From the Treatment Table to the National Championship Podium
By Karson Mui DC, DACBSP®
Sports Chiropractor | Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine | Newton, Massachusetts
When athletes search for a sports chiropractor in Boston, they are often looking for more than temporary pain relief. They need a provider who understands the physical demands of training, competition, recovery, and returning to sport safely.
At Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine in Newton, Massachusetts, we bring an evidence-informed sports medicine approach to every patient—from professional cyclists and Olympic hopefuls to weekend warriors, runners, and high school athletes. Whether you are preparing for a national championship or simply hoping to complete your next 5K without knee pain, our goal is the same: help you move better, recover efficiently, and perform at your best.
How a Sports Chiropractor in Boston Supports Elite Cyclists
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. Throughout championship week, I provided on-site sports medicine care while documenting the team’s performances from behind the camera.
Working with an elite cycling team involves far more than treating injuries. It means evaluating athletes between races, supporting recovery through consecutive days of competition, addressing movement restrictions, and making appropriate clinical decisions when every second matters.
By the time Jorja Bond came in for an evaluation, she had already assembled an impressive championship résumé. She had captured second place in the U23 Women’s Individual Time Trial before competing in the demanding U23 Women’s Criterium less than 24 hours later.
With one final opportunity to compete for a national title, Jorja presented the day before the U23 Women’s Road Race with significant pain in both knees.
Evaluating Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in Competitive Cyclists
Following a focused sports medicine evaluation, Jorja’s symptoms were most consistent with an acute presentation of patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as runner’s knee. The examination revealed tenderness along the medial aspect of both knees and near the patellar tendon insertion beneath each kneecap.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common overuse conditions affecting runners and cyclists. Symptoms frequently develop when the tissues surrounding the kneecap are exposed to more load than they can adequately tolerate or recover from.
Cyclists may experience patellofemoral pain because of several contributing factors, including:
- Rapid increases in training volume or intensity
- Consecutive days of racing
- Hip or lower-extremity muscle fatigue
- Limited mobility
- Bike-position or equipment-related factors
- Reduced recovery between demanding efforts
- Previous injuries or changes in movement mechanics
Rather than focusing only on the painful area, a sports chiropractic evaluation may include the entire kinetic chain. This means assessing the hips, pelvis, lumbar spine, muscle balance, joint mobility, and lower-extremity mechanics to identify factors that may be contributing to the athlete’s symptoms.
Immediate Sports Chiropractic Treatment During Competition
One of the greatest advantages of traveling with a professional cycling team is the ability to evaluate an athlete immediately instead of waiting several days for an office appointment. When competitors are racing on consecutive days, early assessment can help determine what care may be appropriate and whether the athlete can continue competing safely.
Jorja’s treatment plan included:
- Graston Technique® soft-tissue mobilization
- Myofascial release
- Chiropractic adjustments to address relevant joint restrictions and movement mechanics
- Kinesio Tape® application to provide additional support for both knees during competition
The objective was not simply to reduce pain. Treatment focused on improving mobility, supporting efficient movement, and helping Jorja feel as comfortable and confident as possible heading into one of the biggest races of the year.
Treatment cannot guarantee a specific athletic result, and the athlete’s health and safety must remain the priority. In this case, Jorja responded well to care and was able to compete the following morning.
From the Treatment Table to the National Championship Podium
Jorja delivered one of the most impressive performances of the championship during the U23 Women’s Road Race.
She spent much of the race riding aggressively near the front of the field, helping to drive the pace and shape the competition. Her sustained effort helped create an opportunity for teammate Katherine Sarkisov, who bridged what had grown to nearly a three-minute gap before launching the decisive move that earned her the U23 Women’s National Championship.
Jorja’s work was not finished.
After spending much of the race setting the tempo and supporting her teammate’s winning effort, she still had enough left for one final push. In a dramatic sprint to the finish, Jorja surged past her final competitor in the closing meters to secure second place and another trip to the national championship podium.
