A sports hernia is a soft tissue injury that occurs in the groin area, involving a strain or tear in a muscle, tendon, or ligament deep in the abdominal wall. A sports hernia is often due to intense repetitive or explosive twisting movements or sudden changes in direction and commonly affects soccer, football, rugby, and hockey players. Physical therapists play a critical role in helping an athlete recover from and return to sport safely after a sports hernia.

Running has numerous benefits, including increased cardiovascular fitness and stronger muscles and joints. However, running injuries are a fairly common occurrence due to the repetitive stress that the act of running can place on certain joints and muscle groups. Physical therapists can help runners manage common injuries like runner’s knee and plantar fasciitis with personalized treatment that includes pain management, exercise rehabilitation, manual therapy, and body mechanic instruction.

A shoulder labral tear involves partial or total separation of the labrum from the shoulder socket, often due to excessive trauma to the joint from overuse or direct injury. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the rim of the shoulder socket, providing stability to the shoulder joint and a cushion to the shoulder during activity. Physical therapy can help those with shoulder labral tears regain strength, stability, and range of motion in the shoulder joint through manual therapy, postural training, and a stretching and strengthening exercise program.

Golfer’s elbow is an overuse injury that develops when the tendons on the inside of the forearm become inflamed and painful. It occurs due to repetitive use of the forearm, hand, wrist, and elbow, affecting golfers, baseball players, and tennis players. Physical therapy provides timely and effective treatment for golfer’s elbow to reduce pain, restore function and strength to the elbow, forearm, and wrist, and address body mechanics to prevent the condition from recurring. In today’s blog, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist, Bobby, demonstrates exercises for golfer’s elbow to strengthen the wrist, forearm, and elbow.

Baseball is America’s favorite pastime, a sport beloved and played by those of all ages from Little League and high school through college and the Major Leagues. As we start the baseball season, it’s critical to address common baseball injuries, particularly to the shoulder and elbow, that can result from overuse in a timely and effective manner. Physical therapy provides effective treatment for common baseball injuries to help players return to their previous level of function, improve body and throwing mechanics, and return players to sport as quickly and safely as possible.

Whether you are cycling outdoors in the warm spring weather, participating in a spin class, or competing at the professional level in cycling, it’s important to take steps to prevent injury. Cycling is an excellent low-impact activity that improves overall fitness, cardiovascular health, and core and leg strength without placing too much stress on your joints. However, cycling injuries can occur due to overuse, improper bike setup, and lack of a proper warm-up and cool down. Check out our 8 tips to prevent injury when cycling this spring!

Groin pain is often related to a strain or tear of the groin muscles, a complex of muscles that support movement of the hip joint. Groin injury is common in athletes, resulting from quick starts and stops, sudden trauma on the field, and repetitive overuse. Physical therapy can provide effective treatment for groin injuries, reducing pain and gradually improving muscle strength, mobility, and agility through a customized rehabilitation program.

Turf toe is a common injury among athletes who compete on artificial turf. Turf toe occurs when the big toe is forced into extreme positions of hyperextension, causing a sprain in the main joint of the big toe. Turf toe can happen when an athlete pushes off to sprint or is tackled with the front of the foot fixed and jammed into the ground. Physical therapy is key to avert and limit stiffness in the big toe and safely heal and strengthen the injured area.

Competitive swimming can place swimmers at a higher risk of shoulder pain due to the repetitive overhead motion required. The majority of swimming injuries are related to the shoulder, although injuries to the neck, back, and knee are also common. Physical therapy addresses these injuries through sport-specific training and a comprehensive rehabilitation program to improve strength, endurance, mobility, and stability.

Hamstring strain injuries are common musculoskeletal injuries among athletes of all levels, resulting when one or more of the three hamstring muscles or tendons are strained or torn. The hamstring muscle group is critical for lower body movement and allows for straightening of the hip and bending of the knee. Physical therapy plays a critical role in properly rehabilitating hamstring strain injuries and preventing an acute hamstring strain injury from becoming chronic through a structured therapeutic exercise program.

A meniscal tear is a common injury in athletes that involves the tearing of the knee’s cartilage. The meniscus is a disc of cartilage that cushions and stabilizes the knee and allows for fluid movements in various directions. Physical therapy is critical following a meniscal tear and surgery in order to heal properly and restore strength and movement to the knee for a safe return to sport. Check out our video of a student athlete’s progress during physical therapy following a meniscal tear and meniscectomy.

Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist, Mike, explains how the BTE PrimusRS testing equipment is used in the clinic's sports medicine program for the treatment of injured athletes. The BTE PrimusRS allows our therapists to determine an athlete's ability, progress, and return to sport based on objective measurements from time of injury to return to sport.

Basketball is a fast-paced, intense sport demanding a high level of athleticism, endurance, and agility. Whether your goal as a basketball player is to prepare effectively for the season or return to sport after an injury, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation sports medicine physical therapists are qualified to guide you through a pre-season comprehensive exercise program and provide excellent rehabilitative care to ensure you recover from injury and return to your sport safely and in optimal form.

Shin splints are one of the most common athletic injuries. A shin splint is an inflammatory condition of the shinbone that causes tenderness in the bones and muscles of the lower leg. Shin splints often occur due to repetitive force on the shinbone and muscles in athletes that recently started their sports season or suddenly increased the intensity and frequency of their workouts. Physical therapists work with athletes to safely address shin splints and strengthen muscle imbalances that may have contributed to the injury.

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that can cause physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. It can happen during sports, due to a fall, or a car or work accident. Physical therapists use evidence-based treatment and a rehabilitation treatment plan customized to the specific needs of the patient to help them recuperate safely and return to activity. Receiving timely, well-monitored treatment for a concussion is critical to achieving full recovery.

An ACL injury is a common sports injury affecting high school athletes. The ACL is a major ligament located in the center of the knee joint that stabilizes the knee. ACL rehabilitation with an experienced sports medicine physical therapist is crucial for a full recovery and a safe, healthy return to the athletic field. Check out our ACL Rehabilitation infographic to learn more!

The start of fall brings with it the excitement of a new sports season. Training for the fall season begins in the summer so that athletes are prepared and ready for a successful season. However, due to contact or overuse, sports injuries can occur. Physical therapy can help student-athletes regain strength, function, and range of motion safely following sports injuries.

Preparation for the fall sports season begins months before with summer conditioning. Summer conditioning is the foundation upon which the coming year’s season is built and it helps reduce the number of in-season injuries. Conditioning allows athletes to slowly prepare the body for the sports season by progressively building up the intensity of exercise. Sports conditioning in summer heat not only makes you a better-conditioned athlete in the summer months but also leads to a significant jump in performance when the weather cools down. Check out Mangairelli Rehabilitation’s 6 Tips for a Safe and Healthy Sports Summer Conditioning!

Golf can place a great deal of stress on the body due to the explosiveness of the golf swing and can cause injury to the back, shoulder, wrist, elbow, and knee. Whether you want to prepare for your best summer golfing yet or address underlying pain issues that exhibit when golfing, physical therapy can help you heal from and prevent golf injuries. Golf injury physical therapy helps a golfer implement proper biomechanics and body movement to avoid injury, eliminate current pain, and improve the quality and consistency of the golf swing.

The ACL is a primary ligament located in the knee joint. ACL injuries can occur through contact (helmet to the knee) or non-contact injury (sudden pivot or change of direction). Symptoms of an ACL injury include pain, an audible pop in the knee, swelling, and limited range of motion. Rehabilitation for an ACL injury typically is 9 to 16 months. Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist, Bobby, works with athletes to improve their range of motion and help them safely return to their sport through an intensive rehabilitation process.