Personalized Return to Activity

People with chronic back pain and sciatica are often shuffled between different providers and clinics for years. It’s exhausting to start over each time with a new practitioner from a different specialty. At Full Stride, my goal is to offer a single, integrated solution—one place where you can get both answers and treatment. I combine multiple specialties to uncover the right mix of approaches to address the root cause of your problems. Book a consultation for 1 on 1 care focused on your needs with undivided attention, listening and no rushed appointments. Together we’ll determine the best next steps and the right plan moving forward towards improvement. See you in Williamsburg!

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Tendonitis is a common cause of hip pain. The tendon can get inflamed from over activity causing hip pain from running. It can also start to atrophy from inactivity and cause tendon issues. We want to walk that fine line of loading but not overdoing it. The hip has several different tendons that this issue can pop up in. Here are some exercises for the hip flexor tendon, gluteal tendon and the hamstring tendon which are common problem sites. These exercises are a good place to get started. As a Chiropractor for runners, feel free to reach out for one-on-one care in regard to your hip pain to find out which ones make the most sense for you.

#hippainrelief #williamsburgbrooklynnyc #chiro #mdt #runninginjuryfree

Hip pain relief for runners in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

If you have been suffering from clicking or pain in your jaw you may respond well to therapy. There are a lot of exercises and lifestyle modifications you can do to improve this. Additionally, improving your mobility with this stretch above can be helpful as well. Check out the blog post below to learn more about how manual therapy can help!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/tmj-mobility-issues

#tmjtreatment #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #mobilitywork #painrelief

TMJ pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Recovering from an injury feels great but it can get a little bit tricky knowing when you are fully recovered or not. It’s natural to shy away from the activities that hurt us. I disagree with that though. You have to push back until you have full function and can participate in anything your body wants to do.

@tension.intervention. Thanks for doing this podcast with me!

#painrelieftherapy #williamsburgbrooklyn #chiro #returntosport #mdt

Pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Here are some good wrist exercises for people feeling stiff in the area. It is common to experience carpal tunnel from our modern lives that begins to aggravate the wrist and hand. We also spend so much time with our wrists flexed forward on our devices that it can sometimes hurt to load the wrist to get up off the floor. Here are a few mobility and grip exercises to get you started.

#wristpainrelief #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #carpaltunnelrelief #healthlifestyle

Chronic pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Check out this article I helped contribute to about the Sit to Stand exercise. This is a great way to test fitness in the older population but is also useful for re-learning movement patterns. If you hurt your back doing a squat and are nervous to get back into it this can be a great way to ease back into doing them. Check out the article linked below.

https://www.eatthis.com/sit-to-stand-test-lower-body-endurance-after-60/

#williamsburgbrooklyn #chiro #lowbackpainrelief #bestchiropractornyc #fitnessfirst

Low back pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Had a great time helping out ON and Brooklyn Running Company put on an event! I helped some athletes through a dynamic warm up before they raced a 400 meter dash in their work clothes. Always fun being involved with such a great community. @brooklynrunningco @on

#williamsburgbrooklyn #runningwarmup #chiro #painrelief #runningrehabilitation

Pain relief for runners in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Pain shooting down the arm or leg can be alarming to experience! Luckily there are predictable patterns that are signs of improvement that might be more than just your pain levels. Check out the blog below to learn more about how to tell if you are doing the right things.

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/centralization

#painrelief #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #mdt #mckenziemethod

Sciatica pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

From leg pain while walking to Marathon training: here is how.

I recently had a patient come in who had not been able to run or walk without pain for close to 6 months and wasn’t sure if it was realistic to train for the marathon again.

They had already tried several quick fixes and rest with minimal improvement and felt that they were only getting worse.

We worked together to find the root cause and begin to slowly load the leg again over a 6 week period and finally got to running again.

Now this runner is getting back into training and feels optimistic about running serious races again.

If these problems sound familiar reach out and we can come up with a plan together.

