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SPORTS CHIROPRACTOR LAGUNA NIGUEL
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Get Treated Like the Pros.
Stay active. Move better.
Keep doing what you love.
Drs. Scott and Jennifer Waddell have cared for professional, Olympic and world-class athletes—and bring that same individualized sports-chiropractic approach to competitive athletes, active adults and weekend warriors throughout South Orange County.
Brisa Hennessy
Mobility · Mechanics · Recovery · Durability · Performance
WSL Professional Surfer ·
Olympian - Tokyo 2020 & Paris 2024
CHIROPRACTIC-FIRST SPORTS CARE
Already Have a PT, Trainer or Strength Coach? Perfect.
Many athletes already have excellent professionals helping with rehabilitation, strength, conditioning and sport-specific training. Our role is different.
For athletes and active adults looking for a sports chiropractor in Laguna Niguel, we focus on the areas chiropractic is uniquely positioned to evaluate and address: spinal and extremity joint function, mobility, biomechanics, neurological findings and precise chiropractic adjusting.
When clinically appropriate, we can also incorporate shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon and soft-tissue problems.
We complement your performance team rather than duplicate the rehab and training you already have.
THE PERFORMANCE FOUNDATION
How Well Is Your Body
Actually Moving?
Strength and conditioning matter. But they’re only part of the picture.
Athletic performance depends on how well your body moves, coordinates and responds under load. Restrictions in spinal or joint mobility, altered mechanics, recurring tightness or compensation patterns can affect how efficiently you train and move.
At Waddell Wellness, we look beyond where something hurts. We evaluate the spine, movement and nervous-system function to identify areas that may be limiting mobility, mechanics, recovery or your ability to stay consistently active.
When was the last time your spine and nervous system were evaluated as part of your performance plan?
A MORE COMPLETE ATHLETIC EVALUATION
Look Beyond the Symptom. Evaluate the Whole System.
Athletes often compensate long before something becomes painful. That is why we look at more than the area that hurts.
Your evaluation may include spinal and joint mobility, posture and movement mechanics, neurological function, balance, areas of recurring restriction, and relevant extremities such as the shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, foot or ankle. When clinically appropriate, digital X-rays or additional imaging may also be recommended.
The goal is to understand where your body may be losing motion, adapting inefficiently or working harder than it needs to—so care can be individualized around how you actually move, train and perform.
Better decisions start with a better evaluation.
That athletic background helps Dr. Waddell better understand each athlete’s goals, physical demands and journey—and tailor care around what they want to keep doing.
AN ATHLETE’S PERSPECTIVE
Sports Chiropractic Informed
by a Lifetime of Athletics.
Dr. Scott Waddell brings both more than three decades of clinical experience and an athlete’s perspective to sports chiropractic.
His athletic background includes high-level competitive swimming in Canada, CJFL -football, college rugby and top-tier competitive adult hockey,. Before chiropractic college, his university studies included kinesiology and exercise physiology, giving him an early foundation in human movement, biomechanics and physical performance.
Having trained and competed across endurance, contact and team sports gives Dr. Waddell firsthand appreciation for the demands athletes place on their bodies—and helps inform the way he evaluates spinal and extremity mechanics, mobility, biomechanics and movement.
Erica Bough
World Champion Taekwondo
· 5th Degree Black Belt
“Thank you so much. — Erica Bough”
Paul Gaustad
Nashville Predators · NHL Center
“Thanks for all the help!”
Hal Gill
16-Season NHL Defenseman ·
2009 Stanley Cup Champion · Team USA
“Scott, thanks for straightening me out. All the best, Hal Gill.”
Experience Caring for
Professional & World‑Class Athletes
CARE FOR NHL PLAYERS
Professional and world-class athletes have trusted Drs. Scott and Jennifer Waddell as part of their approach to staying active, moving well and competing at a high level.
TRUSTED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS
Over multiple seasons, Dr. Scott Waddell has been invited either by NHL players themselves or by a team’s head trainer to provide chiropractic care to players when their teams traveled to Orange County to play the Anahiem Ducks.
Dr. Waddell has provided chiropractic care to dozens of NHL players.
C.W. Moran
Professional Triathlete
“Drs. Waddell, thanks for everything.
— C.W. Moran”
Michal Handzuš
Chicago Blackhawks · NHL Center · 2013 Stanley Cup Champion
Daniel Nava
Major League Baseball
· World Series Champion
“Dr. Scott, Thanks for all your help.
— Daniel Nava, PHIL 4:13”
Ryane Clowe
San Jose Sharks · NHL Left Wing
“Thank you for your help!”
