Masters Athlete Medicine

You Have Not Come This Far to Stop Now.

You have spent years — maybe decades — building a relationship with your body. You know what it feels like to push, to compete, to recover, and to show up again. You are not a casual exerciser. You are an athlete. And the fact that you are over 35, over 45, or over 60 does not change that identity one bit.

But your body is sending you signals it never used to send. The neck that stiffens after a long ride. The knee that protests on the downhill. The shoulder that aches through the night after a hard session. The back that used to bounce back in a day and now takes a week. These are not signs that your athletic life is over. They are signs that you need a physician who understands the athlete's body — not just the aging body — and knows the difference.

That physician is Dr. Amir Mahajer.

Stay in the Game.

What Is Masters Athlete Medicine?

Masters Athlete Medicine is a dedicated specialty brand under the care of Dr. Amir Mahajer — built specifically for athletes aged 35 and older who refuse to accept pain, limitation, or decline as inevitable. It is medicine designed at the intersection of sports medicine, interventional pain, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and regenerative therapy — tailored to the unique physiology, psychology, and goals of the Masters athlete and the active aging adult.

This is not generic pain management. This is not a referral to physical therapy and a handshake. This is comprehensive, precision medicine delivered by a fellowship-trained, double board-certified physician who is himself an amateur Masters athlete — someone who trains, competes, and understands from personal experience what it means to need your body to perform and to feel the frustration when it does not cooperate.

Dr. Mahajer's philosophy is simple: find the pain generator, remove the layers of pain, and restore maximal function— so you can stay in the game of life, on your terms, as completely and quickly as possible.

The Masters Athlete Body

The Masters athlete is not simply an older version of a younger athlete. The body changes in ways that are real, meaningful, and manageable — but only if your physician understands them.

After the age of 35, the musculoskeletal system begins to shift. Tendons lose some of their elasticity and become more prone to tendinosis — a degenerative process that differs fundamentally from acute tendon injury and requires a different treatment approach. Cartilage thins gradually in weight-bearing joints, and the early signs of osteoarthritis begin to appear, often silently at first. The intervertebral discs of the spine lose hydration and height, contributing to the neck and back stiffness and pain that plague so many active adults. Muscle recovery slows. Inflammation lingers longer. The margin for training error narrows.

None of this means you stop. It means you need smarter, more precise medical support than you did at 25. And it means the physician you choose matters enormously.

Your Timeline. Your Treatment.

Not every athlete has the same relationship with downtime. Dr. Mahajer recognizes that a competitive Masters athlete mid-season has different priorities than one in the off-season — and that many active adults and working professionals simply cannot afford extended recovery periods. That is why every treatment plan is built around your schedule, your season, and your life.

In-Season Athletes When you cannot stop competing, treatment is designed to manage pain, protect the tissue, and maintain performance without compromising the season. Targeted injections, regenerative support, load modification strategies, and precise rehabilitation allow you to stay in the game while healing progresses in the background.

Off-Season Athletes The off-season is your window of opportunity. This is when more aggressive intervention — radiofrequency ablation, comprehensive regenerative therapy, structural rehabilitation — can be deployed fully, with adequate time for recovery and adaptation before your next season begins. Dr. Mahajer helps you use every off-season week strategically.

The Active Adult With No Time for Downtime For professionals, parents, and active adults who cannot pause life for weeks of recovery, Dr. Mahajer designs treatment protocols built around minimal disruption — getting you back to work, activity, and daily function as quickly and safely as possible without compromising the quality or completeness of your care.

Conditions Dr. Mahajer Treats

Dr. Mahajer offers comprehensive, non-operative management for the full spectrum of conditions that affect active adults and Masters athletes. His care is always individualized, always image-guided where appropriate, and always oriented toward the fastest, most complete recovery possible.

Spine — Neck and Back

Cervicogenic Headaches and Neuralgia Headaches originating from the cervical spine are among the most disabling and most commonly misdiagnosed conditions in active adults. Dr. Mahajer identifies the precise cervical pain generator — whether facet joint, disc, or nerve — and delivers targeted treatment that resolves the headache at its source rather than masking it with medication.

