Chiropractic Care for Weekend Warrior Injuries in Milwaukee

Sore after yard work, shoveling, or a pickup game? Let’s look for what’s behind it.

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Common problems for weekend warriors

If Monday morning hurts more than Friday did, your weekend may be part of the story.

Back

Lower back pain

A sore, stiff back after mulching, digging, hauling, or shoveling.

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Shoulder

Shoulder pain

An achy shoulder after painting a ceiling, pruning, or throwing a ball.

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Knee

Knee pain

Sore knees after kneeling in the garden or a weekend game of basketball.

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Neck

Neck pain

A stiff neck from looking up at a project or down at the garden bed.

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Nerves

Sciatica

Pain that shoots down one leg after a day of lifting and bending.

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Hip

Hip pain

Tight or achy hips after a long day on your feet or a pickup game.

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Why weekends hurt

Why weekend projects wear on your body

Many of us sit most of the week, then lift, dig, and haul for hours on Saturday. That jump is hard on your back and joints.

Snow shoveling is a Wisconsin example. From 1990 to 2006, it sent an average of 11,500 people a year to U.S. emergency rooms.1

Most of those injuries came from strain, not falls. About 54% were from overexertion, and about 1 in 3 involved the lower back.1

Pickup games add up too. From 2011 to 2014, Americans reported about 8.6 million sports and recreation injuries each year.3

11,500

snow shoveling injuries and emergencies treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year, on average, 1990–20061

Going from zero to all day

Activity is easier on your body when it’s spread across the week in smaller chunks.5

Bending and twisting

Lifting with a bent back, or twisting while you carry, strains your lower back.4

Skipping the warm-up

Not warming up or stretching enough can lead to injuries.6

How we help

How chiropractic care helps weekend warriors

Your doctor listens, checks how your back and joints move, and talks through care that fits your weekends.

Good to know

If you don’t want an adjustment

Say so, and your doctor won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.

Hands-on

Spinal adjustments

Targeted adjustments help stiff joints in your back and neck move more freely.

Gentle option

Gentle joint and muscle work

Slow movements and pressure ease muscles that tightened up after a long project.

Every day

A look at how you work

Your doctor asks how you lift, kneel, reach, and shovel, then suggests easier ways.

Rehab

Stretches and strength

Simple exercises that prepare your body for the next project or game.

Your plan

Care that fits your season

A plan built around your goals, whether that’s spring planting or a winter league.

All clinics

Custom orthotics

Foot Levelers orthotics for long days on your feet. Start with a free foot scan.

Select clinics

Physical therapy and massage

Physical therapy at Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North. Massage at Hales Corners and Oconomowoc.

Seasonal tips for Wisconsin

Seasonal tips for Wisconsin weekends

Each Wisconsin season brings its own chores. A few habits can ease the strain on your back, shoulders, and knees.

Spring and summer yard work

  • Warm up with a short walk and a few stretches first.6
  • Bend at your knees, not your waist, when you lift bags of mulch or soil.4
  • Hold heavy loads close to your body.4
  • Turn with your feet instead of twisting your back.4
  • Switch tasks and sides every so often, and take breaks.
  • Kneel on a pad for weeding instead of bending over for hours.

Winter snow shoveling

  • Push snow instead of lifting it when you can.2
  • Warm up with light exercise before you start.2
  • Pace yourself and take frequent breaks.2
  • Clear snow a few times during a storm instead of all at once.2
  • Wear slip-resistant, high-traction boots.2
  • Consider a snow blower or help for big jobs.2

More on snow shoveling and back pain.

Shoveling and your heart

Shoveling is hard on the heart, too. Heart problems made up about 7% of the emergency visits in the shoveling study.1 If you feel chest pain or pressure, stop and call 911.

Pickup games

Spread your activity across the week, so game day isn’t your only workout.5 If you get hurt, stop playing.6

DIY projects

Use a ladder to bring overhead work closer, instead of craning your neck. Rest your arms often when you paint or drill above your head.

Your first visit

What to expect at your first visit

  1. Share your story

    Your doctor asks what brings you in, when it started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.

  2. Get a thorough exam

    Your doctor checks how your spine and joints move, where it’s tender, and your strength, reflexes, and sensation. X-rays are taken if needed.

  3. Talk through your options

    Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.

  4. Begin care at your next visit

    Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.

Insurance and your first visit

Care that fits your coverage

We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.

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  • Most commercial plans
  • Medicare
  • Auto accident claims
  • Workers’ compensation
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Why Milwaukee trusts us

Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982

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Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources

Common questions

Questions from weekend warriors

Yard work packs lots of bending, lifting, and twisting into a few hours. If you sit most of the week, that sudden load can strain the muscles and joints in your lower back. Warming up, lifting with your legs, and taking breaks can help.

Yes. Snow shoveling is a common cause of winter back injuries, and about 1 in 3 shoveling injuries involve the lower back. Push snow instead of lifting it, take small loads, and take breaks. Learn more on our lower back pain page.

Often, yes, for sprains, strains, and sore joints. Your doctor checks how the area moves and talks through hands-on care and exercises. Get emergency care first for a possible broken bone, a dislocated joint, or a head injury.

Get checked if pain lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or wakes you at night. Numbness or tingling is also worth a visit. Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin, needs emergency care right away.

Stay active during the week, so the weekend isn’t a shock to your body. Warm up first, lift with your legs, and break big jobs into smaller chunks.

Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.

Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.

Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.

Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, so there’s likely one close to home. Find a location near you.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you

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Weekend aches shouldn’t keep you from doing what you love.

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Sources

  1. Watson DS, Shields BJ, Smith GA. Snow shovel-related injuries and medical emergencies treated in US EDs, 1990 to 2006. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2011;29(1):11–17.
  2. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. New national study finds 11,500 emergency department visits, nearly 100 deaths related to snow shoveling each year. 2011.
  3. Sheu Y, Chen LH, Hedegaard H. Sports- and recreation-related injury episodes in the United States, 2011–2014. National Health Statistics Reports, No. 99. National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.
  4. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Back pain: returning to work. Reviewed 2024.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Activity: An Overview (Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans).
  6. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Sports Injuries. Updated 2025.
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