Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery in denver

Focused Care for Acute and Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Injury, Mobility, and Recovery

Whether you are a competitive athlete, recreational athlete, active adult, or recovering from orthopedic surgery, musculoskeletal pain, nerve-related pain, and injury can limit training, work, mobility, and daily life.

At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, Dr. Martina Sturm provides integrative sports medicine and injury recovery care using orthopedic acupuncture, functional movement assessment, manual therapy, corrective exercise strategies, and selected adjunctive therapies when clinically appropriate.

Care is individualized for acute injuries, chronic musculoskeletal pain, overuse injuries, mobility limitations, post-surgical recovery, and sports-performance goals.

Sports Medicine Treatment for Pain, Injuries & Mobility in Denver

Sports medicine and injury recovery care may be appropriate for acute or chronic musculoskeletal and nerve-related concerns affecting movement, function, training, recovery, or daily activity.

Acute & Chronic InjuriesSprains, strains, and muscle tears

• Tendonitis and tendinopathy

• Ligament injuries and joint instability

• Rotator cuff injuries

• IT band syndrome

• Overuse and repetitive strain injuries

Joint Pain and Mobility Limitations

• Knee pain

• Hip impingement and hip pain

• Shoulder dysfunction

• Elbow and wrist pain

• Arthritis and degenerative joint changes

• Reduced range of motion and movement restrictions

Back, Neck and Nerve-Related Pain

• Low back strain

• Sciatica and piriformis-related pain

• Disc-related pain patterns

• Cervical stiffness and neck pain

• Postural dysfunction

• Muscle tension and movement-related nerve irritation

Sports-Specific and Performance-Related Injuries

• Running injuries

• Cycling-related pain

• Weightlifting injuries

• Training-load and recovery concerns

• Movement dysfunction affecting performance

Post-Surgical Recovery

• Joint replacement recovery

• ACL, meniscus, tendon, or ligament repair

• Rotator cuff surgery

• Fracture rehabilitation

• Recovery following orthopedic procedures

Patients with complex systemic symptoms, chronic fatigue, hormone concerns, environmental illness, or multisystem health issues may be better served through
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care.

Orthopedic Acupuncture, Manual Therapy & Movement Support for Injury Recovery

Sports medicine and injury recovery care is individualized based on the injury involved, current symptoms, healing stage, movement patterns, activity demands, and recovery goals.

Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture

Orthopedic acupuncture may be used to support pain reduction, muscle relaxation, circulation, mobility, reduced inflammation, and recovery from acute or chronic musculoskeletal injuries.

Treatment may be appropriate for muscle tension, trigger points, tendon irritation, joint pain, nerve-related pain, and movement-related dysfunction.

→ Acupuncture & Nervous System Regulation

Electro-Acupuncture for Tissue Repair

Electro-acupuncture may be incorporated when clinically appropriate to support muscle activation, circulation, pain modulation, tendon or ligament recovery, and neuromuscular function.

Myofascial Release & Manual Therapy

Hands-on treatment may be used to address soft-tissue restriction, trigger points, scar tissue, restricted movement patterns, and compensatory tension.

Depending on the clinical presentation, care may include Tui Na, gua sha, cupping, cross-friction techniques, or other manual approaches.

Functional Movement Assessment & Corrective Exercise

Functional movement assessment helps identify mobility limitations, stability deficits, postural patterns, and movement strategies that may contribute to pain, injury recurrence, or reduced performance.

Corrective exercise strategies may include mobility work, stability training, core integration, postural retraining, eccentric strengthening, and return-to-activity guidance.

Adjunctive Therapies for Sports Injury Recovery & Pain Relief

Selected therapies may be incorporated into sports medicine and injury recovery care based on the injury involved, symptom pattern, healing stage, tissue involvement, and treatment goals.

Cupping Therapy for Muscle Recovery & Circulation

Cupping may be used to support circulation, muscle relaxation, soft-tissue mobility, and recovery following training, overuse, or musculoskeletal injury.

It may be appropriate for muscular tension, restricted tissue mobility, soreness, and movement-related discomfort.

Gua Sha for Myofascial Release & Tissue Repair

Gua sha may be used to address soft-tissue tension, restricted fascial movement, scar tissue, and localized muscular or connective-tissue restriction.

It may be combined with acupuncture or other manual approaches based on the clinical presentation.

Moxibustion for Pain, Scar Tissue & Mobility Support

Moxibustion uses therapeutic heat from Artemisia, commonly called mugwort, and may be incorporated to support circulation, comfort, mobility, and recovery in chronic, stiff, or slow-to-resolve musculoskeletal conditions.