Cervical Spondylosis — Neck Arthritis and Radiculopathy One of the most common conditions in Masters athletes — particularly cyclists, swimmers, overhead athletes, and anyone who spends significant time at a desk. Cervical spondylosis involves degenerative changes in the bones, discs, and joints of the cervical spine that can produce neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and radiating arm pain or numbness. Dr. Mahajer evaluates the precise pain generator — whether disc, facet joint, or nerve root — and delivers targeted treatment that relieves pain, restores mobility, and keeps you training.

Mid Back and Chest Wall Pain Thoracic spine pain and chest wall pain are frequently overlooked in the active adult — attributed to muscle strain when the true source may be thoracic facet joint pathology, costovertebral dysfunction, or the thoracolumbar junction syndrome known as Maigne's disease. Dr. Mahajer brings a precise diagnostic approach to the mid back that few physicians apply.

Lumbar Spondylosis — Low Back Arthritis and Sciatica The low back is the most common site of pain in Masters athletes across virtually every sport. Lumbar spondylosis — degeneration of the lumbar discs, facet joints, and vertebral endplates — produces axial back pain, stiffness, and referred pain into the buttocks and legs that can sideline even the most determined athlete. Dr. Mahajer specializes in identifying the exact source of lumbar pain and delivering precision interventions that address the root cause rather than masking symptoms.

Pelvic and Sacroiliac Pain The SI joint is a frequent culprit of deep buttock and posterior hip pain in Masters athletes — particularly runners, cyclists, and those with leg length discrepancy or post-pregnancy pelvic instability. Dr. Mahajer offers the full spectrum of SI joint interventions, from diagnostic and therapeutic injections to minimally invasive fusion or radiofrequency ablation for lasting relief.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Neurogenic Claudication Narrowing of the spinal canal — most common at L3–L5 — produces the characteristic bilateral leg heaviness and cramping with walking that defines neurogenic claudication. Dr. Mahajer offers advanced non-surgical options including Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD) that can restore walking tolerance and quality of life without open surgery.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome For patients who have undergone spinal surgery and continue to experience pain, Dr. Mahajer offers a comprehensive re-evaluation to identify residual pain generators and deploys advanced interventional options including spinal cord stimulation, radiofrequency ablation, and regenerative therapy to restore function and quality of life.

Nonoperative Scoliosis Management Adult degenerative scoliosis is a progressive condition that can produce significant pain and functional limitation in the active aging adult. Dr. Mahajer provides comprehensive non-operative care to manage pain and slow progression without surgery.

Joints — Shoulders, Hips, Knees, and Beyond

Sports Injury Prevention Masters athletes deserve the same level of sports medicine expertise as elite athletes. Dr. Mahajer provides comprehensive sports injury evaluation and management — from acute injuries to overuse syndromes — and works with athletes proactively to identify biomechanical risk factors and prevent injury before it occurs.

Shoulder Pain — Rotator Cuff Tendinosis, Bursitis, AC Joint Arthritis The shoulder is the most complex joint in the body and one of the most frequently injured in Masters athletes — particularly swimmers, tennis players, CrossFit athletes, and overhead lifters. Dr. Mahajer evaluates and treats the full spectrum of shoulder pathology, from rotator cuff tendinosis and partial tears to subacromial bursitis, biceps tendinopathy, and acromioclavicular joint arthritis, using ultrasound-guided precision and regenerative therapies where appropriate.

Hip Pain — Gluteal Tendinopathy, Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome, Labral Tears, Hip Arthritis Hip pain in Masters athletes is frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated. Whether the source is the gluteal tendons at the greater trochanter, the hip labrum, the intra-articular hip joint, or referred pain from the lumbar spine or SI joint, Dr. Mahajer's expertise in hip biomechanics and interventional care ensures the right structure is identified and treated. Regenerative therapies including PRP and BMAC offer powerful options for gluteal tendinopathy and early hip arthritis.

Knee Pain — Osteoarthritis, Patellar Tendinopathy, Bursitis, IT Band Syndrome Knee pain is almost universal among Masters athletes of a certain tenure. Dr. Mahajer addresses the full spectrum — from the early stages of knee osteoarthritis that respond beautifully to regenerative injection therapy, to patellar tendinopathy in the Masters runner, to pes anserine bursitis in the cyclist, to IT band syndrome in the trail runner. His goal is always to keep you moving, delay surgical intervention where possible, and optimize your knee health for the long term.

