Shin splints are a common soccer injury that involves inflammation of the tibia and surrounding muscles, which strain where they connect to the tibia and develop micro-tears, causing pain through the lower leg. Shin splints often occur early in the season during intense conditioning due to a rapid increase in the frequency and duration of exercise that places too much stress on the shin bone and muscles. Physical therapy can help soccer players manage shin splint-related pain, restore function and strength in the lower leg, and help athletes return to sport safely.

Hip impingement is a structural or mechanical disorder of the hip that involves a change in the shape of the surface of the hip joint, leading to stiffness, pain, and damage to tissue and bone. Hip impingement can result from excessive contact between the ball and socket of the hip joint, a structural variation in the shape of the bones of the hip, or changes in muscle length and activation at the hip. Physical therapy helps patients with hip impingement regain movement, flexibility, and strength in the hip and return to regular activities and sports safely through a hip strengthening and core stabilization exercise program.

Check out our August 2022 Newsletter, which highlights physical therapy for shoulder osteoarthritis, back-to-school ergonomics, how to improve your golf swing, and 12 tips for running in the heat.

On the blog, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Bobby demonstrates exercises to relieve acute low back pain. Low back pain is the most common condition treated by physical therapists, affecting 30% of Americans each year. Low back pain can involve dull, burning, throbbing, sharp, or shooting pain in the lumbar spine and through the buttocks and leg. Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for low back pain. A physical therapist can improve and restore mobility in the low back as well as reduce low back pain without expensive surgery or pain medications.

Check out our staff spotlight of our medical records technician, Sharon. Sharon works with our office manager Drena to serve our physical therapy patients through pre-registering and scheduling patients, scanning reports, and preparing patient charts. She joined our staff in March 2022. Welcome to Mangiarelli Rehabilitation Sharon!

Elbow bursitis involves inflammation of the tip of the elbow due to irritation of the olecranon bursa, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited range of motion at the elbow. Elbow bursitis can develop after a direct hit to the elbow during a sport or most commonly from prolonged pressure on and repetitive use of the elbow. A physical therapist can help reduce elbow bursitis-associated pain, swelling, and stiffness, speed recovery and restore movement and range of motion in the elbow and upper extremity.

Check out our infographic on physical therapy for piriformis syndrome! Piriformis syndrome develops due to tightening of the piriformis muscle, which can irritate and compress the sciatic nerve and cause pain through the buttocks, low back, and back of the leg. Physical therapy can isolate the true origin of the piriformis syndrome pain, help relieve pain, and restore normal movement and range of motion in the affected area through stretching, manual therapy, and targeted strengthening.

Running in the summer heat places tremendous stress on your body, raising your body temperature, increasing your heart rate, and causing you to sweat more. It is essential to take proper steps to ensure safe summer runs that enhance your running skill without overtaxing your body or leading to heat-related illness. Check out our 12 tips for running safely in the heat!

Shoulder osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that lines the shoulder joint is worn or torn away, causing pain, swelling, and reduced function in the shoulder. Shoulder osteoarthritis most commonly affects those over age 50, particularly older women. Physical therapy can help those with shoulder osteoarthritis manage and decrease pain, prevent progression of the disease, and restore movement and function in the shoulder. If the osteoarthritis is severe, surgery may be recommended to restore function followed by intensive rehabilitative care.

Hiking is a fun outdoor activity to engage in with family and friends throughout the summer and has numerous health benefits. However, hiking can be arduous, placing significant physical stress on the body as you navigate varied terrain and high temperatures. Check out our tips for preventing common hiking injuries like knee pain, ankle sprains, and heat exhaustion and what to do to ensure a safe hike this summer!

Check out our July 2022 Newsletter that highlights physical therapy treatment for cervicogenic headaches, how to prevent shoulder injuries in baseball pitchers, using the rebounder in physical therapy treatment, and tips for safe summer runs.

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.

Check out our June 2022 Newsletter that highlights the health benefits of exercise, the role of exercise in osteoporosis treatment, how physical therapy can relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, and migraine and headache awareness month.