When Pain Gets in the Way of the Game You Love
Pickleball and golf aren't just hobbies, they're how you stay active, social, and sharp. So when shoulder stiffness cuts your swing short, or knee pain has you second-guessing every lateral step on the court, it affects more than your score.
A lot of active adults try to push through it. Rest for a few days, take some ibuprofen, and hope it settles down. And sometimes it does; until it doesn't. The pain comes back, a little worse each time, and the activities you planned your week around start to feel uncertain.
You shouldn't have to choose between staying active and staying comfortable. The right care doesn't just treat the injury, it finds why it happened and addresses it properly, so you can keep playing for years to come.
Common Pickleball and Golf Injuries We Treat
These sports share more in common than you might think. Both involve repetitive rotational movements, quick lateral changes of direction, and significant load on the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints. The most common injuries we see at OV Spine & Sport include:
- Shoulder pain and rotator cuff strain (pickleball overhead shots, golf backswing)
- Golfer's elbow and tennis elbow (grip and impact stress)
- Hip and knee pain from lateral movement and uneven terrain
- Lower back strain from rotation and follow-through mechanics
These aren't injuries that always require surgery or months of downtime. With the right assessment and treatment, most active adults recover well and get back to playing.
Integrated Sports Medicine Care in Oro Valley
Dr. Nate Kinnison holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Master of Science in Sports Medicine; a combination that lets him assess your injury the way a sports medicine clinician would, and treat it the way a chiropractor can.
At OV Spine & Sport, treatment is built around your full movement system, not just the spot that hurts. Depending on your injury, care may include spinal and joint adjustments, dry needling to address muscle tension and trigger points, myofascial cupping, and functional rehabilitation to restore the movement patterns behind the problem.
Dr. Nate's approach is direct and practical: the goal is to get you back to pickleball or golf with fewer restrictions, not to keep you coming back indefinitely.
Learn more about Dr. Nate and his sports medicine background.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Step 1: Assessment
Step 2: Treatment
Step 3: A Plan to Stay Playing
What Recovery Looks Like
Most patients who come in for pickleball and golf injuries leave with:
- Less pain and better range of motion within the first few visits
- A clearer understanding of what caused the injury and how to prevent it
- The confidence to get back on the court or the course — and stay there
The goal isn't just to feel better. It's to move better, play longer, and enjoy the active lifestyle you've built in Oro Valley.
Chiropractic
Our integrated approach combines Neuro care for your brain, muscular care for your Muscles, and chiropractic care for your Joints. Combining these helps improve the Brain’s pain pathways, Muscle tension, and Joint tension. We are happy to introduce you to this progressive treatment to sustain healing and maintain well-being.
Book by Treatment
Dr. Nate Kinnison
Book NowFrequently Asked Questions
No referral is needed. You can book directly online through the OV Spine & Sport booking page. New patient visits are 60 minutes and include a full assessment and same-visit treatment.
It depends on the injury. Many patients see meaningful improvement within 3 to 6 visits. Dr. Nate will give you a realistic timeline after your first assessment; no open-ended treatment plans.
OV Spine & Sport is a self-pay practice. The first visit is $250. Superbills are provided for patients who wish to submit to their insurance for potential reimbursement.
Yes. Many patients come in after trying rest, physical therapy, or other treatments without lasting results. Dr. Nate's integrated approach addresses the joint, muscle, and movement pattern together, which often gets to the root of issues that other approaches miss.
Both. Dr. Nate holds an M.S. in Sports Medicine in addition to his chiropractic degree, which means he's trained to evaluate and manage sports injuries beyond spinal adjustments. He uses dry needling, manual therapy, and functional rehab as part of a comprehensive approach.
Ready to Get Back on the Court or Course?
Dr. Nate Kinnison brings sports medicine expertise to Oro Valley's pickleball and golf community, and he's ready to help you move and play the way you want to.