It may also be used to support scar tissue and soft-tissue restriction when scarring contributes to pulling, tightness, pain, reduced range of motion, or impaired function.

Trigger Point Injections for Muscle Tension, Pain & Restricted Motion

Trigger point injections may be considered for persistent muscle tension, trigger points, localized pain, nerve-related irritation, or restricted range of motion when clinically appropriate.

They may be combined with acupuncture, manual therapy, and movement-based treatment strategies.

Prolotherapy & Regenerative Injections for Chronic Pain, Tendon & Ligament Support

Prolotherapy and other regenerative injection approaches may be considered for certain chronic pain patterns, tendon or ligament concerns, recurrent strain, or joint-stability issues when clinically appropriate.

Treatment recommendations are based on injury history, examination findings, tissue involvement, and recovery goals.

→ Regenerative Injection Therapy

Red Light Therapy for Tissue Recovery & Pain Support

Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, may be incorporated to support tissue recovery, circulation, comfort, and cellular energy production.

→ Red Light & Photobiomodulation

PEMF, Ozone & Bioenergetic Recovery Support

PEMF, ozone, and selected bioenergetic therapies may be incorporated as adjunctive options to support circulation, recovery, tissue oxygenation, and overall treatment tolerance when clinically appropriate.

→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies

Herbal, Nutraceutical & Peptide Support for Recovery

When clinically appropriate, targeted herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, and peptide support may be considered to support inflammation reduction, connective-tissue health, recovery capacity, and broader metabolic needs during rehabilitation.

A Comprehensive Approach to Sports Injury Recovery & Performance

Different injuries may involve overlapping factors such as pain, tissue restriction, muscle tension, impaired movement patterns, reduced stability, training load, and recovery demands.

Combining orthopedic acupuncture, manual therapy, movement assessment, corrective exercise strategies, and selected adjunctive therapies allows care to be tailored to the specific needs of the injury and the individual.

Sports Performance, Injury Recovery & Athletic Support in Denver

Dr. Sturm’s background as a professional cyclist informs an understanding of the physical demands of endurance training, strength training, recovery, injury patterns, and training-load management.

Denver athletes and active adults may seek care for sports injuries, pain, mobility limitations, recurring overuse patterns, recovery concerns, training consistency, and performance support.

Sports Performance & Recovery Considerations

• Endurance training and aerobic capacity

• Power production, strength, and force output

• Training-load management and overuse patterns

• Recovery between training sessions and competitions

• Movement mechanics and sport-specific injury risk

• Nervous system regulation, sleep, and recovery capacity

Integrative Sports Medicine Support for Athletes

Sports medicine care may combine orthopedic acupuncture, manual therapy, functional movement assessment, corrective exercise strategies, and selected recovery-support therapies based on the athlete’s injury history, sport, training demands, and goals.

This approach may support musculoskeletal injury recovery, mobility, movement quality, reduced muscle tension, recovery capacity, and more sustainable training over time.

Post-Surgical Orthopedic Recovery in Denver

Post-surgical recovery care may be appropriate for patients rebuilding mobility, strength, movement confidence, and function after an orthopedic procedure.

Care may support recovery following:

• ACL or meniscus repair

• Rotator cuff surgery

• Tendon or ligament reconstruction

• Joint replacement surgery

• Orthopedic fracture repair

• Selected spinal procedures

Treatment is individualized according to your surgeon’s recommendations, procedure type, tissue-healing timeline, current symptoms, mobility limitations, and stage of rehabilitation. Orthopedic acupuncture, manual therapy, movement assessment, and corrective exercise strategies may be incorporated when clinically appropriate.

A Comprehensive Approach to Sports Injury Recovery & Performance

Sports injuries and chronic pain can involve more than the injured area alone. Muscle tension, restricted tissue mobility, altered movement patterns, training load, sleep, stress, recovery capacity, and post-surgical changes may all influence symptoms and return to activity.

Care is individualized to address the factors most relevant to the injury and the patient’s functional goals, which may include:

• Pain and inflammation

• Muscle tension and trigger points

• Soft-tissue restriction and scar tissue

• Mobility, stability, and movement patterns

• Strength, neuromuscular activation, and return-to-activity needs

• Training load, recovery demands, and performance goals

Orthopedic acupuncture, manual therapy, functional movement assessment, corrective exercise strategies, and selected adjunctive therapies may be combined when clinically appropriate to support recovery, mobility, and more sustainable movement over time.