ATHLETE & COACH EXPERIENCE
What Athletes, Coaches & Performance Professionals
Say About Drs. Waddell
Rosalinda Masler
· AVP Professional Beach Volleyball
· Dual-Sport Collegiate Athlete
· Coach & Trainer
“I feel extremely lucky to have met Drs. Scott and Jennifer Waddell. From my first visit, I experienced nothing but the highest quality of care.
They focus on my individual needs and provide me with an impressive professional and holistic approach to chiropractic care, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced!”
WHY IT MATTERS
Experienced athletes often already have coaches, trainers and other professionals around them. Rosalinda’s experience reflects the value of individualized chiropractic care that considers the athlete, their body and their specific demands—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Don Nava
Coach · Author of Fit After 40 · Creator of the Totally Fit Life System · Former Fitness Trainer to NFL Athletes
“Chiropractic care has always been a regular part of my health and preventative maintenance routine. I’ve been searching for a chiropractor that not only has the ability to address any immediate issues but has the skill to construct a program for my long term health goals.”
“I am very impressed with Dr. Scott’s unique and comprehensive approach. He has given me extra-ordinary care with precision and great results. ”
“I personally know many quality chiropractors in Silicon Valley, however I chose Dr. Scott because he is in a league all his own. He understands my needs as an athlete and as a coach.”
WHY IT MATTERS
Jonathan’s experience reflects something many former athletes and active adults understand: wanting to continue feeling strong, capable and athletic despite years of injuries, wear and changing physical demands. His story is about getting back to running, lifting and doing more of what mattered to him.
Jonathan Flowers
· Former Professional Athlete
· Military Veteran · Football Coach
· Creator of the “I Am a Champion” Speech
“Having been a professional athlete and a soldier in the military I had a laundry list of physical issues and limitations. Nagging injuries, age and even belief had me thinking my days of being truly athletic were behind me.”
“Drs. Scott and Jennifer Waddell proved me wrong. … I am able to run and lift like I never thought I’d be able to again. Injuries I had suffered no longer affect me, I am more flexible, active and in the best shape I have been in years.”
WHY IT MATTERS
Coach, author, podcaster and longtime performance professional Don Nava has spent decades coaching athletes and high-performing individuals, including NFL players such as Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice. His testimonial speaks directly to the precision, comprehensive approach and understanding of athletic needs he experienced in Dr. Scott’s care.
ACTIVE ADULTS & COMPETITIVE ATHLETES
You Don’t Have to Be a Pro to Get the Care Your Body Needs to Perform at Its Best.
Your sport may be different. The goal is the same: keep doing what you love.
Whether you’re playing tennis or pickleball, golfing, cycling, surfing, running, lifting, or simply working to stay active as you age, your body is continually adapting to the demands you place on it. Our approach focuses on spinal and joint mobility, body mechanics, and individualized care to help you keep moving, training, and doing the activities you love.
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to be cared for like one—so you can keep doing the sports and activities you love for as long as possible.
Luna Cai
Competitive Tennis Player
· Longtime Waddell Wellness Patient
“After a few months, I can play competitive tennis without feeling my back is holding me back.”
Staying Active Is About What Your
Body Lets You Keep Doing.
Amanda Sneed
ACTIVE ADULT · WORKS OUT FIVE DAYS A WEEK
“I can consistently work out each week, five days a week, without any problems… My neck, my upper back, are so much less tight, and I don’t have any aches or areas where I feel like it’s preventing me from doing anything that I love to do.”
Many of our patients simply want to keep working out, cycling, golfing, playing pickleball
and enjoying the activities that make life feel good. These are a few of their experiences.
REAL PEOPLE · REAL ACTIVE LIVES
CYCLING — Apex IT Admin
“As an avid cyclist I was struggling to maintain my power and having trouble being comfortable on my bike… I very quickly noticed improvements in my power and form.”
WHY IT MATTERS
Low-back and pelvic mechanics, hip mobility and spinal motion can all influence comfort and efficiency on the bike.
GOLF — Gavin Mahoney
“Since seeing Dr. Scott regularly I have had no issues with either ailment and I’m back golfing weekly.”
WHY IT MATTERS
Golf depends heavily on rotation through the hips, pelvis and spine. Restricted mechanics can also increase stress on areas such as the low back and elbow.
PICKLEBALL — Scott Barnes
“I was having severe lower back pain when I went to see Dr. Scott Waddell. In one month, he’s been able to relieve most of my back pain and get me back out on the Pickleball court.”
WHY IT MATTERS
Low-back pain can interfere with bending, rotation, quick direction changes and court movement—making it harder to keep playing at the level you want.
LIMITED-TIME NEW PATIENT SPECIAL
Are You Looking to Move Better, Stay Active and Perform at Your Best?
