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Kenneth Vitale

Photo of Kenneth Vitale
Title(s)Clinical Professor, Orthopedic Surgery
SchoolVc-health Sciences-schools
Address9500 Gilman Drive #
La Jolla CA 92093
Emailkvitale@ucsd.edu
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    American Board of Physical Medicine & RehabilitationBoard Certification2009Sports Medicine
    American Board of Physical Medicine & RehabilitationBoard Certification2006PM&R
    NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NYResidency2005Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
    NYU School of Medicine, New York, NYMD2001Medicine
    Collapse awards and honors
    Department of Orthopaedic Surgery2025Educational Term Chair
    San Diego Magazine2025San Diego Top Doctors 2025
    American College of Sports Medicine Southwest chapter2024President
    American College of Sports Medicine2024Section Editor, Current Sports Medicine Reports
    UCSD Health2023Academy of Clinician Scholars
    San Diego Magazine2020San Diego Top Doctors
    American College of Sports Medicine2019Fellow, FACSM
    UCSD School of Medicine2018Excellence in Teaching Award
    UCSD Academy of Clinician Scholars2015Academy of Clinician Scholars Grant
    American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation2006Fellow, AAPM&R
    NYU Langone School of Medicine1997NYU Academic Scholarship
    Rutgers University1995Golden Key National Honor Society

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Kenneth Vitale MD, FACSM, FAAPMR is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and has subspecialty certification in Sports Medicine.

    As a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Vitale instructs medical students, residents and fellows. He is course faculty for various classes at UCSD School of Medicine, including the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) course, the Practice of Medicine (POM) course, ultrasound curriculum (SOMT course), and is one of the teaching faculty in the anatomy labs.

    Dr. Vitale is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He has served on the Medical Education Committee for the American College of Sports Medicine, held an at-large position on the board of directors for the ACSM Southwest Chapter, and also served as President for the Southwest American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Vitale is currently a Section Editor for Current Sports Medicine Reports and serves as Department Wellness Director for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

    He completed his PM&R residency at NYU Langone Medical Center and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. He received his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and graduated summa cum laude in Biology from Rutgers University.

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
    Collapse Featured Publications

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. The 5-Minute Sports Medicine Consult. Thoracic Spine Injury. 2026. Vitale K. .
    2. AAPM&R Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City. Atypical Longitudinal Femoral Shaft Stress Fracture in a Young Runner: A Case Report. 2025. Kim K, Vitale K. .
    3. American College of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference. Linburg-Comstock Syndrome: Case-based Perspectives on Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes. 2025. Kim K, Gomez A, Huang B, Vitale K. .
    4. Lifestyle Medicine for Obesity in the Era of Highly Effective Anti-Obesity Treatment. Nutrients. 2025 Jul 21; 17(14). Sannidhi D, Abeles R, Andrew W, Bonnet JP, Vitale K, Niranjan V, Gulati M, Pauly K, Moran R, Alexander L, Le C, Rajan S, Romero C. PMID: 40733007; PMCID: PMC12300522.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Diagnosis and Management of Common Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Pickleball Athlete (Review). Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports. 2025; 1(13):1–9. Massillon D, Anders A, Vitale K. View Publication.
    6. Traction Sural Neuropathy Following Nonoperative Management of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 Nov; 16(11):e74420. Kim KJ, Cuturrufo IV, Vitale K. PMID: 39723276; PMCID: PMC11669370.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    7. AAPM&R Annual Meeting, San Diego. Diagnosing and Treating a Rare Superficial Palmar Arch Aneurysm: A Case Report. 2024. Kim K, Vitale K. .
