Sports & Activity Medicine
Sports medicine focuses on how the body moves, functions, responds to physical stress, and recovers from injury — addressing muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, bones, and other soft tissues, not just injuries in competitive athletes. At Rochester Clinic, we combine biomechanics, musculoskeletal care, rehabilitation, and whole-person health to help you recover, move better, and return to the activities that matter to you.
Movement, Function & Musculoskeletal Health
You Don't Have to Be an Athlete
Whether you want to walk comfortably, exercise, work, garden, travel, play a sport, or compete at your best, sports medicine can help identify what is limiting your movement and develop a plan to restore function.
Pain and injury often develop from the interaction between how the body is built, how it moves, the demands placed upon it, and how well it recovers. That's why we look beyond the painful area to understand the factors that may be contributing to the problem.
Movement & Musculoskeletal Care
What We Evaluate
Muscle & Soft-Tissue Injuries
Muscle strains, weakness, soreness, and soft-tissue injuries that interfere with movement and everyday activity.
Tendon & Ligament Conditions
Tendon problems, sprains, repetitive stress, and ligament injuries affecting movement and function.
Joint & Musculoskeletal Pain
Pain, stiffness, arthritis, and movement-related problems involving the foot, ankle, lower extremity, or hand.
Overuse & Repetitive-Stress Injuries
Problems that develop when repeated physical demands exceed the body's ability to recover.
Biomechanical & Movement Problems
Abnormal loading, gait problems, muscle imbalance, restricted mobility, and other factors that can contribute to pain or recurring injury.
Running & Sports Injuries
Injuries and movement problems related to running, recreational activities, exercise, and competitive sports.
Sports Medicine Is Movement Medicine
Structure, Movement, Load, Recovery
You don't have to play a sport to benefit from sports medicine. We look at four elements together, rather than treating a single painful spot.
Structure
Joints • Bones • Foot Type • Alignment
Movement
Gait • Mobility • Strength • Flexibility
Load
Work • Exercise • Repetition • Sports
Recovery
Sleep • Nutrition • Stress • Overall Health
A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery
Treat the Injury. Understand Why It Happened. Restore Function.
Musculoskeletal problems rarely exist in isolation. We combine biomechanical assessment, movement and rehabilitation, appropriate medical treatment, regenerative options, and Lifestyle Medicine to address both the injured tissue and factors that may influence recovery.
- Understand the mechanics — not just the symptoms
- Restore strength, mobility, and function
- Support recovery through Lifestyle Medicine
- Use regenerative and other treatments when appropriate
Return to What You Enjoy
Your recovery plan is built around your activities and your goals — whether that's walking comfortably, returning to work, exercising, running, gardening, traveling, or getting back to your sport. The goal isn't simply to reduce pain; it's to restore the function and confidence to keep moving.
How We Help You Recover
A Comprehensive Plan, Tailored to You
Biomechanical Assessment
Evaluate structure, alignment, gait, loading, strength, flexibility, and movement patterns that may contribute to the problem.
Exercise & Rehabilitation
Use appropriate movement, progressive loading, strengthening, flexibility, and mobility to restore function and build resilience.
Photobiomodulation
Class IV laser and red / near-infrared light may be incorporated to support pain management and tissue recovery when appropriate.
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative treatments may be considered for selected tendon, ligament, joint, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Lifestyle Medicine
Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, metabolic health, and recovery can influence musculoskeletal health and the body's ability to adapt to physical demands.
Custom Foot Orthotics
When biomechanics and abnormal loading contribute to a problem, custom functional orthotics may be prescribed based on the patient's biomechanics, footwear, and intended activity.
Specialized Expertise When You Need It
Dr. Lai's Perspective on Movement & Function
Dr. Jengyu Lai brings extensive experience in podiatric orthopedics, biomechanics, rehabilitation, and Lifestyle Medicine, providing additional expertise for complex movement, mechanical, and lower-extremity concerns. He translates complex clinical and biomechanical findings into care personalized around how you move, how you live, and what you want to accomplish.
- 20+ years clinical experience — musculoskeletal and lower-extremity care
- Podiatric orthopedics & biomechanics — specialized understanding of movement, structure, and function
- Mayo Clinic fellowship training — advanced rehabilitation and research experience
- Board-certified Lifestyle Medicine — connecting recovery, function, and long-term health
Get Back to What Matters to You
For one person, success may mean walking without constantly thinking about their foot or ankle. For another, it may mean returning to the gym, completing a 5K, working comfortably, playing pickleball, hiking, golfing, or competing at a high level. Your goals help guide the treatment.