To improve your golf swing, it is essential to improve your thoracic mobility. Thoracic mobility refers to the rotational capacity of your thoracic spine which is comprised of 12 vertebrae in the mid-back that are specifically designed for rotation, flexion, and extension of the torso. Adequate motion in the thoracic spine helps to minimize compensatory motion in the golf swing, create a longer back swing, and generate power in the golf swing and clubhead speed. On the blog, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Mike demonstrates exercises you can do to improve your thoracic mobility and golf swing.

Check out our infographic on physical therapy for a sports hernia. A sports hernia is a soft tissue injury that occurs in the groin, pelvis, or lower abdomen involving a strain or tear in a muscle, tendon, or ligament deep in the abdominal wall. Physical therapists play a critical role in helping an athlete recover from and return to sport safely after a sports hernia through an active rehabilitation program focused on strengthening the hip and abdominal muscles.

Total shoulder replacement surgery involves removing the damaged ball and socket of the shoulder joint and replacing it with a functional metal joint to eliminate pain and restore function to the shoulder. Nearly 70,000 Americans undergo shoulder replacement surgery each year. Physical therapy after a total shoulder replacement is critical to regaining full function, strength, mobility, and range of motion in the shoulder joint. The physical therapist not only helps the patient manage pain and swelling post-surgery but also guides the patient through a progressive shoulder and scapular strengthening program for optimal recovery.

Before returning to sprinting after a sports injury, it is essential to progressively regain strength, agility, and speed under the guidance of a qualified sports physical therapist. To prepare for a return to sprinting, a physical therapist begins with isometric and eccentric strength training followed by plyometric and agility training before progressing to a sprint training program. Returning to sprinting is an objective in the later stages of rehabilitation for lower extremity injuries. It is critical that athletes achieve interval sprinting at top speed in the controlled, predictable environment of the physical therapy clinic before engaging in competition and returning to sport. 

Cervicogenic headaches are caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction in the neck that refers pain to the head through the nervous system. Cervicogenic headaches commonly affect one side of the head and can result from a traumatic injury to the cervical spine and neck muscles such as whiplash or due to muscle tension or strain from forward head posture. Physical therapy can reduce pain and address the underlying cause of cervicogenic headaches for sustainable headache management.

Overhead throwing is an extremely complex movement that places significant stress on the shoulder joint of a pitcher. The shoulder is a hypermobile joint that is susceptible to injury from the repetitive high stress of pitching. Upper extremity injuries comprise more than half of all baseball injuries, the majority of which are shoulder injuries and affect pitchers more than position players. Physical therapy can effectively treat baseball-related shoulder injuries and help pitchers prevent injury through a throwing mechanics assessment and pre-season conditioning program. A successful rehabilitation program is multi-phased, gradually re-introducing the functional demands of the pitcher’s position for a safe return to sport.

A rebounder is a mini trampoline that uses bounce and movement to improve balance, posture, core strength, and endurance. Rebounder therapy involves exercises performed on the trampoline and can be used to treat sports injuries, shoulder and ankle injuries, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. In the video below, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Bobby explains how the rebounder is used at our clinic and demonstrates several exercises you can perform with the rebounder during physical therapy.

Check out our infographic on shoulder labral tear treatment with physical therapy! A shoulder labral tear occurs when the labrum is disrupted, frayed, or torn, leading to shoulder pain and shoulder joint instability. Physical therapy can help those with shoulder labral tears regain strength, stability, and range of motion in the shoulder joint.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) works together with the ACL to stabilize the knee during movement. The PCL is located near the back of the knee joint and attaches to the back of the femur and tibia behind the ACL. PCL injuries are less common than ACL injuries but can occur due to blunt trauma during a sport or car accident or extreme hyperextension of the knee. Physical therapists can help those with PCL injuries and those healing after PCL surgery manage pain and stiffness, address instability, and restore function and strength to the knee through a progressive rehabilitation program.

In the United States, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds and can have long-lasting effects on a person’s movement, coordination, vision, speech, cognition, and emotional processing. A stroke occurs when blood flow in the brain is blocked or bleeds. It is therefore imperative that stroke survivors receive intensive rehabilitative care in the 3 months post-stroke to maximize their recovery and improve their quality of life. Physical therapists play a critical role in stroke recovery, helping stroke survivors maximize their functional abilities, relearn basic skills, and improve quality of life.

