Top 5 Summer Sports Injuries in Bend
And How Chiropractic Care Can Prevent Them
Summer in Bend, Oregon is nothing short of spectacular. With long sunny days and endless outdoor opportunities, it's the perfect season for mountain biking through Phil’s Trail, trail running along the Deschutes River, swinging the clubs at Tetherow, or hitting the courts for a few sets of tennis.
But with the seasonal surge in activity comes a common issue—an increased risk of injury.
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a weekend warrior, the summer months often bring on aches, strains, and overuse injuries that can quickly derail your fitness goals. From nagging back pain to elbow tendonitis, these injuries are more than just an inconvenience. They can keep you sidelined for weeks.
The good news?
Many of these injuries are preventable with proactive, sports-focused chiropractic care. At Power Performance Chiropractic, we specialize in helping active Bend residents stay moving and pain-free. In this post, we’ll explore the top 5 most common summer sports injuries in Bend and show how our unique chiropractic approach helps prevent them before they start.
Ready to take control of your summer performance?
Injury #1: Mountain Biking Crashes and Overuse Injuries
With Bend’s world-class trail network, mountain biking is a summer staple, but the sport comes with its share of injury risks. Common complaints among riders include shoulder strains from falls or awkward landings, wrist and hand overuse from constant braking and grip tension, and low back tightness from sustained forward-flexed riding positions.
These issues are often compounded by poor posture, muscle imbalances, and the physical demands of navigating rugged trails. While many riders push through the discomfort, ignoring early signs can lead to chronic pain or more serious injuries.
Chiropractic care plays a key role in preventing mountain biking injuries before they escalate. At Power Performance Chiropractic, we focus on spinal alignment to improve posture and reduce unnecessary stress on your joints. Using drop table adjustments, we target thoracic and lumbar segments to enhance mobility and stability where it matters most on the bike.
We also incorporate functional rehabilitation to retrain posture and joint control, helping you move more efficiently both on and off the trail. For riders experiencing forearm pump or shoulder tension, Active Release Technique (ART) effectively breaks down muscle adhesions and restores full range of motion.
Stay strong in the saddle with proactive care designed for mountain bikers in Bend.
Injury #2: Trail Running Impact Injuries
Bend’s trail systems are also a dream for runners, but the terrain that makes them beautiful also can make them brutal on your body. Uneven surfaces, elevation changes, and high-impact landings often lead to overuse injuries like plantar fasciitis, knee pain, and shin splints. These issues usually stem from imbalances in gait mechanics, improper footwear, or lack of mobility and core stability.
Running through discomfort might feel like part of the process, but ignoring these signs can set you up for chronic pain and time off the trails. Fortunately, chiropractic care offers more than just relief, it provides strategic injury prevention.
At Power Performance Chiropractic, we use instrument-assisted adjustments to fine-tune joint alignment and ensure proper biomechanics from the ground up. For runners experiencing low back tension or disc-related discomfort, our lumbar flexion-distraction table provides gentle spinal decompression and increased joint mobility.
We also incorporate gait analysis and personalized functional rehab plans to address muscle imbalances and correct faulty movement patterns.
The result?
More efficient strides, fewer injuries, and stronger, more resilient runs all summer long.
Whether you're logging easy miles or prepping for your next trail race, our summer chiropractic care keeps Bend’s runners performing at their best.
Injury #3: Tennis/Golf Elbow (Tendinopathy)
Whether you’re swinging a tennis racquet at Pine Nursery or working on your short game at River’s Edge, repetitive arm motions can take a toll on your elbows.
Tendinopathy (commonly known as tennis or golfer’s elbow) results from repetitive strain to the tendons of the forearm, causing inflammation, pain, and reduced grip strength. While symptoms often begin subtly, they can escalate quickly and interfere with your performance.
Athletes often try to “play through it,” but without proper intervention, this overuse injury can linger for months. At Power Performance Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to both recovery and prevention.
We use Active Release Technique (ART) to break down adhesions in the forearm muscles and tendons, improving circulation and restoring mobility. To rebuild strength without overloading the injured tissue, we implement Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training—a powerful rehab tool that promotes muscle development with minimal joint stress.
What sets us apart?
We’re the only clinic in Bend (in fact, only the second clinic in Oregon) offering WinBack Tecar Therapy, an advanced European technology that accelerates healing by enhancing tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation deep within the tendons.
If elbow pain is holding you back, our athlete-focused care provides relief and helps prevent flare-ups from sidelining your summer.
