La Jolla · UTC San Diego · Surfers

Chiropractor for surfers in San Diego

Paddling wrecks necks and shoulders, pop-ups and arched waiting wreck low backs. I am an ART certified chiropractor ten minutes from Scripps, Black’s and PB, open until 7 PM on weekdays and Sundays 10 to 4 for the day-after-the-swell visit.

Book a visit →Call or text (858) 558-3111

Quick answer

Dr. Jordan Loewenstein, D.C. is a chiropractor for surfers in San Diego, located at 5151 Shoreham Place, Suite 175 in UTC, about ten minutes from La Jolla Shores, Scripps, Black’s Beach and Pacific Beach. He treats the common surfing injuries: low back pain from the arched paddling position, neck pain and headaches from holding the head up, shoulder and rotator cuff pain from paddling, rib and mid-back pain, and hip pain from pop-ups, using Active Release Technique soft tissue work, chiropractic adjustment and a few home exercises. The first visit is 45 minutes and includes the exam and treatment. Hours are Monday to Friday until 7 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM, with same day openings most days. In network with most major plans; $100 first visit and $75 follow-ups without insurance.

Where surfing breaks down

A surf session is an hour or more of lying prone with the spine extended, the head held up and the shoulders doing thousands of strokes. Then a sudden explosive pop-up. The sport loads exactly the places a desk job has already stiffened, which is why the UTC and Sorrento Valley crowd who surf before or after work show up with the same short list.

Low back pain after paddling: the lumbar facets get compressed in the arched position; stiff hips and a pelvis sitting unevenly make it worse.
Neck pain and headaches: holding the head up to see the set for an hour. Suboccipital and upper trap tissue locks down and the cervical facets stop moving.
Shoulder and rotator cuff pain: paddling is a swimming stroke with a worse position. Tight pecs, a stiff thoracic spine and an overworked cuff.
Rib and mid-back pain: the board edge, the twisting pop-up, and a thoracic spine that only moves in one direction.
Hip and groin pain: the pop-up and the wide stance. Hip flexors and adductors that do not have the range the move needs.
Wipeout injuries: whiplash-type neck strains and shoulder sprains that feel fine until the next morning.

How I treat surfers

Exam first, then treatment the same visit when the exam is clear. The point is getting you back in the water, not a long course of care.

ExamRange of motion of the neck, thoracic spine, shoulders, hips and low back, orthopedic testing, and a look at how your pelvis sits with you face down. Shoulder pain in surfers often starts in a thoracic spine that will not extend.

Soft tissueART on the pecs, lats, upper traps, suboccipitals, hip flexors and lumbar paraspinals. Heat and e-stim first if the muscles are in spasm after a wipeout.

AdjustmentCervical, thoracic, rib, lumbar and SI joint adjustments where the joint has stopped moving. Flexion-distraction on the table for disc-type low back pain.

Back in the waterTwo or three home exercises for thoracic extension, hip mobility and cuff strength, and a realistic answer on when to paddle out again.

After a hard wipeout with numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, a severe headache, confusion, or neck pain you cannot turn through, get checked at urgent care first. Concussions and fractures are not chiropractic problems until they have been cleared.

Hours that fit the swell

Dawn patrol then work, then me at 6:30 PM. Or a Sunday morning visit after a Saturday session that went badly. Same day openings most days; book online and pick a time.

Monday to Friday9 AM to 7 PM

Sunday10 AM to 4 PM

SaturdayClosed

Same dayOpenings most days

Sports injuries Shoulder pain by location Low back pain by location Mid-back stretches Neck stretches Chiropractor in La Jolla

Common questions

Why does my lower back hurt after surfing?

Paddling holds the lumbar spine in extension for an hour, which compresses the facet joints, and stiff hips force the low back to do the twisting of the pop-up. Treatment is soft tissue work on the hip flexors and paraspinals, adjusting the stiff lumbar and SI joints, and hip mobility homework.

Can a chiropractor help shoulder pain from paddling?

Yes, for the common causes: rotator cuff overuse, tight pecs and lats, and a thoracic spine that does not extend. A full-thickness cuff tear or a dislocation needs imaging and an orthopedist first.

How soon can I surf again after a visit?

For most tightness and overuse problems, within a few days at a lighter session. After a wipeout injury it depends on the exam; the answer is given at the first visit.

Do you see surfers from La Jolla and Pacific Beach?

Yes. The office in UTC is about ten minutes from La Jolla Shores, Scripps Pier, Black’s and PB, with free parking.

Is this covered by insurance?

Most major PPO plans, Medicare and VA Community Care cover chiropractic. Benefits are verified before the first visit so the copay is known in advance. Without insurance the first visit is $100 and follow-ups $75.

Paddle out without the stiff neck and sore back.

Evenings until 7 PM, Sundays 10 to 4, same day openings. 5151 Shoreham Place, Suite 175, UTC San Diego, ten minutes from the Shores.

Book online Call (858) 558-3111

Jordan Loewenstein, D.C.
ART Certified · M.S. Nutrition · Webster Certified

Text us