#chiropractor #williamsburgbrooklyn #lowbackpainrelief #mdt #runningpainfree

Runners with low back pain in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Pain over the SI Joint is a frequent complaint in the office. However, before we can fully understand and treat it, we have to make sure we are working on the right thing. Just because you have pain over the SI joint doesn’t mean it isn’t the Lumbar Spine or the Hip referring to that area instead. Always make sure you are working on the right thing. Check out the full blog post below for more information!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/low-back-pain-generator

#lowbackpainrelief #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #sijointpain #physicaltherapyexercises

Sacroiliac joint pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It is common for people with running injuries to develop low back pain over time. If you have a lower body injury that may alter your gait and over time the spine will load differently which can cause some pain. As you recover from your lower extremity injury you want to make sure the low back pain does not linger on. Here are a few exercises that will target the way your lower extremity affects the lumbar spine.

#runninginjuryrecovery #chirocare #williamsburgbrooklyn #lowbackpainrelief #marathon

Runner with low back pain in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I hurt my shoulder! I actually don’t mind when I hurt something because it gives the opportunity to test things out on myself. Here are the exercises that I have been doing that have been the most helpful for me. These aren’t going to be for everyone but when I do them my shoulder feels a lot better. This is why we have to test movements as we go. There is no cookie cutter plan that fits everyone.

#shoulderpaintreatment #chiropractic #williamsburgbrooklyn #shoulderday #rehabscience

Shoulder pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Lot’s of people experience some knee pain at some point in their lives. It is an especially common area for runners to have issues. When going to the doctor they will often take x-rays that may show arthritis. This sounds scary but it is actually totally normal and does not mean anything for your outcomes. Just because you have been told you have arthritis doesn’t mean you can’t keep exercising and fix your problems. Check out the blog post below for more info!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/life-with-arthritis

#kneepainexercises #chiropractor #williamsburgchiropractic #painrelieftherapy #runnerskneerecovery

Knee pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Many people who have been dealing with chronic low back pain respond well to glute/ core strengthening. You want to start being active so you can get stronger and get more movement in through the day to help with your pain. If the glutes are weak then your back will be overactive to compensate and that can eventually break down and become painful. These are a few exercises to get started with strengthening the glutes. This could be a good initial step to figuring out your pain.

#williamsburgbrooklyn #chiro #backpainrelief #healthandfitness #chiropractornearme

Chronic low back pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Experiencing some low back pain when lifting can be super frustrating. It is confusing when you are told that you need to exercise to fix your problem but exercising is your problem. Understanding when it is and is not appropriate to push through is key to understanding your pain. Check out the blog post below on how to better warm up around your pain so you can stay in the gym and get healthy!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/warm-up-for-back-pain

#williamsburgchiropractor #backpainrelief #chiro #mckenziemdt #lowbackpainexercises

Low back pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Lot’s of snow out there! Shoveling up snow can be a hard task for anyone but it’s an important chore to get done. Anytime you can turn a task into a workout it’s a good idea. Below is an article I helped contribute to about this very topic!

https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/exercises-to-prevent-heart-attacks-shoveling/

#lowbackpainrelief #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #healthandsafety #rehabscience

Low back pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

If you are experiencing some pain and tension with the stretch above then it may be coming from a nerve. If you are experiencing some shooting pain down any of your limbs it probably involves some amount of nerve irritation. Figuring out what is causing that nerve irritation is crucial for creating an effective treatment plan. Check out the blog below for more information

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/how-a-nerve-gets-irritated

#sciaticapainrelief #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #healthjourney #brooklynchiropractor

Sciatica relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

These two exercises are a great start for people with acute neck pain. People will often come in after sleeping funny and going into a neck spasm. The first isometric exercise will get the muscles to calm down and begin to relax. Following that up with a slow and controlled neck circle will get the blood moving and start the initial recovery phase

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #neckpainrelief #health #acutepainrelief