Your first visit is designed to help us understand how your spine, movement and nervous system are responding to the demands you place on your body. We look for meaningful restrictions, compensation patterns and other findings that may be affecting mobility, mechanics
and your ability to stay active.
YOUR EVALUATION INCLUDES
✓ Private Doctor Consultation & Health History Review
✓ Comprehensive Spinal & Neurological Evaluation
✓ Digital Spinal X-Rays, When Clinically Appropriate
✓ HRV, Surface EMG & Thermal Nervous-System Scans
✓ Doctor Review of Findings & Personalized Recommendations
Schedule Your
$97 New Patient Evaluation
For a limited time, new patients can schedule this comprehensive introductory evaluation for $97.
The standard fee for the included services is $350.
Choose a convenient appointment time below and our team will confirm your visit.
Or call us directly — (949) 860-2400
A MORE INTEGRATED APPROACH
One More Part of Your Performance Team.
Great athletes rarely rely on just one thing.
Great athletes rarely rely on just one thing. Strength coaches, physical therapists, athletic trainers, physicians and sports-medicine professionals can all play important roles. Our role is not to duplicate
their work—it is to provide the essential chiropractic component of that team.
Chiropractic complements that team by focusing on spinal and joint mobility, body mechanics,
neurological function and areas of restriction that may be influencing how you move.
At Waddell Wellness, care is individualized around your body, your sport and your goals. Depending
on what we find, that may include precise spinal or extremity adjustments, mobility work, home
exercises and spinal-hygiene strategies—or referral and co-management when another type of
care is more appropriate.
When another type of care is appropriate, we also refer to trusted local sports physical therapy and rehabilitation specialists, as well as experienced sports-focused soft-tissue therapists who provide techniques such as ART, cupping and deep-tissue work.
The goal is simple: keep your body ready for the activities you ask it to do.
WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE?
How Chiropractic May Influence
Athletic Function
Athletic performance involves more than strength and conditioning. Mobility, joint function, neuromuscular control and the way the body senses and coordinates movement can all influence how an athlete moves and responds to physical demands. Research examining chiropractic and spinal manipulation has explored several of these areas. While the evidence does not support promises of better performance for every athlete, it does provide some interesting insight into how spinal and joint care may influence aspects of athletic function.
Here’s what the research suggests—and where the evidence is still developing.
SPORTS, ACTIVITIES & COMMON CONCERNS
Built Around the Way You Actually Move.
Athletes place very different demands on their bodies. A golfer rotates differently than a runner, cyclist, surfer or pickleball player. That is why sports chiropractic care should begin with understanding your activity, your movement patterns and the specific areas that may be limiting you.
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
Golf · Pickleball · Tennis · Running · Cycling · Surfing · Strength Training · Volleyball · Baseball · Basketball · Football · Hockey · Triathlon · Yoga · Recreational & Competitive Sports
COMMON ATHLETIC CONCERNS
Low-back pain · Neck pain and stiffness · Shoulder restriction · Hip and pelvic problems
· Knee, ankle and foot complaints · Tennis elbow · Golfer’s elbow · Achilles problems
· Plantar fasciitis · Recurring tightness · Reduced mobility · Overuse-related symptoms
· Difficulty returning to training
WHAT WE MAY EVALUATE
Spinal and joint mobility · Extremity function · Movement mechanics · Posture and balance · Neurological function · Compensation patterns · Areas of recurring restriction · Sport-specific demands · Digital X-rays or additional imaging when clinically appropriate
Whether you are a professional athlete, competitive athlete, weekend warrior or active adult, the goal is not simply to treat where you hurt. It is to understand how your spine, joints and movement are functioning together so care can be individualized around the activities you want to keep doing.
Sports chiropractic care for athletes and active adults in Laguna Niguel and throughout South Orange County.
WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SHOW?
Where Chiropractic May Influence Athletic Function
Research into spinal manipulation and athletic function is still developing. Some studies have identified short-term changes in mobility, muscle activation, strength measures and sensorimotor function, while studies looking at direct improvements in sports performance have produced mixed results. The most useful way to view the research is not as a promise of better performance, but as insight into several physical and neurological factors that can matter to athletes.
01 — MOBILITY & RANGE OF MOTION
Movement begins with available motion.
Some studies have reported immediate changes in range of motion following spinal manipulation. For athletes, adequate motion through the spine and extremities can be relevant to activities involving rotation, stride, reaching, throwing, lifting and changes of direction. The size and clinical importance of these changes can vary, so improved mobility should not automatically be interpreted as improved athletic performance.
02 — NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION & STRENGTH
The nervous system helps coordinate muscular output.
