Sports Injury Treatment in West Des Moines, IA
Content Reviewed by: Dr. Josiah Fitzsimmons, DC, BCN on November 10, 2026
Iowa Chiropractic License #085940 (NPI: 1568993574)
Sports Injury Treatment At A Glance
Sports injuries can affect the spine, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves through the acute trauma of impact, collision, and sudden movement, as well as through the cumulative effects of training load and repetitive motion patterns. Chiropractic care at Vero Health Center addresses both categories by identifying the specific structural, mechanical, and movement-related dysfunction the injury has produced and building a recovery plan around it.
Many athletes come to us after being told to rest and ice, only to find that their symptoms return when they go back to training. Rest may help calm symptoms, but it does not always address underlying joint dysfunction, compensatory movement patterns, muscle guarding, weakness, or instability that can leave athletes vulnerable to recurring injury. Our approach focuses on improving spinal and joint function while supporting muscle rehab through home exercise guidance when appropriate, so return to sport is built on a stronger foundation.
What Are Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries are musculoskeletal injuries that occur in the context of athletic activity. They fall into two primary categories: acute injuries that result from a single traumatic event such as a collision, fall, or sudden movement, and overuse injuries that develop gradually from repetitive loading patterns that exceed the tissue’s capacity to recover.
Acute sports injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, disc injuries, and contusions. Overuse injuries include tendinopathy, stress reactions, iliotibial band syndrome, and repetitive strain conditions of the shoulder, elbow, and lower extremity. Both types are appropriate for chiropractic evaluation and, depending on the specific diagnosis, for chiropractic care as part of the recovery plan.
Common Symptoms Of Sports Injuries
Sports injury symptoms vary widely depending on the tissue injured, the mechanism of injury, and whether the injury is acute or overuse in nature.
Acute injury symptoms typically include localized pain at the site of injury, swelling and bruising, joint instability, and significant limitation in the ability to move or load the injured area. Overuse injury symptoms are often more insidious in onset, beginning as mild discomfort during or after activity that gradually worsens until it limits performance or begins to occur at rest.
Many athletes manage around early overuse symptoms by modifying their training, which can mask the developing injury until it becomes more serious. Patients often report that they knew something was not quite right for weeks or months before the pain became significant enough to seek care. Earlier evaluation typically leads to faster and more complete resolution.
What Causes Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries have mechanical causes related to the specific demands of the sport and the athlete’s movement patterns, training load, recovery capacity, and any pre-existing dysfunction.
Acute injuries most commonly result from contact, falls, sudden deceleration, or movement beyond the normal range of a joint. The cervical spine, shoulder, knee, and ankle are the joints most frequently involved in acute sports trauma.
Overuse injuries develop when training load exceeds the tissue’s capacity to adapt and recover. This can happen when training volume or intensity increases too rapidly, when an athlete returns to training before a prior injury has fully healed, or when movement pattern dysfunction places abnormal stress on specific structures over time. Addressing movement mechanics as part of recovery reduces the risk of the same pattern producing a recurrence.
Conditions That Can Mimic Sports Injuries
Several conditions produce symptoms that resemble typical sports injuries and must be considered during evaluation. Stress fractures in bone can mimic overuse injuries involving muscles, tendons, or joints and may require imaging when clinical suspicion is present. Referred pain from spinal disc or joint dysfunction can present as hip, knee, or shoulder pain in athletes who do not report spinal symptoms. Inflammatory arthritis conditions can occasionally first appear in active individuals as what seems like a joint, tendon, or training-related injury.
When To Seek Urgent Care For Sports Injuries
Seek emergency medical care for sports injuries involving suspected fracture, joint dislocation, loss of consciousness, significant head impact with neurological symptoms, severe swelling that develops rapidly after knee or other joint injury, or sudden severe pain that prevents weight bearing on a lower extremity. These presentations require evaluation before chiropractic care is initiated.
What Our Patients Are Saying
How We Diagnose Sports Injuries At Vero Health Center
Sports injury diagnosis at Vero Health Center begins with a sport-specific history and a thorough clinical examination of the injured area and the structures that contribute to it.