Neck pain in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Sitting for too long can really wear you down. Getting up more frequently can break up the day and get you feeling less bogged down. This is especially important if you are the type of person who sits for work all day and then goes straight to the gym. If you feel like you are getting stuck after sitting there is actually a good explanation for why that is. Check out the blog link below to read more about it!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/muscle-response-after-sitting

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #backpainrelief #backpaintreatment #healthjourney

Back pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

TMJ pain is much more common that people realize. Pain with chewing, eating or just clicking while opening your mouth can be signs that your jaw is not functioning well. There is a time and a place for a night guard but working on these exercises during the day can set you up for success. These are the Rocabado 6x6 exercises. If you do these 6 moves for 6 reps each 6 times a day you will start noticing a change in your jaw symptoms. As always, getting fully assessed first will make sure you are working on the right plan of care. I’ve linked a research article below so you can read some more.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273496058_Effectiveness_of_Rocabado%27s_Technique_for_Subjects_with_Temporomandibular_Joint_Dysfunction_-_A_Single_Blind_Study/fulltext/6949258f7e61d05b53112f2a/Effectiveness-of-Rocabados-Technique-for-Subjects-with-Temporomandibular-Joint-Dysfunction-A-Single-Blind-Study.pdf?origin=publication_detail&_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uRG93bmxvYWQiLCJwcmV2aW91c1BhZ2UiOiJwdWJsaWNhdGlvbiJ9fQ

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #jawpaintreatment #tmjdisorder #healthjourney

TMJ pain in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Stress fractures are an unfortunate reality for a lot of runners. They are a perfect example of why the little bits of recovery are important. Making sure you are properly fueling and sleeping are going to go a long way. Additionally, quickly identifying these bone stress injuries from joint pain are key to prompt diagnosis and catching these early. Check out the blog post for more about my experiences.

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/my-history-with-stress-fractures

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #runninginjuryfree #health #chiropratic

Running injuries in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Here are a few exercises I like to start with for people who have acute sciatica and spine pain. These are some gentle movements to utilize the first few days that the low back pain and leg symptoms begin. The goal with these is to slowly introduce movement with some at home exercises to decrease the inflammation. After the first few days are over pain should start to decrease and we can begin with more intense exercises. Start nice and slow then ramp your way up!

#sciaticapainrelief #chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #health #spinecare

Sciatica pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It’s easy to get pulled in all different directions when trying to figure out what is best for your joint health. There are so many headlines about mobility vs stability and it may get confusing on where to spend your time. I understand how frustrating it may be. Performing an exam can help you identify what best suits your needs. Often the body follows specific patterns as I’ve outlined in the Joint by joint approach blog linked below. Check it out and if this makes sense to you reach out to book an appointment. Check out the blog post below for more info!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/the-joint-by-joint-approach

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #painrelief #jointhealth #brooklynchiropractor

Chiropractor near me in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The first step to getting out of pain is a thorough assessment. We always start by using Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, also known as Mckenzie, to assess joints and classify your condition. After testing different movements and exercises we will have a better understanding of your individual symptoms and can better plan out a road map to recovery. Here are a few movements we might test in someone with headaches

1. Sustained Retraction - Doing a chin tuck and then holding for 30-60 seconds. You can lean into your hands to add some overpressure.
2. Sustained Flexion - Bending your chin to your chest and adding overpressure from the back of your head. This will stretch some of the tissue leading up to the top of your head
3. Deep neck flexor endurance - Strengthening your neck will keep it more resilient during long periods of sitting which may cause headaches.

Not all of these are going to be useful for everyone and part of the exam is figuring out what will work best for you. Everyone’s pain is individual and your treatment plan should be as well. Book an appointment to figure out what will work for you.

