Elevate Your Game: Sports Chiropractic for Tennis & Pickleball in Dripping Springs, TX

Tennis and pickleball are fast, dynamic sports that demand explosive movement, precise timing, and repetitive overhead and lateral motions. For players in Dripping Springs, Belterra, Driftwood, Bee Cave, and Wimberley, the result can often be shoulder soreness, elbow pain, wrist irritation, or hip and back stiffness. Many athletes push through discomfort, thinking it’s just part of the game, but untreated biomechanical issues can limit performance and lead to chronic injuries.

At Evolve Chiropractic, we specialize in helping tennis and pickleball athletes restore mobility, prevent injuries, and improve performance. As a chiropractor in Dripping Springs, TX, Dr. Jackson Humphrey combines sports expertise, clinical experience, and the latest chiropractic techniques to ensure athletes move better, recover faster, and return stronger to the court.

Why Tennis & Pickleball Players Are Prone to Injury

Racquet sports require repetitive strokes, quick changes of direction, and high-speed rotational movements. Common challenges for players include:

• Overuse of shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints

• Hip and core instability during lateral movement

• Thoracic spine and neck stiffness from overhead motions

• Muscle imbalances between dominant and non-dominant sides

• Repetitive stress on low back and knees

These factors can manifest as shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, wrist tendonitis, hip tightness, low back pain, or decreased court endurance.

Common Racquet Athlete Complaints

• Shoulder pain during serves or overhead smashes

• Elbow pain commonly known as tennis or pickleball elbow

• Wrist pain from forehand and backhand strokes

• Low back stiffness from rotational forces

• Tight hips or glutes affecting lateral movement

• Fatigue or reduced speed late in matches

Without intervention, these issues can become chronic, limiting performance and enjoyment of the sport.

How Sports Chiropractic Helps Tennis & Pickleball Players

Sports chiropractic is a proactive, performance-focused approach that addresses the root causes of musculoskeletal dysfunction. For racquet athletes, care includes:

• Joint adjustments to restore proper alignment

• Soft tissue therapy to reduce tension and improve circulation

• Dry needling to release overused or tight muscles

• Rehabilitation exercises to strengthen key stabilizers

• Movement and mobility training to prevent reinjury

Chiropractic care not only relieves pain but also enhances swing efficiency, agility, and overall performance on the court.

Three-Phase Approach for Racquet Athletes

Relief Phase: Decreasing Pain and Inflammation

The first priority is reducing discomfort and inflammation so you can return to practice or play.
Treatments include:

• Heat and electrical stimulation (e-stim)

• Spinal traction

• Percussion therapy

• CBD soft tissue therapy

• Chiropractic adjustments

This phase addresses acute soreness, muscle guarding, and joint irritation from repeated strokes.

Recovery Phase: Improving Muscle Tonicity for Long-Term Results

Once pain is reduced, the focus shifts to restoring muscle function and balance.
Treatments include:

• Compression therapy

• Cupping therapy

• Muscle scraping/Graston techniques

• Dry needling

This phase improves circulation, tissue quality, and flexibility, ensuring movements are efficient and pain-free.

Rehabilitation Phase: Strengthening and Stabilizing to Prevent Reinjury

The final phase retrains the body to perform safely under the stresses of racquet sports.
Protocols include:

• Shoulder stabilization and rotator cuff strengthening

• Core and hip stability exercises

• Sport-specific agility drills

• Progressive movement and plyometric exercises

Through rehabilitation, players regain confidence, reduce the risk of future injuries, and enhance their performance.

Why Tennis & Pickleball Players Choose Evolve Chiropractic

At Evolve Chiropractic, we don’t just treat pain — we transform how athletes move and perform. Players experience:

• Reduced pain and increased mobility

• Improved swing mechanics and efficiency

• Faster recovery between sessions and matches

• Enhanced strength, stability, and endurance

• Long-term injury prevention

Dr. Jackson’s approach integrates the Relief, Recovery, and Rehabilitation phases to deliver measurable, lasting transformation. Players are guided step by step from discomfort and limitations to confidence, power, and control on the court.

Testimony: Real Player Transformation

A pickleball player from Wimberley struggled with chronic shoulder and elbow pain that limited her competitive play. After entering the three-phase program at Evolve Chiropractic, she experienced immediate relief, regained shoulder mobility, and developed stronger core and hip stability. Within weeks, she returned to competitive matches pain-free, with improved stroke consistency and reduced fatigue.

This transformation illustrates how chiropractic care goes beyond temporary relief to create lasting performance enhancement.

FAQs About Posture, Pain, and Performance for Racquet Athletes

Can chiropractic prevent tennis or pickleball injuries?

Yes. Chiropractic care improves joint mobility, muscle balance, and movement patterns to reduce the risk of overuse injuries.

How often should racquet athletes get care?

Frequency varies by activity and symptoms. Weekly visits during acute pain, then every 2–4 weeks for maintenance and performance optimization, is a common approach.

Can chiropractic improve my serve or swing?

Yes. By restoring proper thoracic, shoulder, and hip mechanics, chiropractic care enhances rotational power, speed, and accuracy.

Is dry needling safe for tennis players?

Yes. Dry needling releases overused muscles and relieves tension without reducing performance.

How quickly can I expect results?

Many athletes notice immediate relief in mobility and reduced soreness, while full performance benefits develop over weeks with structured care.

Can chiropractic help with chronic elbow pain?

Yes. Adjustments, soft tissue work, and rehab exercises target the underlying causes of tennis elbow or pickleball elbow.

Are older racquet athletes candidates for care?

Absolutely. Care is tailored to age, fitness level, and specific goals.

Should I adjust before or after playing?

Both. Pre-game care optimizes movement and reduces injury risk. Post-game care enhances recovery and reduces soreness.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Racquet sports should feel exhilarating, not painful. With a structured chiropractic program at Evolve Chiropractic, tennis and pickleball players in Dripping Springs, Belterra, Driftwood, and Wimberley can reduce pain, prevent injuries, and elevate performance.

Schedule your appointment today to transform your game and play with confidence.

Written by Dr. Jackson Humphrey, DC, CCSP

Evolve Chiropractic – Dripping Springs, TX