Home of Valley Sports Chiropractic · Bethlehem, PA
Sports chiropractic · Dr. Maurer

Built for athletes. Open to everyone.

Dr. Adam Maurer is one of the only chiropractors in the Lehigh Valley with advanced training in sports chiropractic. Former Team Chiropractor for the Philadelphia Union. Worked with athletes from the Eagles, the Flyers, and Olympic-level runners. Now treating golfers, runners, lifters, and weekend competitors out of Augello Chiropractic in Bethlehem.

Common sport-specific cases

What comes in most weeks.

Golf

Rotational low back pain

Pain after a round, concentrated in the lead hip and opposite side low back. Often an asymmetric loading problem, not a disc problem.

Running

SI joint and piriformis

Low back and gluteal pain that intensifies during the run. Responds to pelvic adjustment, glute and piriformis release, and training load adjustment.

Lifting

Cervical and thoracic pain

Neck stiffness from overhead pressing, upper-back pain from heavy rowing or deadlifting. Often a thoracic mobility problem first.

Field sports

Post-contact stiffness

Post-hit cervical strain, whiplash-pattern injuries, and rib dysfunction. Common in hockey, football, and rugby.

Racquet sports

Shoulder and elbow

Extremity adjusting and targeted soft-tissue work for shoulder impingement patterns and lateral elbow dysfunction.

Post-season

The accumulation visit

The end-of-season check-in for athletes who have been toughing it out for weeks. Systematic joint-by-joint reset.

Our approach

Adjustment is part of the answer, not the whole answer.

Sports injuries need a combination. We adjust where joints are restricted, release soft tissue that is driving the dysfunction, prescribe specific corrective exercises, and coordinate with your trainer or coach when that is useful.

Sport-specific history

Training volume, recent changes, movement patterns in your sport, prior injuries. Context matters more than any single finding.

Examination

Movement screen, palpation, orthopedic tests relevant to the injury and the sport. Extremity evaluation where indicated.

Adjustment and soft-tissue

Specific adjustment to restricted segments. Myofascial release, trigger-point work, or instrument-assisted soft-tissue where needed.

Home program

Three to five specific exercises you can actually do. Printed. No vague "stretch your hamstrings" advice.

Methods in the toolkit

Sports-chiropractic techniques, not just adjustments.

Dr. Maurer's training extends well past the adjustment table. These are the methods he developed working with pro and Olympic-level athletes, now available in Bethlehem.

Soft tissue

IASTM

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. Stainless steel tools used to find and treat scar tissue and fascial restriction with precision. Particularly effective for chronic tendon issues, post-surgical scar work, and stubborn movement restrictions.

Decompression

Cupping therapy

Decompresses tight tissue and increases local circulation. Common for upper-back tension in lifters, calf and hamstring tightness in runners, and recovery between hard training blocks.

Support

Functional taping

Kinesiology and rigid taping to support tissue, modulate pain, and reinforce movement patterns between sessions. Used both for return-to-play and for pre-event support during competition.

Hands-on

Myofascial release

Direct hands-on work that addresses the muscle and fascia driving the joint dysfunction. Often the difference between a back that "stays adjusted" and one that keeps slipping.

Movement

Functional rehabilitation

Customized 1-on-1 rehab programs to restore movement, build strength, and prevent reinjury. Built around your sport, not a generic protocol.

Performance

Performance-based adjustment

A modern, sports-focused approach to chiropractic adjustment that targets joint function, movement quality, and long-term performance, not just symptom relief.

FAQ

Sports injury questions.

Can chiropractic care help a sports injury?

For spine-driven and joint-driven injuries, yes. Low-back pain from golf rotation, SI joint dysfunction in runners, cervical and thoracic pain in lifters, and ankle or knee dysfunction contributing to back pain all respond well to chiropractic work combined with soft-tissue therapy and exercise. Fractures, complete muscle tears, and ligament ruptures require other specialists first.

Will I have to stop training?

Not necessarily. In most cases Dr. Maurer will modify your training rather than stop it. Load management, movement substitutions, and targeted mobility can often keep you active while you heal. If the injury requires a complete break, you will get that recommendation in writing.

Do you work with competitive athletes?

Yes. Dr. Maurer has served as Team Chiropractor for the Philadelphia Union (MLS), worked with athletes from the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, and Olympic-level runners, and provided medical coverage for the Boston Marathon, NYC Marathon, and Nitro Circus. Care is the same in principle as it is for weekend warriors but calibrated to the demands of the sport, the season, and the event schedule.

Should I come in before or after a race?

Both can work. Pre-event visits are lighter, focused on mobility and any asymmetries you have noted. Post-event visits address accumulated stress and speed recovery. For an upcoming goal event, come in at least 72 hours out for anything adjustive.

What about golfers?

Golf is one of the more common sports we treat. Rotational demand on the lumbar spine, combined with the asymmetric loading of the swing, produces a recognizable pattern of pain. Adjustment, targeted soft-tissue work on the thoracic spine and hips, and swing-specific mobility usually resolve it.

Back in your sport.

Call to describe the injury and the sport. The front desk can route you to the right first visit.