Nerve Pain Nerve entrapment syndromes — including meralgia paresthetica, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and cluneal neuralgia — are common and frequently overlooked in Masters athletes. Dr. Mahajer's expertise in peripheral nerve evaluation and ultrasound-guided hydrodissection offers precise, minimally invasive relief for these conditions.

Regenerative Medicine for the Masters Athlete

Perhaps no area of sports medicine has more to offer the Masters athlete than regenerative therapy. Dr. Mahajer is a leader in the clinical application of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) — biologics derived from your own body that harness your natural healing capacity to repair damaged tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and joints.

For the Masters athlete, regenerative therapies offer something uniquely powerful: the ability to address the underlying degenerative process — not just the symptoms — in a way that can restore tissue integrity, reduce pain, and extend the functional life of joints and tendons that might otherwise require surgical intervention. Dr. Mahajer tailors every regenerative treatment protocol to the individual patient, the specific tissue, and the goals of care — whether that is returning to competitive sport, eliminating daily pain, or delaying a joint replacement by years.

When Surgery Is on the Table — Dr. Mahajer Is Still Your Physician

Surgery is sometimes necessary. Dr. Mahajer is not anti-surgery — he is pro-precision. His commitment is to ensure that if surgery is the right answer, it is pursued at the right time, with the right preparation, and with the right recovery support.

Delaying Surgery For many Masters athletes, the right medical management can delay a surgical procedure by months, years, or indefinitely. Whether it is a knee replacement that can be postponed with PRP or RFA and a structured rehabilitation program, a surgical lumbar decompression that can be avoided with minimally invasive spine care, or a rotator cuff repair that can be deferred with regenerative or rehabilitation management — Dr. Mahajer exhausts every non-operative option before conceding that surgery is necessary.

Optimizing You Before Surgery When surgery cannot be avoided, how you arrive at the operating table matters enormously. Strengthening, optimizing tissue quality, and reducing baseline inflammation before surgery — is one of the most powerful predictors of surgical outcome. Dr. Mahajer works with Masters athletes in the weeks leading up to surgery to ensure they are in the best possible physical condition to recover quickly and completely.

Getting You Back After Surgery Post-surgical care for the Masters athlete requires the same precision and ambition as the surgery itself. Dr. Mahajer partners with surgical teams and rehabilitation providers to guide your return to sport — managing pain, monitoring healing, deploying treatments where appropriate, and setting the timeline and milestones that get you back to full competition as safely and quickly as possible.

The Masters Athlete Promise

Most active adults and Masters athletes who seek the right medical care do not need surgery. With precise diagnosis, targeted interventional treatment, and a physician who understands both the athletic body and the athlete's mindset — the vast majority of conditions that sideline Masters athletes can be managed fully, functionally, and permanently without an operating room.

Dr. Mahajer has built his career around that conviction. He has seen it proven thousands of times. And he brings that conviction — and that track record — to every Masters athlete who walks through his door.

You have not come this far to stop now. You do not have to accept pain as the price of an active life. And you do not have to navigate this alone.

Dr. Amir Mahajer is the physician for you.

Who Masters Athlete Medicine Serves

Masters Athlete Medicine is for you if you are:

• An athlete aged 35 or older dealing with pain that is limiting your training, competition, or daily activity

• An active adult who wants to stay ahead of injury, preserve joint health, and prioritize prevention and wellness

• A patient who has been told surgery is your only option and wants a second opinion from a non-operative specialist

• Someone preparing for surgery who wants to arrive in the best possible condition

• A post-surgical athlete ready to return to sport with expert medical guidance

• A working professional or active parent who cannot afford weeks of downtime and needs a treatment plan built around your life

• Anyone who refuses to accept that aging means slowing down — and is looking for a physician who agrees

For Referring Providers

Masters Athlete Medicine welcomes referrals from primary care physicians, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and all healthcare providers caring for active adults. Dr. Mahajer accepts referrals for the full spectrum of conditions listed on his referral form — including all spine diagnoses, joint pain, tendinopathy, nerve pain, regenerative orthopedic consultations, and Masters Athlete consultations.

Schedule Your Consultation

Your athletic life is not over. It may just be entering its most important chapter — the one where the right medical partnership makes all the difference.

Masters Athlete Medicine. Stay in the Game.

Amir Mahajer, DO, FAOCPMR, CAQSM