The result completed an unforgettable one-two finish for CCB Women’s Cycling.
Road Racing Is the Ultimate Team Sport
I have never been a competitive cyclist. Before working with CCB Women’s Cycling, I do not think I fully appreciated how tactical road racing truly is.
Watching the race unfold from inside the team was one of the most beautiful displays of teamwork I have witnessed in any sport. Every move had a purpose. The directors discussed and planned attacks in advance, while also preparing the riders to respond to changing race conditions.
Athletes willingly sacrificed their own opportunities to help position a teammate for success. That level of commitment requires trust—not only in the team’s strategy, but also in every person responsible for carrying it out.
The directors spent countless hours planning race tactics, anticipating different scenarios, and communicating with the riders throughout the event. Behind the scenes, the support staff worked to ensure each athlete was fueled, hydrated, treated, and given the best possible opportunity to recover between races.
The Team Mechanic’s Essential Role
The team mechanic worked tirelessly to keep every bicycle performing at 100 percent. Each bike required careful inspection, adjustment, and maintenance so the riders could compete without questioning their equipment.
At this level, even a small mechanical issue can be the difference between standing on the podium and watching the decisive move disappear up the road. The mechanic’s attention to detail gave the riders confidence that their equipment would respond when the race was on the line.
This behind-the-scenes work may not always be visible to spectators, but it is essential to high-level cycling performance.
Seeing the Championship Through Two Lenses
Serving as both the team’s chiropractor and photographer gave me a unique opportunity to experience the championship from two perspectives.
I watched athletes move from the treatment table to the start line. Through my camera, I documented attacks, decisive moments, teamwork, exhaustion, and celebration. I then had the privilege of celebrating alongside the team as months of preparation came together on the national championship podium.
Seeing an athlete receive treatment one day and stand on the podium the next is incredibly rewarding. However, witnessing an entire organization execute its plan with complete trust in one another was even more inspiring.
The week reminded me that championships are rarely won by a single athlete. They are built by an entire team—athletes, directors, mechanics, medical professionals, soigneurs, and many others working behind the scenes. Each person contributes specialized knowledge so that when the decisive moment arrives, the rider has every opportunity to perform at their best.
Bringing Elite Sports Chiropractic Care to Greater Boston
Experiences like the USA Cycling National Championships reinforce what sports chiropractic is truly about. It is not simply treating the location of pain. It involves evaluating movement, understanding biomechanics, improving function, managing training demands, and helping athletes return to their activities with confidence.
Success at every level of sport also depends on collaboration. Chiropractors, physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, coaches, strength professionals, mechanics, team directors, and athletes may all play important roles in the recovery and performance process.
While I have the privilege of working with professional athletes, Olympic medalists, national champions, and elite sports organizations, the same individualized approach is available to every patient at Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine.
As a sports chiropractor in Boston’s western suburbs, I work with athletes and active individuals experiencing conditions such as:
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Cycling-related knee pain
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis
- Muscle strains
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Low back pain
- Training-related mobility restrictions
Treatment is tailored to each patient’s condition, goals, training schedule, competition demands, and stage of recovery.
Looking for a Sports Chiropractor in Boston?
If you are looking for an experienced sports chiropractor in Boston, Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine is conveniently located in Newton and serves athletes and active individuals throughout Greater Boston.
Our office works with youth athletes, marathon runners, cyclists, CrossFit athletes, weekend warriors, and professional competitors from Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Brookline, Watertown, Belmont, Waltham, Natick, and surrounding communities.
Depending on the patient’s needs, care may include chiropractic treatment, sports injury rehabilitation, Graston Technique®, myofascial release, dry needling, kinesiology taping, shockwave therapy, and movement-based exercises. Every treatment plan is personalized to help the patient recover efficiently and return to the activities they love.
Ready to recover like an elite athlete? Schedule an appointment with Mui Chiropractic & Sports Medicine and learn how specialized sports injury care can help you move better, recover faster, and remain active.
