Dr. Stephen Caronia has been practicing orthopedic physical therapy for over 8 years. He graduated from Long Island University in 2007 with a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and received the department’s Award for Academic Excellence. In 2012, he earned a board certification in orthopedics from the American Physical Therapy Specialization Council. In 2016 he earned the title of Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist from Maitland-Australian Physiotherapy. In addition, his continuing education experience includes functional training for athletes and advanced exercise in orthopedic rehabilitation. Dr. Caronia has clinical experience with a vast array of patients and many different conditions. He has treated all levels of athletes ranging from weekend warriors to professionals. He had the privilege of treating New York’s Finest (NYPD), Bravest (FDNY), and Strongest (Dept. of Sanitation) in addition to treating the NYPD and FDNY football teams. He has treated numerous patients with chronic pain, whether stemming from old trauma or conditions such as arthritis. He has treated patients with complex surgeries performed at the greatest hospitals in New York City, including the Hospital for Special Surgery and NYU Hospital for Joint Disease. Everything from a simple ankle sprain to complex surgical cases fall under Dr. Caronia’s umbrella of expertise. Dr. Caronia has taught and instructed in multiple settings. He has served as a clinical instructor to numerous physical therapy students and lectured at Long Island University at the graduate level. He is co-founder of C&M OrthoSports, a company that provides continuing education to practicing physical therapists on examination, manual therapy, and exercise. In addition to teaching, he was the assistant to the editor and contributor to the fifth edition of Physical Rehabilitation, a leading textbook in the field of physical therapy. As an undergraduate at St. Francis College in New York, Dr. Caronia worked alongside the strength and conditioning coach, assisting in program design and training for the Division I school’s athletes. He became the assistant coach of the college’s powerlifting team, which competed on the state and national levels in USA Powerlifting and Anti-Drug Athletes United (ADAU). As a competitor, Dr. Caronia was the American Record holder for the bench press in the drug-free and raw ADAU. He has been an avid recreational athlete throughout his life, enjoying football, baseball, basketball, and running in addition to competitive powerlifting. Dr. Caronia’s wide array of experiences throughout his career have helped mold his approach to treating his patients. He encourages the active participation of each patient in their rehabilitation by spending time discussing their condition and relevant anatomy and biomechanics. His dedication to teaching and learning enables him to blend the most current evidence with his clinical experience to formulate a plan of care tailored to each specific patient. These factors combined will create a treatment experience that leads to sustained wellness.
Salami was born in Oklahoma in 2003. He found his way to Brooklyn the following summer and, in a true “how much is that doggie in the window” moment, wound up in (not yet) Dr. Caronia’s home. He’s been a loyal and loving part of the family ever since. In 2013, Salami woke up one day unable to stand on his hind legs. An MRI revealed a multitude of lower back problems, true to his breed. He underwent spine surgery at VERG Animal Hospital, performed by the exceptional Dr. Raymond Prata. It was an immense success. Salami completed a home rehabilitation program led by his dad, consisting primarily of back rubs and hobbling/walking around the house chasing a treat. Fully recovered, Salami can now be found patrolling Dr. Caronia’s office as if nothing ever happened.
Stephen Caronia PT, DPT, OCS, COMT