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.

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.

Track and field involve a variety of events that involve running, throwing, and jumping, which can place unique stress on the athlete’s body and contribute to injury. Track injuries are most often chronic overuse injuries such as runner’s knee, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and hamstring injuries. Physical therapists can help track and field athletes manage and recover from overuse injuries and prevent injury through therapeutic exercise, strength training, gait analysis, and manual therapy. Check out our 10 tips to prevent injury this track season!

Physical therapy is essential following an ACL injury and reconstruction surgery to regain function, strength, and mobility in the knee and return to sport safely. The ACL provides stability to the knee and controls complex motion of the knee. It is commonly injured during sports activities when an athlete makes a quick change of direction or speed with the foot firmly planted. ACL injuries are commonly treated with ACL reconstruction surgery followed by an extensive rehabilitation program. A physical therapist works with the injured athlete to regain function and strength in the knee before progressing the athlete through a return to sport protocol.

Tennis is a popular, dynamic sport that requires significant speed, agility, endurance, coordination, and cardiovascular fitness of the tennis player. Due to the intensity and repetitive motions of tennis, tennis players can suffer chronic overuse injuries like tennis elbow and rotator cuff tendinitis and acute injuries like ankle sprains. Physical therapists can help tennis players prevent injury through a strength and conditioning program tailored to their needs and abilities and provide targeted treatment for specific injuries to help tennis players return to competition with restored strength and mobility.

Physical therapy is critical following a meniscus tear injury in order to heal properly and restore strength, mobility, and range of motion in the knee. The meniscus is a c-shaped disc of cartilage that cushions and provides shock absorption in the knee. Meniscus tears are common among athletes, but can also occur due to degeneration and arthritis. Check out our infographic on physical therapy for a meniscus tear!

The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the top of the shinbone and plays a key role in extending your knee. Patellar tendinitis involves inflammation or injury to the patellar tendon often due to repetitive stress and chronic overuse among athletes. It is particularly common among athletes who engage in repetitive jumping, squatting, and running, such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball players, dancers, and weightlifters. Physical therapy can help athletes address patellar tendinitis and regain strength, function, and mobility in the knee through a gradual targeted strengthening exercise program.

Swimming is a low-impact full-body workout that improves muscle strength and tone and cardiovascular fitness with minimal weight-bearing stress on your joints. However, the shoulder is particularly vulnerable to injury due to the repetitive nature of the swim stroke. It is essential to maintain correct biomechanics and proper technique throughout the swim stroke to reduce the risk of a shoulder injury. Check out our tips to improve your swim stroke and avoid injury with physical therapy!

January is National Winter Sports Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Month. Winter sports are played with high velocity and impact potential on the hard surfaces of snow and ice, which can lead to injury. Winter sports account for over 23,500 concussions in the United States each year. It is essential to take proper precautions to protect winter sports athletes and prevent concussions. Should a concussion occur, proper medical care is critical; physical therapists play an important role in winter sports-related concussion management and treatment.

The MCL is the most commonly damaged ligament in the knee that can be sprained or ruptured when a large force is applied to it. The MCL provides support and stability to the knee during lateral and cutting movements and prevents the knee from bending inward toward the other knee. A physical therapist can help an athlete restore function, mobility, stability, and strength to the MCL through therapeutic exercise and targeted strengthening for a safe return to sport.

Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a common overuse injury among runners and cyclists in which the IT band becomes inflamed and painful due to repetitive stress on the IT band. The IT band is a thick band of connective tissue that extends from the pelvis to the tibia, connecting to the outside of the tibia just below the knee. Physical therapists can treat IT band syndrome to lessen pain, restore movement, and return to activity and sport safely through targeted strengthening, gait training, manual therapy, and functional training.

Hamstring injuries are one of the most common sports injuries, particularly in sports requiring high speed, agility, and explosive power. The hamstring muscles are critical for lower body movement, bending the knee to run and jump and controlling actions such as kicking. Preventing hamstring injury is essential and can be achieved through a targeted strengthening program. On the blog, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Mike demonstrates exercises you can do to strengthen your hamstring muscles.

Soccer is an incredibly popular sport with over 13 million Americans playing soccer, three million of whom are youth soccer players. Due to the intensity of soccer’s kicking, sprinting, fast changes in direction, and contact and the increase in year-round competition, both traumatic and overuse injuries can occur. Most soccer injuries occur in the lower extremities, particularly to the ankle, knee, and hamstrings. Physical therapists can help soccer players recover from injury safely through a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

Football is a high-contact sport with one of the highest sport injury rates. Common football injuries include concussions, ACL tears, ankle sprains, turf toe, shoulder dislocation, rotator cuff tears, and hamstring strains. Physical therapy provides effective treatment for football-related injuries, helping the athlete to safely recover and return to sport when fully healed. Physical therapists help athletes regain strength, function, and range of motion through a targeted therapeutic exercise and strengthening program while managing pain and minimizing the risk of future injury.

Volleyball is a dynamic sport that requires a high level of repetitive overhead motion and dynamic power and control, placing a great deal of stress on the shoulders, knees, and ankles. The most common volleyball-related injuries include ankle sprains, patellar tendinitis, ACL injuries, and rotator cuff tendinitis. A physical therapist can treat each of these injuries and help the athlete regain strength, range of motion, and mobility in the injured area for a safe return to sport. Physical therapists also help volleyball players prepare for a successful volleyball season and prevent injury through a comprehensive training program.

Check out our 8 tips to prevent cross-country injuries! Cross country is an outdoor endurance sport that involves running along a trail of natural terrain. The repetitive impact of running on irregular natural terrain can heighten the risk of injury in cross-country runners. Following a training regimen that incorporates cross-training and targeted strengthening plays a crucial role in preventing cross country injuries during the season. A physical therapist can not only effectively treat any injuries that occur, but also help cross country runners prepare for a successful season through a customized exercise program.

Summer is peak season for both the amateur and professional golfer involving hours spent on the golf course. The golf swing is one of the most dynamic motions in sports, placing an immense amount of stress on the body. If the body is not properly prepared for the golf season, a golfer may engage in faulty swing mechanics, resulting in injury and lowered performance. A physical therapist can help you improve both the consistency and power of your golf swing and address any strength, balance, or biomechanical issues that are negatively impacting your golf swing.

Return to sport testing is critical to ensure that an athlete is ready to return to competition and to prevent future re-injury. Return to sport testing is most commonly performed after ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation. At Mangiarelli Rehabilitation, our sports medicine physical therapists provide a thorough, evidence-based functional return to sport test for athletes of all ages. Check out our video below to learn more about the return to sport testing process after ACL rehabilitation at our clinic!

Shin splints are a common athletic injury, causing pain and tenderness in the shinbone and muscles. Shin splints often occur due to too much repetitive force placed on the shinbone and muscles too soon, particularly when athletes first begin a sports season. Physical therapy can help reduce pain, strengthen the affected muscles, and maintain fitness to help athletes return to sport safely. Check out our infographic to learn how to heal shin splints with physical therapy!