I use a PT who also has a PT certification in soft tissue manipulation-so a full tool box

Where do you live?

None of them will be worth a dime unless they actually have skillsets to be a resource for someone looking for strength and performance. Believe me, many personal trainers/strength coaches are better suited for this than my own profession and its maddening. This is coming from a PT who specializes in endurance athletes/performance. Let me know where you're located and I can help you find someone in your area.

Thanks for asking the question. I'm a physician but I don't work in sports medicine. My opinion is strongly for a Physical Therapist. PTs can subspecialize as well (sports, geriatrics, disability, etc) so finding one that specializes in athletics would I think be your best bet.

Even beside my personal opinion, I would strongly advise against Chiropractors. There is no evidence-based approach that I have seen using their manipulation therapy that will give you any benefit.

Best of luck in your active rehab and recovery!

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http://www.y-rocket.blogspot.com/

It depends where you are located and the professionals in your area.

Traditionally chiropractic was very adjustment focused and PT was very exercise focused. Now I don't believe you should be able to tell whether the provider is a a chiro or a PT based on how they treat a patient. They should both be using stretches, exercises, manipulation, soft tissue work, pain science and be working with other professionals as a team to do what is best for each patient.

Of course not every provider treats like this, some chiro's still use adjustments as their only tool and adhere to very outdated philosophies and some PT's rely on nothing but passive therapies such as ice packs and EStim.

Talk to other runners/triathletes/cyclists/athletes in your area and see where they go and if they have been helped with similar issues to your own.

edited to add that rehab and strength & conditioning are just different shades along a spectrum. Rehab should progress from looking like rehab into looking like strength training

Thanks for that info - I agree....I think my issue is probably best addressed with stretches and then strengthening to even out the imbalances. I've never used a chiro except for one time and that session was not an "adjustment" - it was more stretching and rehab

Muscle imbalances and movement restrictions sound like a physical therapist.

With respect to the MDs and DOs here, they would probably not be the provider of choice for this sort of thing.

For chiropractors, if our MD poster was saying that they don't provide a benefit for neck and back pain, then I'd have to disagree (albeit I'm not sure what the evidence says; this is more a try it and see how you, personally, feel thing). However, for the complaint stated, I would again start with PT rather than a chiropractor. If the OP is getting some low back pain as a result of the muscle imbalances, then chiropractic care can be an adjunct (provided the OP themselves benefits from it).

Others have already correctly noted that if the PT specializes in sports, this will be a big plus. You don't necessarily need a physical therapy degree as some have noted; I live near a bike fit and training studio where the principals are experienced cyclists and coaches but don't have PT training (that I'm aware of), and they've nonetheless been able to help me when I have this type of issue.

The OP might also want to consider massage therapy, FYI. Again, that statement isn't necessarily evidence based, it's more a try it and see if it benefits you personally thing.

My go to when I'm having back, hip and knee issues...Wall sits and reverse hypers.

I had the same issue that you described. I tried many stretching methods, warm-up exercises and they did nothing. I strongly suggest you go to an orthopedic surgeon or rehabilitation specialist.

My problem was the spinal imbalance, specifically, it was functional scoliosis, caused by my bad daily posture (I usually put my legs crossed, left one top when I am seated.)

What you need to do is to find the true source of your hip imbalance.
Imbalance of muscle activation is a mere consequence not the source.
It can be difference in leg length/ collapsed foot arch/ scoliosis which causes pelvic tilt/ etc..
These only can be detected by Radiological devices like MRI, x ray machines etc.

Do not visit chiropractor, therapist or someone else but MD. Visiting them should be delayed to the point at which you know the exact cause of the problem.


In my case
1. I do daily stretches which are known to deal with pelvic imbalance.
2. I try to maintain "spine - neutral" posture during when I am sitting on the chair as long as possible.

Just in 3 months after visiting a MD, I got my problem solved. S
orry for the awkward English. I am not a native English speaker.

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Stay home, stay healthy.