From the Treatment Table to the National Championship Podium: How Sports Chiropractic Supports Elite Cycling Performance
By Karson Mui DC, DACBSP®
Sports Chiropractor | Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine | Newton, Massachusetts
When people think about sports chiropractic, they often picture professional athletes. The reality is that the same evidence-based sports medicine used at the highest levels of competition can benefit everyone—from professional cyclists and Olympic hopefuls to weekend warriors, runners, and high school athletes.
At Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine in Newton, Massachusetts, that’s the philosophy we bring to every patient. Whether you’re preparing for a national championship or simply hoping to finish your next 5K without knee pain, the goal is the same: help you move better, recover faster, and perform at your best.
Supporting CCB Women’s Cycling at the 2026 USA Cycling National Championships
During the 2026 USA Cycling National Championships, I had the privilege of traveling with CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group Cycling as both the team’s sports chiropractor and photographer, providing on-site sports medicine coverage throughout championship week.
Working with an elite cycling team is about far more than treating injuries. It means evaluating athletes between races, helping them recover from consecutive days of competition, optimizing movement, and making clinical decisions that allow them to perform at the highest level when every second matters.
By the time Jorja Bond came in for evaluation, she had already assembled an impressive championship résumé. She had captured a second-place finish in the U23 Women’s Individual Time Trial before competing in the demanding U23 Women’s Criterium less than 24 hours earlier.
With one final opportunity to compete for a national title, she presented the day before the U23 Women’s Road Race experiencing significant pain in both knees.
Diagnosing Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
Following a comprehensive sports medicine evaluation, her symptoms were most consistent with an acute presentation of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)—commonly known as runner’s knee. Examination revealed tenderness along the medial aspect of both knees and at the patellar tendon insertion beneath the kneecap, findings commonly seen in athletes after repeated high-load cycling efforts.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is one of the most common overuse injuries affecting cyclists and runners. Rather than focusing solely on the painful area, treatment often requires evaluating the entire kinetic chain—including the hips, pelvis, lumbar spine, muscle balance, and movement mechanics—to identify contributing factors and improve overall function.
Immediate Treatment for Competition
One of the greatest advantages of traveling with a professional cycling team is the ability to evaluate and treat injuries immediately rather than waiting several days for an office appointment.
Jorja’s treatment plan included:
- Graston Technique® soft tissue mobilization
- Myofascial release
- Chiropractic adjustments to improve lower-body mechanics
- Kinesio Tape® application to provide additional support for both knees during competition
The objective wasn’t simply pain relief. It was restoring movement, improving efficiency, and helping her compete as comfortably and confidently as possible during one of the biggest races of the year.
From the Treatment Table to the Podium
The following morning, Jorja delivered one of the most impressive performances of the championship.
Throughout the U23 Women’s Road Race, she rode aggressively at the front of the field, helping to drive the pace and shape the race. Her relentless effort played a key role in setting up teammate Katherine Sarkisov, who bridged what had grown to nearly a three-minute gap before launching her winning move to claim the U23 Women’s National Championship title.
Jorja’s work wasn’t finished.
After spending much of the race setting the tempo and supporting her teammate’s winning attack, she still had enough left for one final effort. In a dramatic sprint to the finish, Jorja surged past her rival in the closing meters to secure second place and another trip to the national championship podium, completing an unforgettable one-two finish for CCB Women’s Cycling.
I’ve never been a competitive cyclist, and before working with CCB Women’s Cycling I don’t think I fully appreciated just how tactical road racing truly is. Watching the race unfold from inside the team was one of the most beautiful displays of teamwork I’ve witnessed in any sport. Every move was intentional. Every attack had been discussed and planned by the directors. Riders willingly sacrificed their own chances of victory to position a teammate for success, trusting that the team’s strategy would deliver the best possible result.
What impressed me just as much was everything that happened behind the scenes. The directors spent countless hours planning race strategy, anticipating different scenarios, and communicating with the riders throughout the event. The prep in making sure every athlete was fueled, hydrated, and recovered between races. The team mechanic worked tirelessly to ensure every bike was performing at 100 percent, meticulously inspecting and tuning each machine so the riders never had to question their equipment. At this level of competition, even the smallest mechanical issue can mean the difference between standing on the podium and watching from the sidelines.
As both the team’s chiropractor and photographer, I had the unique opportunity to experience all of these roles firsthand. I watched athletes move from the treatment table to the start line, documented every attack and decisive moment through my camera, and celebrated alongside the team as months of preparation came together. Seeing an athlete go from treatment the day before to standing on the national championship podium is incredibly rewarding, but seeing an entire organization execute its plan with complete trust in one another was even more inspiring.
That week reminded me that championships are rarely won by a single athlete. They are built by an entire team—athletes, directors, mechanics, medical staff, soigneurs, and countless people working behind the scenes—each contributing their expertise so that, when the moment arrives, the rider has every opportunity to perform at their absolute best.
Bringing Elite Sports Medicine to Newton, MA
Experiences like this reinforce what sports chiropractic is truly about.
It’s not simply treating pain.
It’s evaluating movement, understanding biomechanics, improving function, reducing injury risk, and helping athletes perform at their highest level. Success comes from collaboration between healthcare providers, coaches, mechanics, team directors, strength coaches, and the athletes themselves.
While I have the privilege of working with professional athletes, Olympic medalists, national champions, and elite sports organizations, the same evidence-based approach is available to every patient who visits Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine.
Whether you’re recovering from runner’s knee (PFPS), knee pain, cycling injuries, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain, neck pain, or low back pain, our goal is to help you recover efficiently and return to the activities you love.
Looking for a Sports Chiropractor in Newton, MA?
If you’re searching for an experienced sports chiropractor in Newton, MA, our team is here to help.
Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine proudly serves athletes and active individuals throughout Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Brookline, Watertown, Belmont, Waltham, Natick, and the Greater Boston area. From youth athletes and marathon runners to cyclists, CrossFit athletes, and professional competitors, we provide personalized sports injury treatment, rehabilitation, dry needling, shockwave therapy, chiropractic care, and movement-based rehabilitation designed to keep you performing at your best.
Ready to recover like an elite athlete? Schedule an appointment with Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine and discover how specialized sports medicine care can help you move better, recover faster, and stay active.