    8. More Than Just Another Elbow Tendinopathy: A Case Series of Misdiagnosed Ulnar Nerve Compression and Review of Common Upper Extremity Misdiagnoses in Climbing. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2024 Oct 01; 23(10):340-347. Meller LLT, Allen MR, Sigua LH, Hooper J, Vitale K. PMID: 39514725.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Osteochondral lesions in Wilson's disease: case report and literature review. AME Case Rep. 2024; 8:80. Valmadrid LC, Lystad H, Smitaman E, Vitale K. PMID: 39091553; PMCID: PMC11292064.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    10. Golf Swing-Induced Pacemaker Atrial Noise and Extraction: A Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus. 2024 Jun; 16(6):e63409. Akkad G, Meller L, Allen M, Wilson K, Vitale K. PMID: 39070418; PMCID: PMC11283872.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    11. Endurance Sports Medicine. Performance-Based Nutrition for Endurance Training. 2023. Liu, S., Hueglin, S., Scaramella, J., Vitale, K. View Publication.
    12. Intramuscular Degloving Injury of the Rectus Femoris From Kickball: A Case Report and Review. Cureus. 2023 Jul; 15(7):e42230. Meller L, Oca MC, Wilson K, Allen M, Smitaman E, Kalavacherla S, Vitale K. PMID: 37605671; PMCID: PMC10440009.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    13. Return to Sport Using Corticosteroid Injections for Knee Pain in Triathletes. Cureus. 2023 Jun; 15(6):e39985. Norman MB, Norman ER, Langer GH, Allen MR, Meller L, Vitale KC. PMID: 37416041; PMCID: PMC10321459.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    14. Underlying Subclavian Artery Occlusion Initially Misdiagnosed in Weightlifter Using Anabolic Steroids: A Case Report and Review of Literature. Cureus. 2023 Apr; 15(4):e37763. Meller L, Wilson K, Huang B, Kalavacherla S, Vitale K. PMID: 37213978; PMCID: PMC10193885.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    15. Textbook of LifeStyle Medicine. Improving the Care of Children with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: CDC’s Evidence-based Pediatric mTBI Guideline. 2022. Sarmiento K, Lumba-Brown A, Breiding M, Gordon W, Paulk D, Vitale K, Sleet D.
    16. Int J Exercise Science: Conf Proc. Anomalous Rib and Nonunion of a First Rib Fracture Causing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in a Football Player. 2022; 2(14):28. Diomino A, Bongbong D, Vitale K. .
    17. Int J Exercise Science: Conf Proc. Snapping Triceps Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Medial Elbow Pain. 2022; 2(14):18. Bongbong D, Gilbert K, Vitale K, Tram J.
    18. Int J Exercise Science: Conf Proc. Bilateral Tibial Stress Fracture in an Inexperienced Athlete. 2022; 2(14):33. Gilbert K, Tram J, Vitale K. .
    19. AAPM&R 2022 Annual Meeting. Full-length Edema of the Fibular Bone Marrow After a Skiing Accident. 2022. Bongbong D, Vitale K. .
    20. RARE CASE OF HIP PAIN DUE TO ILIOPSOAS TENDON RUPTURE; A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. J Rehabil Med Clin Commun. 2022; 5:2541. Anders A, Vitale K. PMID: 36059796; PMCID: PMC9422879.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    21. The “Giant” Median Nerve, a Rare Diagnosis Presenting as Routine Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Case Series and Literature Review. Int J Physiatry. 2022; 023(8). Tram J, Vitale K. View Publication.
    22. Int J Exercise Science: Conf Proc. Assessing Changes in Exercise, Dietary and Sleeping Habits in Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 2021; 1(14):58. Tram, Jennifer; Tram, Justin; MacMillen, Caitlin; Merrill, Sarah; and Vitale, Kenneth FACSM.
    23. Int J Exercise Science: Conf Proc. Rare Case of Simultaneous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Musculocutaneous Neuropathy in a Baseball Pitcher. 2021; 1(14):87. Liu, Steven C. and Vitale, Kenneth.
    24. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021. Rare Cause of Scapular Crepitus and Clicking in a Golfer. 2021; 8S(53):428-429. Sada, Isaac Johny; Vitale, Kenneth FACSM.
