Functional Rehab — Brooklyn, NY

Sports Injury Treatment
in Brooklyn, NY

For runners, cyclists, pickleball players, CrossFit athletes, and anyone who got hurt doing something they love.

Getting hurt doesn't mean you have to stop moving. At Functional Rehab, I work with active people to figure out what's actually contributing to the problem, address it at the tissue and movement level, and help you get back to the sport or activity that matters to you.

Book an Appointment Call 718-858-4360

Why Sports Injuries Need More Than an Adjustment

Sports injuries are rarely just about the spot that hurts. A runner with Achilles tendinopathy usually has a hip or calf loading issue that's been building for months. A cyclist with knee pain is often dealing with a bike fit problem compounded by hip mobility restrictions. A CrossFit athlete with shoulder pain may have cleared a movement screen a year ago but has since developed asymmetries that weren't there before.

An adjustment can relieve joint stiffness and reduce pain in the short term. But if the movement pattern or tissue problem that caused the injury in the first place isn't identified and addressed, you're likely to end up back in the same place.

That's why my approach combines soft tissue work, movement-based assessment, mobility and strength progressions, and sport-specific planning. The goal isn't just to feel better after a session. The goal is to stay active without the same injury showing back up two months later.

This is a different model than traditional chiropractic care. If you want to understand the full difference, the What We Do Differently page covers it in detail.

ART: The Gold Standard for Soft Tissue Sports Injuries

Active Release Techniques (ART) is a hands-on soft tissue method used by practitioners who work with professional athletes, Olympic teams, and Ironman medical staff worldwide. I use it because it works.

When muscle, tendon, fascia, or nerve tissue gets injured or overloaded, adhesions can develop. These restrict movement, reduce blood flow, and contribute to both pain and performance decline. ART uses a combination of precise tissue contact and active patient movement to break down those restrictions and restore normal tissue function.

ART is particularly effective for:

Hamstring & calf strains

Achilles tendinopathy

IT band syndrome

Rotator cuff & shoulder impingement

Plantar fasciitis

Hip flexor & glute issues

Patellar tendinopathy

Lateral epicondylopathy (elbow)

Forearm & wrist overuse

Treatment is specific to the tissue involved. Two people with "shoulder pain" may receive completely different work based on what's actually restricted. That specificity is the point.

SFMA: Diagnosing Movement, Not Just Pain

Most clinical exams ask: where does it hurt? The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) asks a different question: where is your movement breaking down, and why?

SFMA is a systematic movement-based diagnostic framework used to identify dysfunctional patterns that may be contributing to pain and injury. Instead of starting with the symptom and working backward, SFMA starts with how you move globally and uses that information to identify the specific restrictions or stability deficits feeding the problem.

For an athlete, this matters enormously. Pain in your knee during squatting may have more to do with how your ankle is moving than with anything happening at the knee itself. A shoulder that hurts overhead may be compensating for thoracic spine stiffness. SFMA helps me identify what's actually contributing so the treatment targets the right system.

It also means I can monitor progress in a concrete way. Movement improves before pain always resolves, so SFMA gives us objective feedback across your care plan, not just a weekly check-in on how you feel.

Sports I Treat

I see athletes across a wide range of sports and activity levels, from competitive runners and cyclists to recreational basketball players and CrossFit members who train a few times a week. Here's what tends to go wrong in each, and how I approach it.

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Pickleball

Pickleball injuries tend to cluster at the shoulder (rotator cuff strain, biceps tendon irritation), elbow (lateral epicondylopathy, the "pickleball elbow" that mirrors tennis elbow), and knee (sudden direction changes stress the meniscus and MCL). The sport's explosive lateral movement also puts unusual demands on the Achilles and calf complex. I use ART to address the tissue, SFMA to assess shoulder and hip mechanics, and build a return-to-play plan that accounts for your playing schedule.

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Running

Runners show up with IT band syndrome, patellofemoral pain, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and hip-related issues more often than almost any other group. Most running injuries aren't random. They're load management failures compounded by movement inefficiencies. I look at how you're loading, where you may be compensating, and what needs to change in the tissue and the training plan before the injury becomes chronic.

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CrossFit

CrossFit athletes deal with high-volume loading across complex movement patterns. Shoulder impingement, low back pain from heavy pulling and lifting, knee pain from squatting, and wrist irritation from gymnastics work are common presentations. I understand the programming structure, can work around your training schedule where possible, and won't tell you to just stop lifting.

