Bethesda, MD

Feel Better.
Move Better.
Get Back to Life.

Whether you are recovering from a sports injury, living with chronic back pain, or just tired of the ache that follows you through the day, Dr. Paul Helms combines sports chiropractic, physical therapy, and advanced soft tissue care to find what is causing your pain and help you get back to the activities you love.

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One-on-one with Dr. Helms | Sports chiro + physical therapy | Bethesda, MD | Same-day appointments often available
Dry needling upper trapezius treatment at Helms Performance in Bethesda, MD
One-on-one every visit
Same-day appointments available
Sports chiro + physical therapy
Bethesda, MD

Relieve pain

We find the source of your pain, not just the symptom. Chiropractic, dry needling, Active Release Technique, and soft tissue work to address pain where it starts.

Restore movement

Pain limits how you move. Physical therapy, fascial stretch therapy, and hands-on manual work help you move the way your body was designed to move.

Rebuild strength

Lasting results come from building the strength to keep pain from returning. Functional training and progressive rehabilitation keep you moving well for the long term.

What We Offer

Our Services

Sports chiropractic and physical therapy under one roof, with a full range of advanced soft tissue and recovery treatments. Every visit is one-on-one with Dr. Helms.

Dry Needling

Thin filaments placed precisely in trigger points to release muscle tension, improve blood flow, and relieve pain that stretching alone cannot reach.

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Sports Chiropractic

Spinal and joint adjustments that restore alignment, improve range of motion, and address the root cause of pain in the spine, hips, shoulders, and more.

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Sports Physical Therapy

Movement rehabilitation and exercise therapy designed to restore function, correct the patterns that led to injury, and build the durability to stay healthy.

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Active Release Technique

A hands-on massage and movement technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves, breaking down scar tissue at the source.

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Fascial Stretch Therapy

A table-based assisted stretching technique that targets the joint capsule and fascia to improve mobility, reduce pain, and restore full range of movement.

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Myofascial Release

Sustained manual pressure applied to the fascia to release restrictions that cause pain, stiffness, and limited movement throughout the body.

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Manual Therapy

A category of hands-on techniques, including joint mobilization, soft tissue work, and mobilization with movement, to reduce pain and improve function.

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Therapeutic Massage

Clinical massage focused on a specific problem or area, not relaxation. Used to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and support recovery between sessions.

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Functional Strength Training

One-on-one strength programming built around your body, your history, and your goals. Reduces injury risk, supports recovery, and improves how you move every day.

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Personal Training

Supervised, individualized training sessions that build strength, improve movement quality, and support long-term health, whether you are recovering from injury or starting fresh.

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Who We Help

Conditions We Treat

Whether you are a competitive athlete, a desk worker, or someone managing chronic pain, we treat the full range of musculoskeletal conditions, from the neck down to the ankle.

Back Pain

Upper, lower, and mid-back pain from disc issues, muscle strain, poor posture, or spinal misalignment.

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Neck Pain

Pain, stiffness, and restricted movement from sleeping wrong, desk work, injury, or cervical dysfunction.

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Shoulder Pain

Rotator cuff problems, impingement, referred neck pain, and shoulder instability in athletes and non-athletes alike.

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Knee Pain

Runner's knee, patellar pain, medial and lateral knee pain, and post-surgical rehabilitation.

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Hip Pain

Hip flexor tightness, labral issues, bursitis, and pain that radiates from the lower back into the hip and leg.

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Sciatica

Radiating pain, numbness, or weakness from the lower back through the hip and down the leg along the sciatic nerve.

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Elbow Pain

Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, inner and outer elbow pain aggravated by lifting, gripping, or overhead activity.

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Ankle Pain

Ankle sprains, Achilles tendon issues, peroneal pain, and chronic instability that limits walking, running, or training.

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Wrist Pain

Ulnar-side wrist pain, TFCC injuries, carpal tunnel, and wrist pain aggravated by lifting, typing, or overhead work.