    25. Med Sci Sports Exerc. The Bionic Man: Fascinating Case of Every Major Orthopedic Surgery of All Major Joints in One Patient. 2021; 8S(53):394. Liu, Steven C.; Vitale, Kenneth FACSM.
    26. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health, Stress, Energy, and Sleep in Undergraduate Students. 2021; 8S(53):302. Nitahara, Kayla; Doan, Alan; Vitale, Kenneth FACSM.
    27. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Rib Pain in Athletes: A Golfing Case Study. 2021; 8S(53):422-423. Simon, Laura E.; Lee, Haewon; Vitale, Kenneth FACSM.
    28. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Cycling Injury With Uncommon Location of a Common Finding. 2021; 8S(53):426. Chen, Renjie; Liu, Steven C.; Vitale, Kenneth FACSM.
    29. Bone Stress Injuries. Prevention of Bone Stress Injuries. 2021. Vitale K, Tenforde A, Fredericson M.
    30. Update on vegetarian and vegan athletes: a review. The Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine. 2021; 10(1):1-11. Kenneth Vitale, Shawn Hueglin. View Publication.
    31. Pickleball: Review and Clinical Recommendations for this Fast-growing Sport. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2020 Oct; 19(10):406-413. Vitale K, Liu S. PMID: 33031206.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Hooverball: Case Study, Literature Review and Clinical Recommendations. J Rehabil Med Clin Commun. 2020; 3:1000038. Anders A, Vitale K. PMID: 33884140; PMCID: PMC8008713.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    33. "Bumpy" ride for the female cyclist: A rare case of perineal nodular induration, the ischial hygroma. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020; 73:277-280. Norman M, Vitale K. PMID: 32721888; PMCID: PMC7388162.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3  
    34. Athletes: From Performance Analysis to Injury Prevention. Bike Fit in Road Cycling: From Injury Prevention and Troubleshooting to Aerodynamics and Performance Improvement. 2020. Vitale K. View Publication.
    35. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Rare Case of Acetabular Fracture from Beach Volleyball. 2020; 52(7S):20. P Raju, SC Liu, K Vitale. . View Publication.
    36. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Rare Case Of Avascular Necrosis In A Dodgeball Player. 2020; 52(7S):22. SC Liu, Anders A, K Vitale. . View Publication.
    37. ACSM Southwest Chapter Annual Meeting. Transient Quadriparesis in an Elite Rugby Player. 2019. Anders A, Vitale K. .
    38. ACSM Southwest Chapter Annual Meeting. Fabella Syndrome in a Female Runner: A Case Report. 2019. Macmillan M, Vitale K. .
    39. ACSM Southwest Chapter Annual Meeting. Controversies in Return-to-Play After Hamstring Injuries: A Clinical Update. 2019. Nedjat-Haiem M, Vitale K. .
    40. ACSM Southwest Chapter Annual Meeting. Third-degree Black Belt with Osteonecrosis of the Knee. 2019. Gilbert K, Vitale K. .
    41. UCSD Public Health Research Day. Lifestyle Medicine as Primary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A New Elective for UCSD Medical Students. 2019. Vitale K, Hill L, Sannidhi D, Bajpai A, Zemljic-Harpf A.
    42. Sleep Hygiene for Optimizing Recovery in Athletes: Review and Recommendations. Int J Sports Med. 2019 Aug; 40(8):535-543. Vitale KC, Owens R, Hopkins SR, Malhotra A. PMID: 31288293; PMCID: PMC6988893.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 69     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. Nutrition and Supplement Update for the Endurance Athlete: Review and Recommendations. Nutrients. 2019 Jun 07; 11(6). Vitale K, Getzin A. PMID: 31181616; PMCID: PMC6628334.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 96     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    44. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. A Rare Cause Of Pain In A Runner: The Nail-Patella Syndrome. 2019; 51(6):455. Vitale, Kenneth; Fliszar, Evelyne . View Publication.
