How Chiropractic Care Helps the 17th Fittest Woman in the World Stay Injury-Free and Perform at Her Best

Michelle Kinney is an accomplished CrossFit Games athlete with a background in NCAA Division I strength and conditioning, track, cross country, and softball at Mississippi State University. She competed among elite CrossFit athletes worldwide, placing 8th in 2013 and 12th in 2014. Reaching that level requires more than strength and conditioning. Consistent training also depends on mobility, recovery, and the ability to manage the physical demands placed on the body.

Early in her CrossFit career, Michelle experienced chronic shoulder pain that interfered with her training and mobility. Repetitive lifting, overhead movements, gymnastics, and other high-intensity exercises can place substantial demands on the shoulder complex and surrounding muscles and joints. Rather than continuing to train through persistent discomfort, Michelle sought chiropractic care with Dr. Brad Cole.

Her experience illustrates an important principle of sports injury care: athletic performance is not simply about training harder. Joint mobility, muscular function, movement quality, and recovery can influence how comfortably and consistently an athlete trains. Identifying and addressing limitations can therefore become an important part of maintaining physical function alongside an appropriate strength and conditioning program.

Addressing Shoulder Pain and Mobility

Within approximately two weeks of beginning treatment, Michelle reported noticeable improvement in her shoulder pain and mobility. Her care incorporated spinal manipulation and other targeted chiropractic techniques based on her individual needs.

Michelle later said, “I am happy to say that I have remained injury-free since I began treatment at Cole Pain Therapy Group.” This reflects her individual experience and does not guarantee the same outcome for every athlete. Dr. Brad Cole’s background in sports injury rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and mechanical pain syndromes helps inform his approach to athletic care.

Supporting Athletic Performance Through Better Movement

Athletic performance depends on more than strength. Joint mobility, stability, muscular function, coordination, and recovery all influence how efficiently the body handles demanding movements. Limitations in one area may cause other parts of the body to compensate.

For Michelle, improving shoulder comfort and mobility helped her continue demanding CrossFit training with fewer limitations from her previous symptoms. These same principles can apply to recreational athletes and active individuals whose pain or movement restrictions interfere with exercise.

Building a More Resilient Athlete

Athletes need the physical capacity to tolerate repeated training demands. Addressing mobility restrictions, muscular limitations, and inefficient movement patterns can complement strength and conditioning while supporting more comfortable and efficient movement.

Michelle’s experience shows how individualized musculoskeletal care can become one part of a broader training and recovery strategy. The focus is on addressing limitations that interfere with function while supporting continued participation in demanding physical activity.

At Cole Pain Therapy Group, Dr. Brad Cole and our team work with competitive athletes, recreational athletes, and active individuals experiencing pain or movement limitations that affect training. We evaluate joint function, mobility, muscular performance, previous injuries, and activity demands to guide care, which may include chiropractic treatment, movement assessment, therapeutic exercise, and rehabilitation to support recovery, improve function, and help you stay active.

How Chiropractic Care Helps the 17th Fittest Woman in the World Stay Injury-Free and Perform at Her Best

Addressing Shoulder Pain and Mobility

Supporting Athletic Performance Through Better Movement

Building a More Resilient Athlete

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