Chiropractor examining a man's shoulder injury

Soft Tissue Treatment in Alexandria

Name: Skopp Chiro, Sports & Health
Address: 1701 Belle View Blvd, Alexandria, VA, 22307, US
Telephone: (703) 721-9600
Price range: $$

Maybe your shoulder hurts every time you reach overhead. Your hamstring settles down with rest but acts up as soon as you start running again. Or an elbow problem keeps returning no matter how much you stretch it.

At Skopp Chiro, Sports & Health, Dr. Martin Skopp takes a broader look at soft tissue problems. Instead of automatically treating the spot that hurts, he works to identify which structures are involved, what may be placing stress on them, and what needs to change to help you move more comfortably.

New Patients

Finding Out What’s Driving the Problem

Muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves don’t work independently. How one area moves can affect another, which means the source of a problem isn’t always where symptoms are felt.

Dr. Skopp’s evaluation may include orthopedic and neurological testing, range-of-motion assessment, palpation, and functional movement testing. He also considers how your joints and soft tissues work together and whether another part of the kinetic chain may be influencing the problem.

For an athlete, that could mean looking at the movements involved in running, throwing, swinging, or another sport. For someone with a work-related problem, it may mean considering repetitive tasks, posture, or other physical demands.

A Sports Medicine Approach to Soft Tissue Injuries

As a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP), Dr. Skopp has advanced training in evaluating and managing sports and musculoskeletal injuries.

That perspective isn’t reserved for competitive athletes. The same principles can be applied to a weekend warrior, someone recovering from a strain, or a person dealing with a recurring problem that makes everyday activities harder.

Rather than simply asking, “Where does it hurt?” Dr. Skopp wants to understand what happens when you move and why that particular tissue may be taking more stress than it should.

Soccer player with kinesiotape on knee

More Than One Tool for Treatment

Once Dr. Skopp has a better understanding of the problem, he can choose treatment based on what he finds rather than relying on one technique for every patient.

Care may include Active Release Techniques® (ART®) or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) to address involved soft tissues. Chiropractic adjustments may be incorporated when joint restrictions are contributing to the problem, while Kinesio Taping® may be considered in certain situations.

Exercises may also be recommended to work on mobility, flexibility, strength, or movement patterns between visits. The goal is to address the factors associated with the problem and help prepare your body for the activities you want to return to.

From Injury to Getting Moving Again

Soft tissue treatment may be considered for muscle strains, tendon problems, repetitive-use injuries, shoulder and rotator cuff concerns, tennis or golfer’s elbow, IT band problems, plantar fasciitis, and other musculoskeletal complaints.

What treatment looks like depends on the injury, your examination findings, and what you need your body to do. A runner returning to training may have very different needs from someone trying to work comfortably at a computer or get through a round of golf without aggravating an old injury.

Build a Game Plan for Your Recovery

If a soft tissue problem keeps interfering with work, exercise, sports, or everyday movement, finding out what’s contributing to it is a good place to start.

Schedule an appointment at Skopp Chiro, Sports & Health to have Dr. Skopp evaluate the problem and discuss a treatment plan based on your individual needs.

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