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Soft Tissue Injuries

From sprains and strains to muscle tears, we provide targeted, non-invasive treatment for soft tissue injuries. At St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, we help patients recover through personalized, evidence-based care without the need for surgery or long-term medication use.
Soft Tissue Injuries

From sprains and strains to muscle tears, we provide targeted, non-invasive treatment for soft tissue injuries.

Whether caused by an accident, repetitive stress, or poor posture, soft tissue injuries can significantly impact your mobility, energy levels, and quality of life. At St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, we help patients in St. Paul and Minneapolis recover from soft tissue injuries through personalized, evidence-based chiropractic and rehab care without the need for surgery or long-term medication use.

What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?

Soft tissue injuries refer to damage involving the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. These are the connective tissues that support your bones and joints. Unlike fractures or dislocations, these injuries don’t show up clearly on standard X-rays but can cause just as much pain and dysfunction.

Common soft tissue injuries include:

  • Muscle strains (pulled muscles)
  • Tendonitis or tendinopathy
  • Ligament sprains or tears
  • Myofascial pain syndrome
  • Contusions and muscle bruising
  • Repetitive strain injuries (like carpal tunnel syndrome)
  • Overuse injuries and postural imbalances

Left untreated, these injuries can worsen over time and contribute to chronic pain, limited motion, and compensatory issues elsewhere in the body.

What Causes Soft Tissue Injuries?

Soft tissue injuries can occur suddenly or develop gradually. Some of the most common causes we see at our St. Paul clinic include:

  • Auto accidents and personal injuries – Sudden impacts or awkward movements can strain or tear tissue in the neck, back, or limbs.
  • Sports and physical activity – High-impact movements, twisting, and overtraining often lead to sprains, strains, and muscle pulls.
  • Work-related strain – Repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and poor ergonomics can result in ongoing soft tissue stress, especially in the shoulders, wrists, and lower back.
  • Postural issues – Sitting for long periods, poor posture, or unbalanced movement patterns can create chronic stress on soft tissue, leading to tightness, inflammation, and pain.
  • Aging or degenerative changes – As we age, our tissues lose flexibility and resilience, making them more prone to microtears or chronic inflammation.

Signs You May Have a Soft Tissue Injury

Soft tissue damage can look different depending on the severity and location of the injury, but common symptoms include:

  • Pain or tenderness in muscles or joints
  • Swelling or inflammation
  • Stiffness or reduced range of motion
  • Muscle weakness or spasms
  • Bruising or discoloration
  • A sensation of tightness, tension, or “knotting” in the muscle

Some soft tissue injuries respond well to rest and home care but persistent pain, mobility issues, or recurring flare-ups often require professional treatment.

How We Treat Soft Tissue Injuries

At St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, we take a comprehensive, personalized approach to healing soft tissue injuries. Every care plan is built around your unique needs, lifestyle, and injury history. Our goal is not just to relieve pain, but to correct the underlying cause and restore your long-term function.

Your treatment may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Spinal misalignments can contribute to abnormal muscle tension and joint stress. Gentle adjustments restore alignment, which can reduce pain and improve movement.

SoftWave Therapy

This cutting-edge regenerative technology uses soundwaves to stimulate your body’s natural healing response. It increases circulation, reduces inflammation, and helps repair damaged tissue. SoftWave therapy is especially effective for chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

Spinal Rehab and Corrective Exercises

We use a proprietary spinal rehab system, influenced by the Pettibon method, to strengthen surrounding muscles and retrain your posture. Rehab exercises help prevent reinjury and restore balance.

Myofascial Release and Manual Therapy

For certain soft tissue injuries, hands-on techniques like trigger point therapy, stretching, and fascia mobilization may be used to reduce muscle knots, scar tissue buildup, and tension.

Supportive Therapies

Depending on your needs, we may also use cold laser therapy, electrical stimulation, or ergonomic coaching to support your recovery.

What to Expect at Your Visit

We begin with a detailed consultation, orthopedic exam, and postural or spinal analysis. In some cases, X-rays may be used to rule out joint misalignment or disc injury. Once we identify the source of your soft tissue pain, we’ll walk you through a clear plan of action, including how many sessions you may need, what outcomes to expect, and how we’ll track your progress.

Why Choose St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center?

  • Decades of experience helping patients recover from muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries
  • Advanced treatment options like SoftWave therapy and customized rehab
  • Our approach: not just symptom management, but long-term recovery
  • Options for cash, PPO insurance, and union contracts
  • Friendly, patient-first care in a welcoming, professional environment

Whether you’re recovering from a recent injury or managing a chronic soft tissue condition, we’re here to help you heal, move, and thrive again.

Schedule Your Evaluation Today

Don’t wait for a soft tissue injury to become a long-term problem. Our team is here to provide expert, non-invasive care that gets results with treatment plans designed just for you.