We ask about the sport, training history, mechanism of injury, symptom pattern, and prior injuries to the same area. The examination assesses joint range of motion, stability testing, muscle strength, neurological function, and any movement pattern findings relevant to the sport. Orthopedic tests are selected based on the presentation and the structures suspected to be involved. For athletes with prior imaging, we review those findings as part of the evaluation.
How Vero Health Center Treats Sports Injuries
Sports injury treatment at Vero Health Center is structured around returning the athlete to full function, not only to pain-free rest. The care plan addresses the specific injury and any underlying mechanical factors that contributed to it.
Chiropractic Care For Joint And Spinal Dysfunction
Chiropractic adjustments restore normal joint motion in the spine and extremities. This directly addresses the mechanical dysfunction that sports injuries produce and supports faster, more complete recovery by restoring proper movement mechanics.
Shockwave Therapy For Tendon And Muscle Overuse Injuries
For tendon overuse conditions and chronic sports injuries involving muscles, tendons, or ligaments, shockwave therapy may help support the body’s natural repair process at the tissue level. This can be particularly valuable for athletes with chronic tendinopathy or lingering overuse symptoms that have not responded fully to rest and conventional care.
Rehabilitation And Return-To-Sport Planning
Recovery from a sports injury is not complete until the athlete can perform sport-specific movements without compensation or restriction. We incorporate rehabilitation and movement assessment into the care plan to support a return to full sport, not just a return to daily function.
Why Early Sports Injury Treatment Matters
Early treatment of sports injuries reduces total recovery time and reduces the risk of compensatory movement patterns becoming established. When athletes train around an injury without addressing its structural cause, they frequently develop secondary problems in adjacent areas that carry additional load as a result of compensation.
Early evaluation also identifies athletes who may have underlying movement pattern dysfunction that has been present before the injury and contributed to it. Addressing those patterns as part of recovery significantly reduces the risk of recurrence when training resumes.
Meet The Experts Behind Your Care
Dr. Josiah Fitzsimmons, D.C.
Dr. Josiah Fitzsimmons is originally from Ames, IA. He played college football at South Dakota State and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a master’s degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Food Sciences in a five-year span. He then attended the fountainhead, Palmer College of Chiropractic.
Dr. Logan Dabney, D.C.
Dr. Logan Dabney is originally from Centerville, IA. He attended Centerville High School, where he discovered his passion for health and science as a frequent visitor to his hometown chiropractor. He then attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he majored in Pre-Med/Chiropractic Biology, before completing his graduate studies at Palmer College of Chiropractic. During his time at Palmer, Dr. Logan was heavily involved in Torque Release Technique and earned Advanced Proficiency Certification in it.
Dr. Scott Coyle, D.C.
Dr. E. Scott Coyle is originally from Waterloo, IA. He graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine and then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic-West. After practicing in California for several years, he returned to Knoxville, IA, in 1997, where he practiced until 2016. Dr. Coyle then worked in robotic spine and brain surgery for two years with Mazor Robotics, and practiced in Lawrence, KS, for two years before returning home to join the Vero Health Center team. He works with patients dealing with chronic neck, mid-back, and low-back pain, headaches, and arthritis-related discomfort.
Dr. Austin Seitsinger, D.C.
Dr. Austin Seitsinger is originally from Sumner, Iowa. He studied Biology at the University of Northern Iowa, and then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. He chose to pursue chiropractic at a young age as he has always had a passion for helping others.
Dr. Nate Halverson, D.C.
Dr. Nate Halverson is originally from Fort Dodge, IA, where he was a multi-sport athlete at Fort Dodge Senior High and placed 5th at the Iowa High School wrestling tournament. He found his passion for holistic health care through his background in athletics. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Northern Iowa, he graduated with honors from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, in 2015. He then worked as the lead chiropractor for a chiropractic and sports injury practice in Chicago before moving back to the Des Moines area with his wife, Leah, to be closer to family. They welcomed their daughter, Hayes, in April 2022 and their son, Steele, in June 2024.
Dr. Colby Nelson, D.C.
Dr. Colby Nelson is originally from Audubon, Iowa. He attended Iowa State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, where he received his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. During his time at Palmer, he was a leader of the Sports Injury Club and participated in a clinic abroad program in Brazil. Before joining the team at Vero, Dr. Colby operated his own chiropractic clinic for 12 years.