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Cycling

Most cycling injuries are either overuse or fit-related. Knee pain (often from saddle height or cleat position), low back and hip tightness, IT band issues, and neck or upper trap tension are the most frequent complaints. I address the tissue and mobility side and can discuss fit-contributing factors where relevant. If a full bike fit is indicated, I can point you toward a qualified fitter.

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Tennis

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylopathy) is the most common presentation, but I also see shoulder, hip, and lower leg issues from the rotational demands and court movement the sport requires. ART is highly effective for elbow tendinopathy, and SFMA helps identify any shoulder or thoracic mechanics that may be contributing to both upper and lower body issues.

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Recreational Basketball

Ankle sprains, patellar tendinopathy, hip flexor strains, and low back pain are common in recreational players, particularly in the 30 to 50 age range. Weekend warriors who play hard without structured warm-up or strength work are especially vulnerable. I build return-to-sport progressions that are realistic for someone with a full life outside basketball.

Who This Is For

You don't need to be a competitive athlete to come here. If you're active and you got hurt, this is the right place.

You got injured during sport or training and want to understand why, not just get temporary relief.

You've been managing a nagging injury and want to actually resolve it.

You're in-season and need to keep training while addressing the problem.

You've been told to rest and stretch but haven't seen progress.

You want a provider who understands athletic performance, not just pain management.

You're coming back from a previous injury and want to do it right this time.

What to Expect on the First Visit

Your first appointment is an hour. Here's how it typically goes.

History and intake

We talk through what happened, when, how your training looked leading up to it, what you've already tried, and what your goals are. Context matters more than most people expect.

Movement assessment

I'll use SFMA to assess how you're moving globally. This is where I can often identify contributing factors that aren't showing up on imaging or in a standard orthopedic exam.

Hands-on evaluation and treatment

Based on what I find, I'll do a detailed tissue evaluation and begin active soft tissue work in the same session. You won't leave with just a diagnosis and a handout.

A clear plan

Before you leave, you'll know what I think is contributing to the problem, what we're going to do about it, and roughly how many sessions to expect. No vague timelines, no open-ended treatment.

The Solo Provider Advantage

Consistency matters when you're managing a sports injury, especially in-season.

At Functional Rehab, you see me at every visit. Not a different associate. Not a rotating schedule. I know how your movement looked last session, how your training went this week, and what changed. That continuity allows for faster decision-making and a more adaptive treatment plan.

If you're managing a hamstring strain during marathon training, you need a provider who remembers what your hip loading looked like three sessions ago, not one who's reviewing your chart for the first time before walking in the room.

Serving Active People Across Brooklyn

Gowanus Park Slope Boerum Hill Carroll Gardens Cobble Hill Red Hook Downtown Brooklyn Brooklyn Heights

Functional Rehab is located in Brooklyn, NY, easily accessible from Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, and surrounding neighborhoods. I work with runners from Prospect Park, cyclists navigating the borough's routes, and local athletes from CrossFit boxes and recreational leagues throughout Brooklyn.

If you're dealing with a sports injury and want care that goes deeper than a quick adjustment, I'd like to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about sports injury care at Functional Rehab.

Is this the same as seeing a regular sports medicine doctor?

Sports medicine physicians focus on diagnosis, imaging, and medication management. I focus on the hands-on soft tissue and movement side of the problem. In many cases the two approaches are complementary. If imaging or a specialist referral is warranted, I'll tell you.

Do I need a referral to see you?

No. You can book directly. Most patients come in without a referral.

Can I keep training while I'm being treated?

Often, yes. Depending on the injury and severity, I'll work around your training schedule rather than asking you to stop entirely. Complete rest is rarely the first or only option.

How is ART different from massage?

ART is a specific clinical protocol applied to named anatomical structures. It involves active patient movement while precise tension is applied to the tissue. It's not relaxation-focused. It's designed to restore normal tissue function and reduce adhesions that are limiting movement or contributing to pain.

Do you treat injuries from gym training or just organized sports?

Both. A lot of the people I see are recreational athletes or gym-goers. You don't need to be competing in anything to benefit from this type of care.

How many visits will I need?

It depends on the injury, how long it's been there, and how your tissue responds to treatment. I'll give you a realistic estimate after the first visit. Most acute soft tissue sports injuries show meaningful progress within 4 to 6 sessions.

Do you work with patients who have chronic or recurring injuries?

Yes. Chronic injuries often have a movement or loading component that hasn't been addressed. SFMA is particularly useful for identifying what may be driving a recurring problem.

Ready to Get Back to It?

Book a first appointment at Functional Rehab in Brooklyn. Your first visit is an hour, and you'll leave with a clear picture of what's contributing to the problem and what we're going to do about it.