Injury #4: Shoulder Strains and Instability (Swimming, Paddling, Climbing)
Summer in Central Oregon means long days on the water or at the crag. Swimming at Elk Lake, paddleboarding the Deschutes, or scaling Smith Rock are favorite seasonal activities, but they all rely heavily on strong, stable shoulders. Unfortunately, these repetitive overhead movements often lead to shoulder strains, impingement, or chronic instability, especially when mobility or muscle balance is lacking.
Shoulder injuries tend to develop gradually due to poor posture, muscular fatigue, or compensation patterns. Left unaddressed, they can limit your range of motion and compromise performance.
As a sports chiropractor in Bend, we take a movement-first approach to shoulder health. Using drop table adjustments, we help realign the shoulder girdle and scapula for smoother joint motion and better muscle recruitment. Our soft tissue therapies target chronically tight areas like the traps, lats, and rotator cuff muscles which are essential for athletes performing repetitive upper body actions.
We also design functional rehab programs to improve scapular control and shoulder stability, reducing the risk of injury during overhead and dynamic movements. Whether you’re paddling, climbing, or swimming laps, our chiropractic care helps protect your shoulders and keep you performing pain-free.
Injury #5: Low Back Pain from Overuse or Poor Movement Patterns
Low back pain is one of the most common issues we see in athletes across all summer sports. Whether you're hiking Tumalo Mountain, logging long miles on your bike, or training for a half marathon, repetitive movement and poor spinal mechanics can lead to lumbar strain, stiffness, or even disc-related discomfort.
These issues often build slowly—tightness after a ride, soreness after a hike—until they eventually disrupt daily movement and training consistency. Without addressing the root cause, the cycle of pain and compensation only worsens.
At Power Performance Chiropractic, we take a strategic approach to resolving and preventing low back pain. Our lumbar flexion-distraction table is designed specifically to decompress the spine, relieve pressure on discs, and restore joint motion. This gentle, targeted technique is ideal for athletes who need relief without downtime.
We combine that with spinal adjustments to enhance overall mobility and core stabilization exercises that build strength where it matters most—your midline. By restoring movement, improving control, and correcting faulty patterns, we help you move better, feel stronger, and prevent future flare-ups.
Don’t let low back pain derail your summer adventures. Our summer chiropractic care in Bend keeps your spine healthy and your goals on track.
Why Early Chiropractic Assessments Matter
When it comes to staying healthy and active, prevention always beats recovery. Many athletes wait until pain interferes with performance before seeking care—but by then, compensations and dysfunctions have already taken hold. Proactive chiropractic care catches these issues early, helping you move better, train smarter, and avoid sidelining injuries altogether.
At Power Performance Chiropractic, we specialize in athlete injury prevention in Bend by starting with detailed movement assessments, postural analysis, and hands-on orthopedic testing. These tools help us identify subtle imbalances or restricted mobility before they become major problems.
Our goal isn’t just to relieve pain, it’s to optimize your performance. Whether you're preparing for a race, chasing summer PRs, or just trying to stay consistent in your training, early intervention allows us to fine-tune how your body moves and functions.
Stay ahead of injury. Stay in the game.
Power Performance Chiropractic’s Unique Approach
At Power Performance Chiropractic, we take pride in offering a comprehensive, athlete-centered approach to care. As a leading sports chiropractor in Bend, our toolbox is built to serve active individuals dealing with both acute injuries and chronic movement dysfunctions.
Our unique toolkit includes:
Drop table adjustments for efficient spinal correction
Instrument-assisted adjusting for precision
Active Release Technique (ART) for muscle adhesions
Lumbar flexion-distraction therapy for disc and low back care
Personalized functional rehabilitation plans
We also utilize Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training to accelerate strength gains during rehab, and we’re the only clinic in Bend offering WinBack Tecar Therapy—a cutting-edge modality that boosts recovery and repairs tissue at the cellular level.
Whether you're recovering from an injury or trying to prevent the next one, our advanced, sport-specific care gets you back to doing what you love stronger, faster, and pain-free.
Our sports chiropractic focus means every treatment is tailored to your sport, your goals, and your recovery timeline.
Better Care is Here
Summer in Bend is meant to be spent exploring, competing, and enjoying the outdoors, not stuck on the sidelines with an injury. From mountain biking to trail running and everything in between, staying active comes with risks. However, with the right support, most injuries are entirely preventable.
At Power Performance Chiropractic, we help athletes move better, recover faster, and stay pain-free all season long. Don’t wait until pain slows you down, schedule a proactive assessment today.
Visit your trusted Bend chiropractic clinic for expert athlete injury prevention.
