[Skip to Content]
young patient working with physical therapist Maureen Mancuso

Sports Program

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at University Hospital offers physical therapy services to individuals recovering from injury sustained during sporting competitions or practice.

Injuries to athletes may include sprains, strains, overuse injuries, and fractures, and can result in missed practice time or the inability to compete in games. Whether you are a high school or collegiate athlete, a youth athlete just learning a sport, or a recreational/weekend athlete, injuries are a common occurrence, and we are here to help you return to the sports you love.

Expand all

What to expect at Upstate's Regional Rehabilitation Center?

Here at Upstate, we treat athletes of all ages and abilities. The physical therapists in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department Sports Program offer a one-on-one, comprehensive examination and treatment approach focused on returning you to competition as quickly and safely as possible with the latest techniques and equipment. Recovery from an injury requires the athlete to progress through different levels of healing, loading, and sport-specific movement patterns.

What does the Regional Rehabilitation Center offer for Sports Related Injuries?

First and foremost, our goal is to help you return to your sport as quickly and safely as possible! Many of the therapists are board-certified specialists. Our highly skilled team has an extensive background in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Strength & Conditioning. As a collaborative team with our physicians, we have established upper extremity and lower extremity testing batteries to assess your readiness to safely return to sport.

Your treatment may include:

  • Individualized home training program to supplement progress in the clinic
  • Sport-specific training to improve performance and reduce risk of re-injury
  • Team-based reintegration to your sport with your physician, Athletic Trainer and coach
  • Strengthening exercises to restore function
  • Range of motion and stretching to address mobility deficits
  • Manual Therapy techniques, such as massage or joint mobilization
  • Balance/Proprioceptive training
  • Supportive taping techniques
  • Modalities for controlling pain and inflammation

Your rehabilitation will also include education on prevention of re-injury and sport performance enhancement.

State of the Art Techniques & Technology

Throughout your recovery, we employ a large variety of treatment techniques as outlined above. We may also utilize video analysis to more closely examine your form when running, throwing, or swinging a golf club/baseball bat. We use handheld dynamometry to determine exact strength measurements, and have a wide variety of weight machines, free weights, and sports equipment to facilitate the best environment for your rehabilitation journey. The Institute for Human Performance (located near our Downtown hospital campus and Syracuse University) houses an indoor track, a pool, and expansive open space in which we can simulate your specific sport demands.

Helpful Links:

                              A physician’s referral is required in order to receive therapy services. 

                                              To contact the Regional Rehabilitation Center:

                                                                  Phone: 315-464-6543

                                                                     Fax: 315-464-4753

Providers

Timothy J Abel, PT
Timothy J Abel, PT
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 2008

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Amanda M Drake, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Amanda M Drake, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • Residency: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 2019, Orthopedics
  • DPT: Utica College, 2018
  • BS: D'Youville College, 2015, Sports Science

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Certified Strength and Conditioning Spec; Orthopaedic Physical Therapy; Physical Therapy; Physical Therapy; Achilles Tendon Injury; Acute Pain; more

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Maureen E Harnan, PT, DPT, OCS
Maureen E Harnan, PT, DPT, OCS
315 464-6543

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy; Achilles Tendon Injury; Ankle Sprain; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Arthritis; Broken Ankle; more

Bethany M Hudson, PT
Bethany M Hudson, PT
315 464-6543

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

LSVT Big; Ankle Sprain; Foot and Ankle; Knee Pain; Knee Sprain; Low Back Pain; more

Joseph P Losurdo, PT, DPT
Joseph P Losurdo, PT, DPT
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: Temple University, 2014
  • BA: LeMoyne College, Syracuse NY, 2010

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Acute Pain; Ankle Sprain; Ankle Sprain; Ankle Sprain; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; more

Steven Lounsbury, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CAFS
Steven Lounsbury, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CAFS
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: Nazareth College of Rochester, 2020, Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • BS: Nazareth College of Rochester, 2018, Health Sciences, Psychology

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Certified Strength and Conditioning Spec; Orthopaedic Physical Therapy; Achilles Tendon Injury; Ankle Sprain; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Cervical Radiculopathy; more

Research Interests

  • Biomechanical Analysis, Sports Rehabiliation/Return to Play, Orthopedic Injuries/Current Treatment Approaches

Clinical Interests

  • Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Biomechanical Analysis, Performance Therapy

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Kelly Meyers, PT, DPT, CSCS
Kelly Meyers, PT, DPT, CSCS
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse, 2006, physical therapy
  • MS: Ithaca College, 1997, Physical Therapy

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Physical Therapy; Certified Strength and Conditioning Spec; Foot and Ankle; Sports Medicine, Shoulder, Knee, and Ankle; Foot and Ankle; Outpatient Physical Therapy; more

Clinical Interests

  • Dance medicine, Pilates, foot orthotics, gait analysis

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Jacob W Nigolian, PT, DPT, OCS
Jacob W Nigolian, PT, DPT, OCS
315 464-5540

Education & Fellowships

  • Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, 2019, Orthopaedics
  • DPT: Utica College, 2018

