been helping Suffolk County athletes recover from injury and reach their peak performance since 1993. Our team of chiropractors, physical therapists, and sports medicine specialists brings the same evidence-based approach to every patient, from youth athletes to professionals to active adults.
Three locations. Same-day appointments available.
Contact us today to schedule your comprehensive first visit and find out how Block Sports Chiropractic can help you get back in the game.
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