Call 651-644-7207 today to schedule your appointment. Let us help you get back to doing what you love, pain-free and strong.

Insurance

We accept most major insurance plans, including HSA/HFA funds, and verify your coverage before your first visit at no cost; just bring your insurance card. We also coordinate with your primary care provider to ensure seamless care.

Hours

By appointment only

Monday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday : By appointment
Wednesday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Thursday :12pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 1pm
Closed Saturdays & Sundays

Start Healing

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Let’s Take the Next Step Together

Request your appointment today and start your journey to a pain-free life.

Emily Catton

Lead Spinal Rehabilitation Specialist

Emily serves as the Lead Spinal Rehabilitation Specialist at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where her exceptional patient care and clinical expertise have made her an invaluable member of our team since August 2017. As our most senior team member, Emily exemplifies the practice’s commitment to compassionate, comprehensive care.

Professional Background

Emily brings a strong academic foundation to her role, having graduated from Winona State University in 2017 with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Movement Science and Psychology. This interdisciplinary education uniquely positions her to understand both the physical and psychological aspects of patient rehabilitation, allowing her to deliver care that addresses the whole person.

Since joining our team, Emily has become an expert in our proprietary treatment protocols. Her advanced training includes certification as a registered Limited Scope X-ray operator, providing her with detailed knowledge of spinal anatomy and pathology that enhances her rehabilitation work.

Olivia

Lead SoftWave Technician Specialist

Olivia brings Southern warmth and exceptional expertise to St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where she has been an indispensable team member since 2018. Originally from Georgia, Olivia made Minnesota her home in 2010, establishing roots in East St. Paul and graduating from Johnson Senior High School before pursuing her passion for healing at the Aveda Institute Minneapolis.

With over a decade of experience in therapeutic bodywork, Olivia’s journey began as a certified massage therapist in 2016, quickly distinguishing herself through her remarkable ability to address soft tissue injuries and chronic pain conditions. Her skills and commitment to patient care gained Dr. Chris’s notice, resulting in a lasting professional partnership.

In January 2024, Olivia’s role evolved to Lead SoftWave Technician Specialist, where she skillfully applies Extra-Corporal Shock Wave Therapy to address knee pain, shoulder injuries, and various soft tissue conditions. Her extensive background in massage therapy provides her with an intuitive understanding of the body’s mechanics, allowing her to achieve exceptional results with SoftWave technology.

Olivia is also a key practitioner in our proprietary Spinal Rehabilitation Therapy (S.R.T.) program, working seamlessly alongside Emily to create a therapeutic environment that promotes optimal healing and recovery. Together, they form the backbone of our patient care team, establishing an atmosphere of comfort, trust, and clinical excellence that patients consistently praise.

What truly sets Olivia apart is her genuine compassion and unwavering reliability. She greets every patient with a warm smile, approaches each case with meticulous attention to detail, and consistently demonstrates the perfect balance of technical skill and heartfelt care. Her humble nature belies her exceptional abilities, making her therapeutic presence all the more powerful.

Outside the clinic, Olivia embraces life’s simple joys with her 7-year-old daughter and spouse. She finds renewal through camping adventures, expresses her creativity through drawing, delights in culinary exploration, and soaks up Minnesota’s precious sunshine whenever possible.

We consider ourselves truly blessed to have Olivia as part of our healing community at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where her dedication continues to transform lives daily.

Molly

Office Manager

With over two decades of dedicated patient care experience, Molly brings a wealth of expertise and compassion to her role as Office Manager at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center.

After graduating from Century College’s Dental Assistant program in 2004, Molly built an impressive career as a Licensed Dental Assistant, developing exceptional skills in patient communication and healthcare administration.

Guided by her personal commitment to holistic wellness, Molly made a transformative career shift in Summer 2023 to align her professional path with her passion for natural health. She earned prestigious certifications from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Specialist, and Corrective Exercise Specialist—qualifications that provide her with unique insights into the comprehensive care our patients receive.

“What I value most about St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center is our team’s dedication to treating the whole person, not just symptoms,” Molly shares. “Seeing patients progress from pain to wellness is incredibly rewarding.”

As Office Manager, Molly expertly coordinates patient care while ensuring our practice runs smoothly. Her understanding of both administrative excellence and natural healing principles makes her an invaluable bridge between our clinical team and patients.

When not welcoming patients with her warm smile, Molly embraces life as a devoted mother to three daughters. Her personal wellness journey includes strength training and fitness activities—often making these family affairs. An avid home chef, she experiments with nutritious recipes and occasional treats, believing that balance is essential to well-being. In quieter moments, she finds inspiration through reading and creative writing, nurturing her lifelong love of storytelling. Molly’s adventurous spirit also drives her passion for travel and exploring new cultures.

Her philosophy perfectly complements our center’s mission: “True health comes from understanding the body’s natural healing abilities and supporting them through proper care, nutrition, and mindful living.”