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy; Orthopaedic (Musculoskeletal) Rehabilitation; Orthopedic Physical Therapy; Sports Injury Rehabilitation

Research Interests

  • Overhead athletes, upper and lower extremity return to sport

Clinical Interests

  • Sports and Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Member

Julie C Randall, PT
Julie C Randall, PT
315 464-8668

Christine L Rieger, PT
Christine L Rieger, PT
315 464-2233

Education & Fellowships

  • BS: City University of New York, 1995, Physical therapy

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Foot and Ankle; Hip Fracture; Knee Cartilage Tear; Knee Pain; Shoulder Injuries; more

Jeffrey Romans, PT
Jeffrey Romans, PT
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: SUNY Stony Brook, 2013

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Physical Therapy; Achilles Tendon Injury; Cervical Radiculopathy; Knee Cartilage Tear; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Stenosis; more

Clinical Interests

  • Sports Rehab. Spine Rehab. Pain Sciences. Orthopedics.

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Adam P Rufa, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
Adam P Rufa, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
315 464-6883

Education & Fellowships

  • PhD: Nova Southeastern University, 2020
  • DPT: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2008
  • PT: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2002
  • BS: LeMoyne College, Syracuse NY, 1999

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy; Physical Therapy

Research Interests

  • Maximizing outcomes for patients with pain related conditions.

Clinical Interests

  • Manual therapy

    Chronic pain

    Spine care

    Orthopedics

    Sports

    Complex Regional Pain Syndrome


Kaitlin M Skiff, PT, DPT
Kaitlin M Skiff, PT, DPT
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: Ithaca College, 2010

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Physical Therapy; Concussion; Foot and Ankle; Knee Pain; Low Back Pain; Neck Injuries; more

Thomas M Spangenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS
Thomas M Spangenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2013
  • BS: University of Rochester, 2007

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Certified Strength and Conditioning Spec; Physical Therapy; Achilles Tendon Injury; Ankle Sprain; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Arthritis; more

Education Interests

  • McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy

Clinical Interests

  • Treatment of low back pain and spinal related disorders.  Management of acute and chronic orthopedic conditions. Sports injuries and rehabilitation.


Ryan C Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS, SFMA-C, FMS
Ryan C Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS, SFMA-C, FMS
315 464-6543

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Lumbar Stenosis; Rotator Cuff Injury; Runner's Knee; Shoulder Injuries

Timothy J Stayer, PT, DPT, OCS
Timothy J Stayer, PT, DPT, OCS
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2016
  • PT: SUNY Upstate Medical Center, 1985

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Physical Therapy; Orthopaedic Physical Therapy; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Rotator Cuff Injury; Rotator Cuff Injury; Shoulder Injuries; more

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Adam R Strizak, PT, DPT
Adam R Strizak, PT, DPT
315 464-6543

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Physical Therapy; Cervical Radiculopathy; Chronic Pain; Fibromyalgia; Foot and Ankle; Frozen Shoulder; more

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Jennifer L Strizak, PT, DPT
Jennifer L Strizak, PT, DPT
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2015

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Vestibular Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy; Achilles Tendon Injury; Acute Pain; Ankle Sprain; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; more

Associations/Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Sarah C Talbot, PT, DPT, OCS
Sarah C Talbot, PT, DPT, OCS
315 464-6543

Education & Fellowships

  • DPT: Northeastern University, 2008

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Physical Therapy; Ankle Sprain; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Bunion; Foot and Ankle; Hamstring Strain; more

Clinical Interests

  • Foot and ankle rehabilitation


Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at IHP
Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at IHP
Institute For Human Performance (IHP)
Google Maps & Directions
1st Fl.
505 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
Phone: 315 464-6543
Fax: 315 464-4753
Hours:Mon. Wed. Fri. - 7am-4:30pm; Tues. Thurs. - 7am-6pm
Clinic Details | Visit Website

Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Bone & Joint Center
Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Bone & Joint Center
Upstate Bone and Joint Center
Google Maps & Directions
Suite 201
6620 Fly Road, East Syracuse, NY 13057
Phone: 315 464-6543
Fax: 315 464-4753
Hours:Mon. Wed. Fri. - 8am-4:30pm; Tues. Thurs. - 8am-6pm
Clinic Details | Visit Website

Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Manlius
Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Manlius
Manlius Health Center
Google Maps & Directions
Suite 200
102 West Seneca Street, Manlius, NY 13104
Phone: 315 464-6543
Fax: 315 464-4753
Hours:Mon. Wed. Fri. - 8am-4:30pm; Tues. Thurs. - 7:30am-6pm
Clinic Details | Visit Website

Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Western Lights
Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Western Lights
Upstate Rehabilitation at Western Lights
Google Maps & Directions
Suite B-100
4671 Onondaga Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13219
Phone: 315 464-6543
Fax: 315 464-4753
Hours:M, W: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Tues & Thurs: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Fri: 7:30am - 4pm
Clinic Details | Visit Website

Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Township 5
Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at Township 5
Township 5 Camillus
Google Maps & Directions
Suite 500
208 Township Blvd, Camillus, NY 13031
Phone: 315 464-6543
Clinic Details
Top