    45. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Osteomyelitis After Deadlifting Injury- A Rare Case Of A Burst Abscess. 2019; 51(6): 182. Qiao, Edmund M.; Vitale, Kenneth . View Publication.
    46. Peripheral Neuropathy Due to Common Variable Immunodeficiency: Case Report and Narrative Review. Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2019 Jan-Dec; 5:2333721419850644. Long CP, Suzuki H, Vitale K. PMID: 31192279; PMCID: PMC6539564.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    47. Textbook of LifeStyle Medicine. Improving the Care of Young Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: CDC’s Evidence-based Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline. 2019. Sarmiento K, Lumba-Brown A, Breiding M, Gordon W, Paulk D, Vitale K, Sleet D. View Publication.
    48. The 5-Minute Sports Medicine Consult. Thoracic Spine Injury. 2019. Vitale K. View Publication.
    49. Medial iliac stress fractures in athletes: report of two rare cases: review of literature and clinical recommendations. Skeletal Radiol. 2019 Jul; 48(7):1119-1123. Vitale K, Smitaman E, Huang BK. PMID: 30488268.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    50. PM&R. Undiagnosed Sprengel’s Deformity Presenting as Adult Onset Shoulder Pain: A Case Report. 2018; 9 Suppl 1(10):S64. Macmillan M, Vitale K. .
    51. World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress. Platform presentation RR-PLR5-726. The Effectiveness Of The Hybrid Assistive Limb In Physical Therapy For Lower Limb Disability: A Systematic Review. 2017. Hasegawa M, Miyazaki M, Yokota K, Nakahara Y, Vitale K, Haga N.
    52. Tart Cherry Juice in Athletes: A Literature Review and Commentary. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2017 Jul/Aug; 16(4):230-239. Vitale KC, Hueglin S, Broad E. PMID: 28696985.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    53. Adaptation Biology and Medicine: Current Trends. Editors: Y. Kawai, A.R. Hargens and P.K. Singal. New developments in lower limb prosthesis design: Effects on residual limb volume, pistoning, skin tolerance, skin contact pressures, and hemodynamics. 2017; 8(12). Macaulay, T.R., Thao, S., Calegari, J., Macias, B.R., Hargens, A.R. and Vitale, K.C.
    54. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Return to Kipping After Shoulder Injury: Introducing a Novel Unloading Rehabilitation Technique. 2017; 49(5S):871. Messey K, Mahasin S, Bazzo D, Vitale K. View Publication.
    55. UC San Diego Public Health Research Day. Improving Sports Safety Knowledge in the Student Athlete Population. 2016. Vitale K, Messey K, Stuhr R, Taylor W, Mallon B.
    56. Olympic Coach Magazine. Editor Christine Bolger. Sleep Hygiene for Optimizing Recovery in Olympic/Paralympic Athletes. 2016; 27(1):21-33. Vitale K, Owens R, DeYoung P, Stuhr, R, Malhotra A.
    57. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2016; 48(5S):246. Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate on Recovery in US Olympic Volleyball: A Case Study. 2016; 48(5S):246. Vitale K. View Publication.
    58. World Confederation for Physical Therapy Conference, Singapore. Robotic Rehabilitation for a Patient with Oculopharyngodistal Myopathy. 2015. Hasegawa M, Fujiwara S, Nakahara Y, Yokota K, Sankai Y, Haga N, special thanks to Vitale K. .
    59. Olympic Coach Magazine. Editor Christine Bolger. Tart Cherry Juice use in Olympic/Paralympic Athletes. 2015; 26(3):11-20. Vitale K, Hueglin, S, Broad E.
    60. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Fluctuating Spine Pain Patterns in a Triathlete. 2015; 47(5S):592-593. Vitale K. View Publication.
    61. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Injury Patterns in an Amateur Rugby Tournament. 2015; 47(5S):628. Vitale K, Nakagama T. View Publication.