Who Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery Care Is For

• Sports medicine and injury recovery care may be appropriate for:

• Competitive and recreational athletes

• Active adults seeking support for pain, mobility, injury recovery, or performance goals

• Individuals with chronic, recurring, or overuse-related injuries

• Patients recovering from orthopedic surgery or musculoskeletal procedures

• People whose pain, injury, or movement limitations have not fully improved with prior treatment

• Anyone seeking a more individualized approach to movement, recovery, and return to activity

  
  
  

Return to Movement, Training & Daily Activity

Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery in Denver

What is integrative sports medicine?

Integrative sports medicine combines orthopedic acupuncture, functional movement assessment, manual therapy, corrective exercise strategies, and selected adjunctive therapies to support pain reduction, mobility, injury recovery, and return to activity.

Care is individualized according to the injury, tissue involved, movement patterns, training demands, health history, and recovery goals.

Can acupuncture help with sports injuries and musculoskeletal pain?

Orthopedic acupuncture may be used to support pain reduction, muscle relaxation, circulation, mobility, and recovery from acute or chronic musculoskeletal injuries.

It may be appropriate for strains, tendon irritation, joint pain, nerve-related pain, muscle tension, trigger points, and movement-related dysfunction.

What injuries and pain conditions do you treat?

Sports medicine and injury recovery care may be appropriate for:

• Muscle strains and sprains

• Tendonitis and tendinopathy

• Rotator cuff injuries

• Knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow, and wrist pain

• Low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and nerve-related pain

• Running, cycling, lifting, skiing, and overuse injuries

• Mobility limitations and recurring movement-related pain

• Post-surgical orthopedic recovery

Do you work with athletes and non-athletes?

Yes. Care is available for competitive athletes, recreational athletes, active adults, and non-athletes seeking support for pain, injury recovery, mobility limitations, orthopedic surgery recovery, or recurring musculoskeletal concerns.

What is the difference between sports medicine acupuncture and physical therapy or chiropractic care?

Sports medicine acupuncture may complement physical therapy, chiropractic care, orthopedic care, or athletic training.

The focus at Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine is on orthopedic acupuncture, manual therapy, movement assessment, corrective exercise strategies, and selected adjunctive therapies that may support pain reduction, mobility, tissue recovery, and return to activity.

Do I need imaging before beginning treatment?

Not always. Many musculoskeletal conditions can be evaluated through history, physical examination, functional movement assessment, and orthopedic testing.

Imaging may be appropriate when there is concern for significant structural injury, fracture, severe trauma, progressive neurological symptoms, or when additional diagnostic clarification is needed. Referrals can be coordinated when appropriate.

Can you help after orthopedic surgery?

Post-surgical recovery care may be appropriate following ACL or meniscus repair, rotator cuff surgery, tendon or ligament reconstruction, joint replacement, fracture repair, and selected spinal procedures.

Treatment is individualized according to your surgeon’s recommendations, procedure type, tissue-healing timeline, symptoms, mobility limitations, and rehabilitation stage.

How many sports medicine treatments will I need?

Treatment frequency depends on the injury type, severity, duration, tissue involved, activity demands, prior treatment, and response to care.

Acute injuries may require a focused series of visits, while chronic pain, recurring injuries, tendon concerns, and post-surgical recovery may benefit from a longer treatment plan. Recommendations are made after evaluation.

Can sports medicine care be combined with physical therapy, chiropractic care, or training?

Yes. Care may be coordinated with physical therapists, chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, coaches, and other members of your care team when appropriate.

This can help align treatment with rehabilitation plans, training demands, surgical protocols, and return-to-activity goals.

What therapies may be included in a sports medicine treatment plan?

Depending on the injury and clinical findings, care may include orthopedic acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, manual therapy, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, functional movement assessment, corrective exercise strategies, red light therapy, trigger point injections, regenerative injection approaches, or other adjunctive therapies.

Not every therapy is appropriate for every condition. Recommendations are based on your presentation and treatment goals.

Can sports medicine care help with recurring injuries or chronic pain?

Recurring injuries and chronic pain may involve muscle tension, restricted tissue mobility, scar tissue, reduced stability, altered movement patterns, training load, prior injury, and incomplete rehabilitation.

Care may address the factors most relevant to the individual to support mobility, comfort, movement quality, recovery, and return to activity.

Do you offer telemedicine for injury recovery?

Some elements of injury recovery care, including exercise guidance, movement review, training modifications, nutrition support, and return-to-activity planning, may be appropriate for telemedicine.

Hands-on therapies, acupuncture, injections, and in-office recovery modalities require in-person care in Denver.