Kenneth Vitale, MD
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist
- Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
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Kenneth Vitale, MD, is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who specializes in sports medicine and sports nutrition. As a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician (also known as a physiatrist), Dr. Vitale's expertise is in guiding individuals with orthopedic conditions through a variety of nonsurgical treatment options.
In particular, Dr. Vitale treats people with sports injuries, muscle and joint injuries, tendonitis, bursitis and arthritis. Common injuries he sees include meniscal tears, labral tears of the shoulder and hip, rotator cuff problems, hamstring injuries, ligament sprains, shoulder injuries and dislocations. His treatment recommendations may involve therapeutic exercises, physical therapy, steroid injections, hyaluronate injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and nutritional supplementation. His treatment approach aims to facilitate the body's natural healing, improve biomechanics and overall function. He frequently works with UC San Diego Health's athletic trainers to help his patient-athletes (cyclists, swimmers, triathletes, baseball and softball players, martial arts participants and weightlifters) return to sport.
As a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Vitale instructs medical students, residents and fellows on lifestyle and exercise medicine, and public health. His research interests include musculoskeletal ultrasound, platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections, and sports nutrition. He is also interested in the use of AlterG anti-gravity treadmill exercises for more effective lower body rehabilitation.
Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Vitale was an assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine and cared for patients at NYU Langone Health in New York City. He also worked at a medical office that served the Japanese community.
He completed his residency at NYU Langone Health's Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr. Vitale earned his medical degree at NYU School of Medicine. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with subspecialty certification in sports medicine. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is also certified in fitness nutrition by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Outside of work Dr. Vitale enjoys staying healthy through sports, exercise and healthy nutrition. He has competed in baseball leagues, martial arts events, cycling and a few triathlons, and has played through many sports injuries. Dr. Vitale also enjoys art culture with his wife and playing with his children.
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For more information, see Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine.
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For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.
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