Stress causes a cascade of physical responses in the body, triggering the fight or flight response. While acute stress can be beneficial to react to a stressful situation, chronic stress can have far-reaching negative effects on your physical and mental health, impacting your nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, immune, and gastrointestinal systems. Once the stress cycle has been activated, it is essential to move through the stress response and complete the stress cycle to prevent chronic stress. One of the best ways to complete the stress cycle and bring your body back to a calm state is exercise.

Check out our infographic on physical therapy for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in which cartilage around joints breaks down, causing pain and inflammation. Physical therapy offers a safe and effective treatment option for those with osteoarthritis, helping patients manage pain, improve function and mobility, and slow the progression of the disease.

Exercise is a critical component of osteoporosis management. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become thin, brittle, and more susceptible to fractures. Exercise places beneficial stress on bones, causing them to thicken and grow stronger in response. Experts recommend combining weight-bearing exercise and strength training for optimal management of osteoporosis through exercise. A physical therapist cans guide osteoporosis patients through a customized, safe, and effective exercise program to combat osteoporosis.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by pain and tenderness throughout the body and extreme fatigue. It is considered a condition that causes central nervous system hypersensitivity and affects nearly five million Americans, the majority of whom are women. Physical therapy is a safe, non-pharmacological method to manage symptoms, reduce pain, improve function and quality of life, and help desensitize the chronic pain response of the nervous system using progressive therapeutic exercise, aquatic therapy, and manual therapy.

A perineal tear or an episiotomy during childbirth can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary or fecal incontinence, and painful sex. An episiotomy is a surgical incision of the perineum to make more space for the baby, while a perineal tear involves natural stretching or tearing of the perineum, the area between the vagina and anus, during birth. Physical therapy is an effective treatment for perineal tearing or an episiotomy, using pelvic floor rehabilitation to restore function and strength to the pelvic floor muscles and address pain and incontinence. Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Jen explains what an episiotomy is and how physical therapy can help you heal after an episiotomy or perineal tear.

The rate of c-section deliveries is steadily increasing, comprising over 30% of births in the United States in the last year. A c-section is a major surgery involving a horizontal incision just above the pubic bone that can negatively impact core muscle function and strength. Following a c-section, it’s critical to gradually retrain and strengthen the core under the guidance of a physical therapist. In the video below, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapy assistant Patti explains how to safely strengthen your core after a c-section delivery.

Shoulder impingement syndrome develops due to chronic, repeated compression of the rotator cuff tendons and bursa under the acromion, causing pain, swelling, and movement issues. Shoulder impingement can result from repetitive overhead movements such as throwing the baseball, but may also occur due to a fall, muscle weakness in the shoulder joint, or postural abnormalities. Physical therapy can decrease shoulder impingement-related pain and improve shoulder motion and strength through targeted strengthening of the shoulder and upper back.

Patellar tendinitis is a chronic overuse injury involving inflammation of the patellar tendon that is common in basketball, volleyball, and soccer players. Patellar tendinitis can develop due to repetitive running and jumping, sudden and frequent deceleration and acceleration, and training on hard surfaces. Physical therapy can help athletes with patellar tendinitis regain strength, function, and mobility in the knee. Check out our infographic to learn more!

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that impairs movement, coordination, and cognitive function over time. Physical therapy can help a patient with Parkinson’s disease combat movement dysfunction and impaired balance and coordination in a fun and effective way using therapeutic boxing within a comprehensive treatment program. Therapeutic boxing requires full-body movement, combining upper-body punching sequences with lower-body footwork to build strength, counter muscle rigidity, and improve hand-eye coordination, balance, posture, and agility.

Pitcher’s elbow, an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), is caused by repetitive motion and stress on the elbow that results in pain and limits elbow range of motion and strength. Pitcher’s elbow is common among overhead throwing athletes like baseball pitchers, softball and tennis players, and javelin throwers. Physical therapy can effectively treat UCL injury, improving arm and elbow strength and range of motion and enhancing shoulder and core stability for a safe return to sport.