    62. Int J Exercise Science: Conf Proc. Shoulder Injury — Rugby, Tennis. 2014; 2(9):103. Vitale K. .
    63. JMSA Journal. Editors: M. Adachi, M.D., Sc.D and J. Furuyama, DDS. Marathon Injury Prevention and Nutritional Support. 2013; 5(2). Vitale K.
    64. The Journal of Pain. Lidoderm effectiveness in reducing pain in post-operative unilateral knee replacements patients. 2011; 12(4):53. Nafissi A.; Husain S.; Ahmed T.; Feldman D.; Bansal A.; Vitale K.; Jimenez A.; Gusmorino P. .
    65. Rehabilitation after scapulectomy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Apr; 88(4):267-71. Vitale KC, Jimenez A. PMID: 19300036.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    66. The Journal of Pain. Inpatient admission for pain rehabilitation: 6-month and 1-year follow-up. 2009; 10(1):61. Husain S. Feldman D. Jimenez A. Vitale K. Gusmorino P. Moroz A. Husain Z. .
    67. The Journal of Pain. A randomized, double-blind controlled study looking at lidoderm patch efficacy in reducing pain in patients with unilateral knee replacements. 2009; 10(1):62. Husain S. Gusmorino P. Vitale K. Feldman D. Jimenez A. .
    68. J Rehabil Med. Diagnosis of Clavicular Non-union in a Baseball Player. 2008; S(15):259. Vitale K; Jimenez J. .
    69. J Rehabil Med. 2008; S(15):258. Vitale K. Injury Patterns in a Martial Arts Tournament. .
    70. J Rehabil Med. Medical Food Products as COX/LOX Inhibitors. 2008; S(15):261. Vitale K; Yoon S; Diaz M; Jimenez J; Kamalnath P. .
    71. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis Presenting as Knee Pain: An Uncommon Diagnosis for a Common Presentation. 2008; 87(3):22. Kim M, Jeffrey A, Vitale K. .
    72. The Journal of Pain. Inpatient admission for pain rehabilitation: Re-examining an old idea. 2008; 9(4):51. D. Feldman, K. Vitale, A. Jimenez, P. Gusmorino. 2008; 9:51.
    73. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Clinical Outcome of a Centenarian With a Joint Replacement: A Case Report. 2008; 89(11):51. Yoon S, Jimenez A, Vitale K. .
    74. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Radial Neuropathy: Not the “Saturday Night” Libation or Humerus Variation: A Case Report. 2008; 89(11):46. Jimenez A, Feldman D, Vitale K. 2008; 89:11, e46.
    75. Journal of pain management. Recovery of a patient with complex regional pain syndrome in an inpatient pain rehabilitation program : a case report. 2008; 1(3):319-326. Feldman DD; Vitale KC; Gusmorino P; Snow B; Shen H; Jimenez A; Moroz A; Knotkova H. "". 2008; 1: 319.
    76. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Cauda Equina Arachnoiditis after Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection: A Case Report. 2007; 88(9):12. Dayan M. Bulkin E. Vitale K.
    77. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Newly Diagnosed Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Setting of Post-operative Rehabilitation for Total Knee Replacement: A Case Report. 2007; 88(9):94. Rathi S. Vitale K. Jimenez A. .
    78. Rehabilitation after intramedullary skeletal kinetic distractor implantation: a report of two cases and a suggested therapy program. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 Feb; 85(2):176-80. Vitale K, Miller T, Jimenez AC. PMID: 16428911.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    79. Convalescence care for seniors of lower Manhattan: an interdisciplinary outreach, rehabilitation, and education model. Int J Rehabil Res. 2004 Mar; 27(1):75-8. Moroz A, Schoeb V, Fan G, Vitale K, Lee M. PMID: 15097174.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    80. Annals of Neurology. Motor Function Is Preserved after Neonatal Hemispherectomy by Maintenance of Primitive Bilateral Corticospinal Projections. 1996; 36(3):272. R. Bicknese, K C. Vitale, and M. M. Pappas.
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