Dr. Taylor Vanden Wynboom, D.C.
Dr. Taylor Vanden Wynboom is originally from Britt, IA. He received his BS degree from Central College and his Doctorate degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic. Before joining the team at Vero Health Center, he owned his own practice in both Ames and Ankeny. In his free time, he enjoys coaching football, exercising, and spending time with his wife Amanda and their four kids, Tate, Harper, Holland, and Harlow.
Dr. Darrius Poe, D.C.
Dr. Darrius Poe is originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa. He attended the University of Northern Iowa where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. While in undergrad, he discovered his passion for chiropractic after being treated for a sports injury in a chiropractic clinic. Not only did the chiropractic treatments help with his shoulder injury, he was also educated on the intricacies of the central nervous system and how chiropractic care can help the body heal and function better as a whole. Dr. Darrius’ experience as a chiropractic patient motivated him to pursue a career in chiropractic. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, where he received his doctorate in 2018. Prior to joining the Vero team, Dr. Darrius served as an associate and clinic director for six years in the Des Moines metro area.
Dr. Toby Thepsoumphone, D.C.
Dr. Toby Thepsoumphone is originally from Smyrna, Delaware. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology. He then pursued a doctorate degree in chiropractic and graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport. Dr. Toby also attended Harris School of Business in Dover, Delaware, where he earned a degree in Massage Therapy. He has worked as a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2016. He specializes in sports massage, deep tissue, and gua sha. His passion is to help others to achieve optimal health and wellness. He has certifications in the Webster’s Technique and acupuncture.
Dr. Scott Jacobson, D.C.
Dr. Scott Jacobson grew up in Cherokee, Iowa, and has spent more than 17 years in practice across Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, California, and South America. While living in South America, he helped grow a clinic into one of the largest on the continent and became bilingual in Spanish along the way. He is Board Certified in Neuropathy (BCN) through the American College of Physical Medicine (ACoPM) and previously served in the United States Air Force and worked with the Department of Defense. Dr. Scott Jacobson has also been a black belt in Taekwondo for 40 years. He and his wife have two sons—so apparently he enjoys a challenge both professionally and at home.
Serving West Des Moines And Nearby Iowa Communities
Vero Health Center is located at 630 S 50th St in West Des Moines, Iowa, and serves patients from West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, Urbandale, Des Moines, Johnston, Norwalk, Waukee, Grimes, Saylorville, Van Meter, Pleasant Hill, Ankeny, Dallas Center, Granger, Polk City, De Soto, Carlisle, Adel, Altoona, Bondurant, Indianola, Cumming, and the surrounding area.
Sources And Clinical References
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to stop all athletic activity while being treated?
Not necessarily. Rest requirements depend on the specific injury and its severity. Many sports injury care plans allow modified activity or cross-training while the injury heals. We will be specific with you about what is and is not appropriate for your injury during each phase of recovery.
How long will sports injury recovery take?
Recovery time depends on the type of injury, its severity, how long it has been present, and how consistently you engage with the care plan. We will give you a realistic timeline after your evaluation so you can plan your return to training accordingly.
Can chiropractic care help prevent future sports injuries?
Identifying and addressing mechanical dysfunction and movement pattern issues as part of recovery can reduce the risk of recurrence. Many athletes who go through a full recovery plan with us return to sport with better mechanics than they had before the injury, which supports lower injury risk going forward.
I have had this injury before and it always comes back. What is different about your approach?
Recurring sports injuries often indicate that the underlying mechanical cause has never been fully addressed. Our evaluation looks not only at the injury site but at the movement patterns and spinal mechanics that may be placing abnormal stress on the area. Addressing those root causes rather than managing symptoms is what makes recurrence less likely.
Can you work alongside my coach, trainer, or physical therapist?
Yes. We are comfortable collaborating with other members of an athlete’s support team when the patient wants coordinated care. Contact us to discuss how to structure that communication for your situation.
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Read This ArticleBook Sports Injury Treatment in West Des Moines
A well-treated sports injury can return you to full performance and leave your movement mechanics in better shape than before. Vero Health Center evaluates and treats sports injuries with a focus on structural cause, full recovery, and reduced risk of recurrence. Contact us to schedule your sports injury evaluation.