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TMJ Pain

Jaw pain, ear discomfort, clicking, and headaches that originate in the temporomandibular joint.

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Why Helms Performance

Both Disciplines, Under One Roof

Most practices offer chiropractic or physical therapy. Helms Performance offers both, and that distinction changes how your care works. Dr. Helms can address your spine and joints through chiropractic and soft tissue care, then transition directly into movement rehabilitation and exercise therapy, all in the same visit, without a referral, without a second provider, and without losing continuity of care.

One-on-one with Dr. Helms every visit

No assistants, no aides, no handoffs. Dr. Helms works with you directly from assessment through treatment.

Advanced dry needling training

Dr. Helms uses dry needling to reach trigger points and deep muscular restrictions that hands-on work alone cannot access. It is one of the most consistently effective tools for stubborn, recurring pain patterns.

Every background welcomed

Dr. Helms has worked with patients ranging from weekend runners and desk workers to professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, and competitive CrossFit. The range of that experience informs every assessment.

Same-day appointments often available

Pain does not wait for a two-week scheduling window. Book online for same-day or next-day availability.

Dr. Paul Helms, sports chiropractor at Helms Performance in Bethesda, MD
Dr. Paul Helms Sports Chiropractor, Bethesda MD
Your Provider

Dr. Paul Helms

Dr. Helms is a sports chiropractor based in Bethesda, MD. He founded Helms Performance to offer something genuinely different: both chiropractic and physical therapy under one roof, with every patient seen one-on-one from the first visit through the last.

His clinical philosophy starts with finding the source of the problem. Whether that is a spinal misalignment driving your back pain, a soft tissue restriction holding your shoulder back, or a movement pattern setting you up for injury, the plan addresses the root cause, not just the immediate symptom.

  • Doctor of Chiropractic
  • Licensed in dry needling
  • Sports physical therapy training and application
  • Certified in Active Release Technique and Fascial Stretch Therapy
  • Experience with patients ranging from weekend runners to NFL and NBA athletes
  • Located at 7625 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 219, Bethesda, MD 20814
Meet Dr. Helms
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dry needling hurt?

Most patients feel a brief muscle twitch or a dull ache when the needle reaches a trigger point, then immediate release. Soreness similar to a hard workout is normal for 24 to 48 hours after. Most patients are genuinely surprised by how manageable the sensation is, especially compared to how they imagined it beforehand.

Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?

Yes. Chiropractic care can address the spinal mechanics contributing to sciatica, while dry needling and physical therapy address the surrounding soft tissue. Dr. Helms often combines approaches for sciatica, treating the spine, the hip, and the nerve pathway in the same plan. A thorough assessment at the first visit determines which combination fits your presentation.

What is the difference between sports chiropractic and physical therapy?

Sports chiropractic focuses on the spine, joints, and nervous system through manual adjustment and soft tissue work. Physical therapy focuses on movement rehabilitation and functional restoration through exercise and hands-on treatment. The two disciplines are complementary, not interchangeable. At Helms Performance, Dr. Helms provides both, allowing your care plan to draw from either discipline depending on what your body needs at each stage.

Is dry needling covered by insurance?

Coverage varies by plan. Some insurance providers cover dry needling under physical therapy or chiropractic benefits; others do not. Our front desk can help you check your specific benefits before your first visit, so you know exactly what to expect. HSA and FSA accounts are accepted.

Do you offer same-day appointments?

Same-day and next-day appointments are often available. Book online at helmsperformance.janeapp.com to see current availability, or call 301-578-5197 and our front desk will find you the earliest opening. We know that pain does not always fit a two-week scheduling window.

Ready to Get Out of Pain?

Whether you are dealing with a fresh injury or a problem that has been building for years, we can help. Book a visit and Dr. Helms will assess what is going on and build a plan to get you back to the activities you love.

Book An Appointment

Or call 301-578-5197 to speak with our team