#brooklynchiropractor #headacherelief #williamsburgbrooklyn #health #mckenzie

Headache relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This is an x-ray of a fractured wrist repaired with a screw. This patient had some instability in her wrist and had to get surgery to repair which is sometimes necessary. However, a lot of times findings on x-ray or MRI can sound scary but are actually harmless. Around 50% of people without back pain can still have herniated discs on MRI. It’s just not causing pain. Thats why getting a full physical exam before rushing to get imaging done is always important for context. Check out the new blog post below to read more about this!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/imaging-findings

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #painrelief

Chiropractor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

A little about my running career. I began running seriously on my high school cross country team when I was 15. By the end of high school I knew that running in college would be my top priority. I committed to a long term training program over the next 2 years. By the time I hit my junior year of college I was dropping a lot of big PRs. It can get frustrating waiting so long to run fast but that is part of the process. Getting better at running is all about showing up, being patient and staying injury free.

#runninglife #williamsburgbrooklyn #chiro #painrelief #runrunrun

Running injuries in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Achilles tendonitis is another super common running injury. Especially in the beginner population. After a thorough assessment to make sure this is what you have these are a few exercises to get started with. There is more info about this condition in the new blog post.

1. This eccentric exercise is helpful for off loading the Achilles so it is not being aggravated as much while walking and running.

2. This is another banded exercise to slowly start strengthening the ankle during your gait

3. Finally we have some single leg balance while in your toes. This will isometrically load the Achilles while working on your balance.

New blog post: https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/achilles-tendonitis

#chiro #williamsburgbrooklyn #painrelief #runninginjuries #rehabexercise

Ankle pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Here are some shoulder stability exercises to add to your program! If you’ve been having some rotator cuff problems and haven’t seen the progress you want then check out the newest blog post for more info.

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/rotator-cuff-exercises

#chiropractors #shoulderpaintreatment #williamsburgbrooklyn #physicaltherapy #rehab

Shoulder pain relief in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We don’t only do exercise! Most visits also incorporate some level of manual therapy. Here are some of the tools used as an adjunct to get patients ready for a rehab program. People often ask about getting adjusted and there is often a lot of confusion on what that is and what it is for. There is a new blog post on the website that explains!

https://www.fullstridespinesport.com/post/benefits-of-manipulation

#chiro #manipulation #williamsburg #mobilization #manualtherapytechniques

Chiropractor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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Recovery from Running Injuries

As a Chiropractor trained in the Mckenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, our patients play an active role in the thorough recovery process to get up and running confidently back to their lives.

TREATMENT & THERAPY

Patient-Centered Treatment

GAIT ANALYSIS

Addressing gait from the ground up

PHYSICAL REHABILITATION

Learning proper movement patterns

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My Clinic

Mobility and Strength in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Steven Pungello, DC

After years of competitive long-distance running, I knew I wanted to stay in the health and fitness field and help people transition out of high-level sports into becoming high-functioning individuals. After earning degrees in Fitness Development and Chiropractic, I pursued continuing education in McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy to better serve patients with chronic pain and sciatica. I also developed an interest in Functional Range Conditioning to help people build active mobility programs and maintain joint health. My goal is to guide individuals through overcoming pain, regaining mobility, and ultimately improving performance in pursuit of their goals. As a Chiropractor in Williamsburg I want to help the community to become more fit and active through running and exercise!

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Pilates Instructor

Great experience! Steve is attentive and knowledgeable. Our session was not only helpful physically but also educational. I left with more clarity about what’s actually happening with my shoulder and what could help on-going. He explained everything in a way that made sense and gave me specific at-home exercises so I feel confident about my next steps. I appreciate his thoughtful approach and am excited to see improvements!

Runner

I’ve run many marathons over the years and that eventually caught up with me. I ended up with an injury that went from my lower back all the down to my knee which immobilized me about 3 months out from the NYC marathon. After working with DR Pungello for about 6weeks I was completely back training and was able to run the marathon healthy and unimpeded

Chronic Back Pain

Steve is fantastic. He takes the time to really listen and explain things clearly, making you feel confident throughout the process. The adjustments he has made are incredibly effective, I’ve noticed a big improvement in my pain levels and overall mobility. I really appreciate the personalized approach and each visit is tailored to my needs. This is the place to go.