Research has explored whether spinal manipulation can influence muscle activation and strength. A systematic review and meta-analysis found increases in short-term isometric strength measures in healthy participants, although the authors cautioned that the evidence was based on a small number of studies and showed meaningful variability. These findings are interesting, but they do not establish that chiropractic care makes every athlete stronger or improves competitive performance.
03 — PROPRIOCEPTION & SENSORIMOTOR CONTROL
Your body constantly has to know where it is in space.
Proprioception and sensorimotor control help the brain integrate information from joints, muscles and the environment. Recent research suggests that manual therapy, including spinal or joint manipulation, may produce immediate changes in some measures of joint-position sense in selected patients. The findings remain condition-specific, and more research is needed to understand their importance for athletic performance.
04 — PAIN, FUNCTION & RETURNING TO ACTIVITY
Sometimes performance is limited because something simply hurts or is not moving well.
For athletes dealing with back pain or other musculoskeletal complaints, reducing pain and improving function can be meaningful in its own right. Research in athletes with low-back pain has found improvement in pain and function across several conservative treatment approaches, although there is not enough evidence to conclude that spinal manipulation alone produces superior return-to-sport outcomes.
The evidence is evolving. Our approach is to evaluate the individual athlete, address meaningful findings and use chiropractic as one part of a broader performance and healthcare strategy.
RESEARCH REFERENCES
Corso M, et al. — Spinal manipulation and performance-related outcomes. Systematic review. PubMed →
Lo CN, et al. — Effectiveness of spinal manipulation for muscle strength. Meta-analysis. PubMed →
Joint Mobilization & Proprioception. — Systematic review on sensorimotor control outcomes. PubMed →
Thornton JS, et al. — Treating low back pain in athletes. Systematic review & meta-analysis. PubMed →
Research reviewed and clinically contextualized by Scott Waddell, DC · Waddell Wellness & Performance · Updated 2026
SPORTS CHIROPRACTOR LAGUNA NIGUEL
Frequently Asked Performance Questions
For athletes and active adults looking for a sports chiropractor in Laguna Niguel, care begins with understanding what limits your movement and comfort. Whether you are dealing with a recent injury, recurring stiffness, or simply looking to optimize your performance, our process is built around how you actually move and compete in South Orange County.
When should an athlete see a sports chiropractor?
Athletes seek our care for recurring spinal pain, restricted mobility, joint stiffness, and overuse symptoms that interfere with training. Many also visit proactively to have their spinal mechanics and neurological function assessed as part of a performance plan to identify restrictions before they lead to injury or decreased efficiency.
Can chiropractic be part of sports-injury recovery and return to sport?
Chiropractic can be one component of sports-injury care when spinal or joint restriction, movement mechanics, pain or related musculoskeletal findings are part of the problem. Depending on the injury, care may also involve physical therapy, sports medicine, orthopedic evaluation, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation or other healthcare professionals. When appropriate, we refer and co-manage rather than trying to make chiropractic the answer to every problem.
How is sports chiropractic different from physical therapy or sports rehab?
Physical therapy and sports rehab often emphasize rehabilitation, progressive exercise, strengthening and return-to-sport programming. Our primary role is chiropractic: evaluating and addressing spinal and extremity joint function, mobility, biomechanics and neurological findings through individualized chiropractic care. When rehabilitation or another type of care is needed, we are comfortable referring or working alongside those professionals.
What if I already have a physical therapist, trainer or strength coach?
That can be an excellent fit for our approach. We are not trying to replace your physical therapist, athletic trainer, strength coach or sports-medicine physician. We focus on the chiropractic component of your performance team—spinal and extremity mechanics, joint mobility, neurological function and precise adjusting—with shockwave therapy available when clinically appropriate.
What does a sports chiropractor evaluate?
Our specialized evaluation looks at spinal and extremity mobility, joint mechanics, posture, and neurological responsiveness. We analyze your movement patterns relative to your sport's specific demands to identify recurring restrictions or compensation patterns. Digital imaging is utilized when it is clinically necessary.
Do you only work with professional athletes?
While we have experience with Olympic and world-class athletes, the majority of our patients are local competitive athletes, weekend warriors, and active adults. Our goal is to provide the same high-level, individualized care to anyone in Laguna Niguel who wants to remain active in golf, tennis, surfing, or their favorite fitness routine.
Waddell Wellness & Performance offers specialized sports chiropractic care in Laguna Niguel, focusing on mobility, movement mechanics, and injury recovery. We help active individuals throughout South Orange County address spinal and extremity restrictions to maintain peak function and get back to the sports they love.
Serving Laguna Niguel and nearby South Orange County communities including Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.