At the end of August, Dr. Karson Mui traveled to Philadelphia as a sports chiropractor for cyclists with CCB Women’s Cycling for the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. After a 10-year absence, professional cycling was back on the streets of Philadelphia.
For Dr. Mui, owner of Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine in West Newton, Massachusetts, the weekend combined two of his favorite parts of working in professional sports: sports medicine and photography.
He traveled with CCB as the team’s chiropractor while also working the event as a credentialed photographer.
Because apparently doing just one job at a professional cycling race would have been too easy.
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic Returns After 10 Years
The return of professional cycling to Philadelphia made this year’s race particularly special.
CCB Women’s Cycling arrived in Philadelphia after a busy summer of racing, and Dr. Mui was there to help the athletes prepare for another demanding competition.
Working as a sports chiropractor for cyclists requires understanding the unique physical demands of cycling. Hours in an aggressive riding position combined with repeated high-intensity efforts can place significant stress on the hips, knees, back, neck, shoulders, and surrounding muscles.
Treatment during a race weekend therefore isn’t simply about performing an adjustment.
The goal is to evaluate what an athlete is experiencing and determine what treatment, mobility work, soft-tissue care, or recovery strategies may help them compete safely and effectively.
A Full-Circle Moment for Megan Guarnier
One of the best stories of the weekend belonged to CCB’s Megan Guarnier.
Megan finished 10th overall in Philadelphia.
What made that result particularly special was what happened the last time this race took place.
Ten years ago, Megan Guarnier won it.
A decade later, she returned to Philadelphia for the revival of the race and once again finished inside the Top 10.
It was an incredible full-circle moment and one of the highlights of the weekend for the team.
Sports Chiropractic Care for Competitive Cyclists
Cyclists place enormous repetitive demands on their bodies.
A rider may perform thousands of pedal revolutions during a single training session. Small limitations in mobility, positioning, strength, or biomechanics can therefore become much more noticeable as training volume increases.
Common complaints among cyclists can include:
- Knee pain
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Hip tightness or pain
- Achilles tendon problems
- Muscle strains
- Overuse injuries
- Shoulder and upper-back discomfort
As a sports chiropractor for cyclists, Dr. Mui uses an individualized approach rather than treating every cycling injury the same way.
Depending on the athlete and their condition, care at Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine may include chiropractic manipulation, Graston/IASTM, myofascial treatment, mobility work, rehabilitation exercises, dry needling, kinesiology taping, or other treatment options.
The objective isn’t simply to make something feel better for a few hours.
It’s to identify what may be limiting the athlete and develop a plan that supports recovery and a safe return to training and competition.
From the Treatment Table to the Media Car
Once the athletes were prepared to race, Dr. Mui switched jobs.
Out came the cameras.
As a credentialed photographer at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, Dr. Mui was able to work from a media car and photograph the race from different locations around the course.
The schedule basically became:
Treat athletes → Grab cameras → Jump into the media car → Photograph the race → Get back to the team → Repeat.
Not exactly a relaxing weekend away from the office.
However, combining sports medicine and photography provides a unique perspective.
Working directly with athletes allows Dr. Mui to understand what they experience before competition. Photography then provides an opportunity to document what happens when those athletes actually put that preparation to work.
Sports Medicine Beyond the Chiropractic Office
Dr. Mui’s work with CCB Women’s Cycling extends beyond the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.
Earlier this summer, he traveled with the team to the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships in Charleston, West Virginia. CCB left Nationals with national championships and multiple podium finishes across several events.
These experiences are also valuable when Dr. Mui returns home to Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine.
Working at sporting events provides an opportunity to see injuries and athletic performance in their actual environment — not just inside a treatment room.
You see the athlete before competition.
You see the physical demands of the sport.
You see how fatigue changes movement.
You see injuries when they happen.
And you see what athletes need in order to return to competition safely.
That experience influences how we approach sports injuries back at the clinic.
You Don’t Have to Be a Professional Cyclist
Fortunately, you don’t need to race for CCB to be treated like an athlete.
At Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine in West Newton, MA, Dr. Mui and Dr. Chullainn Kelly work with athletes at every level.
That includes professional and elite athletes, high school and college athletes, runners, cyclists, triathletes, recreational athletes, and weekend warriors.
Dr. Kelly’s combined background as a chiropractor and athletic trainer also provides another sports-focused option for patients dealing with injuries or trying to return to activity.
Whether you’re preparing for a professional cycling race or trying to survive your Saturday morning group ride without your back complaining for the next three days, the principles are similar:
Evaluate the problem. Treat what needs to be treated. Address contributing factors. Build a plan to get back to activity.
Looking for a Sports Chiropractor for Cyclists Near Newton, MA?
If cycling is causing knee pain, back pain, neck pain, hip discomfort, or another musculoskeletal problem, an evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine serves athletes from West Newton, Newton, Wellesley, Needham, Waltham, Watertown, and surrounding Greater Boston communities.
Dr. Mui and Dr. Kelly provide sports-focused chiropractic care with treatment plans tailored to the individual athlete, their injury, and their goals.
And yes, we treat people whose bikes cost more than their cars.
We don’t judge.
Ready to get back on the bike? Book an appointment with Dr. Mui or Dr. Kelly through our Jane online scheduling system.