Injuries Don't Care About Your Schedule
You play hard. You train, compete, stay active, and then something gives out. Maybe it's a shoulder that started aching after a few too many pickleball sessions. Maybe it's an Achilles you've been ignoring, or a back that seized up mid-game. And now you're doing the thing most active people do: waiting, hoping it gets better on its own.
It usually doesn't.
The problem with sports injuries isn't just the pain. It's the loss of the routine that keeps you sane, the game you look forward to all week, the activity that makes you feel like yourself. And when you finally go looking for help, you want someone who actually understands how your body moves, not just someone who'll hand you a list of exercises and send you home.
That's where a different kind of chiropractic care comes in.
What Is Sports Chiropractic Care?
Sports chiropractic focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries that affect active people: the joints, muscles, tendons, and soft tissues that take a beating during training and competition. It goes beyond spinal adjustments to include soft tissue work, movement assessment, and rehabilitation strategies designed for how athletes and active patients actually use their bodies.
At Core Chiropractic, sports care also includes StemWave shockwave therapy, a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic waves to accelerate healing in chronic and acute soft tissue injuries like Achilles tendinopathy, rotator cuff issues, and plantar fasciitis.
A Chiropractor Who Trained Like an Athlete
Dr. John Lindstrom, DC isn't just a chiropractor who treats athletes — he was one. A two-time all-state high school basketball selection who went on to play at the collegiate level, Dr. Lindstrom holds a B.S. in Exercise Science from St. Ambrose University before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College. That background shapes everything about how he practices.
What that means for you: he doesn't just adjust and release. He looks at how you move, where things are breaking down, and what's actually causing the problem, then combines manual adjustments, IASTM soft tissue therapy, and rehabilitative exercise into one comprehensive visit. For persistent soft tissue injuries, he's one of the few providers in the Waukee area offering StemWave shockwave therapy.
His approach: identify the root cause, address it directly, and build a rehab plan that gets you back to the activity you love.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Step 1: Assessment
Step 2: Treatment on Day One
Step 3: Rehab and Recovery
Get Back to the Activity You Love
Faster recovery from soft tissue injuries — Hands-on care combined with StemWave therapy addresses both the structural and tissue-level components of common sports injuries, so healing isn't just pain management.
Rehab built around how you actually move — Dr. Lindstrom's exercise science background means your recovery program is grounded in movement mechanics, not generic stretches.
Straightforward care, no pressure — Short visit counts, no high-pressure care plan sales, and clear expectations from day one. Most patients know their plan and feel progress in the first visit.
Chiropractic Care/ Stemwave
At Core Chiropractic, we offer everything from simple, effective chiropractic adjustments to advanced therapies like StemWave, IASTM, and custom rehab exercises. Whether you’re looking for quick relief or long-term performance and recovery, our personalized, results-driven approach is what sets us apart.
Book by Treatment
Dr. John Lindstrom
Book NowFrequently Asked Questions About Sports Chiropractic in Waukee
Dr. Lindstrom treats a wide range of sports and activity-related injuries, including shoulder and rotator cuff issues, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, IT band problems, lower back strain, and general overuse injuries. If you're not sure whether your issue is in scope, call or book a visit, he'll give you a straight answer.
No referral needed. You can book directly, and Dr. Lindstrom will assess and treat on your first visit.
Yes. Core Chiropractic is in-network with BCBS, United, UMR, Aetna, Cigna, Medicare, Iowa Total Care, Molina, Wellpoint, and others. Competitive self-pay rates are available, and HSA/FSA is accepted.
StemWave uses focused acoustic waves to stimulate healing in damaged soft tissue; particularly effective for chronic tendon issues like Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and shoulder injuries that haven't responded to other treatments. Dr. Lindstrom will assess whether it's appropriate during your initial visit.
It depends on your injury and how long it's been present. Most care plans at Core Chiropractic run between 1 and 12 visits, and Dr. Lindstrom gives you a realistic timeline at the start, not a long-term commitment with no end in sight.
Ready to Get Back in the Game?
Dr. Lindstrom treats active patients from across Waukee, West Des Moines, Clive, and Urbandale starting on the first visit.
