A new physical therapy business in Allegheny Township is partnering with the Kiski Area School District

A new physical therapy business in Allegheny Township is partnering with the Kiski Area School District.

The Eastern Suburbs Sports Medicine Center opened its doors Jan. 2 at 451 Hyde Park Road in the Hyde Park Plaza.

ESSMC, the official sports medicine provider for Kiski Area, signed a three-year athletic training contract with the district in July.

Co-owner and vice president Michael Tardio said two athletic trainers work every school day to respond to any injuries on campus among student-athletes in grades 7-12.

Kiski Area licensed athletic trainers from East Suburban Sports Medicine, Emily Strama and Nathan Sroka, serve about 150 athletes in the area.

“We chose Hyde Park Plaza because of its convenience and proximity to the school to treat any of the athletes who need physical therapy. You can walk across the street to the school,” Tardio said. “But even though our name contains sports medicine, we don’t just treat sports injuries.”

The East Suburban Sports Medicine Center was opened in 1984. It is staffed by nutritionists, therapists and athletic trainers skilled in the latest methods of physical therapy. These include treatment with physical and occupational therapies, athletic training, vestibular rehabilitation, physical therapy for pelvic health, neurorehabilitation, lymphedema therapy, and manual therapy.

The other co-owners are President John Bonarotti and Vice President Mariel Bonarotti Reynolds.

Allegheny Township officials praised the ongoing new businesses opening in the rural town.

In 2022, four new businesses—a hair salon, a specialty liquor store, a beer distributor, and a Taco Bell—opened in the city.

In addition, the long-shuttered Hyde Park Plaza was purchased for $3.8 million on Sept. 16 by Pittsburgh-area business developer and Fox Chapel resident Jeff Paul.

“It’s great to see the start of 2023 and we already have another new business. This will be another great benefit to the residents as well as Kiski Area High School,” said Superintendent James Morabito. “This is just the beginning of what we can expect in 2023, with new businesses opening in our city.”

Supervisor Wren Steele echoed Morabito’s comments.

“I am delighted that Hyde Park Plaza is being redeveloped with the addition of East Suburban. Hyde Park Plaza is in the center of our shopping district and directly across from Kiski Area High School and Middle School. It’s a great place for a new business,” Steele said.

Clinic director and physical therapist Lauren Brennan has ties to the Kiski area.

Her mother is a Kiski Area graduate and Brennan’s family lives in the area.

Brennan earned her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh and said she enjoys working with orthopedic patients, post-surgery patients and those with sports-related injuries. She is board certified in Personalized Blood Flow Restriction Therapy.

In addition to an open space for therapy, there are two private rooms. The average therapy session lasts about an hour.

“We average about eight patients a day — pretty good for just opening,” Brennan said.

Allegheny Township Manager Greg Primm noted that economic development is essential to the Alle-Kiski Valley.

“The city is always very happy to see new businesses come into vacant spaces in our retail areas,” Prim said. “We hope they are very successful and generate the business they need to stay around for a very long time.” We appreciate East Suburban’s presence in our business community.”

Township Manager Mike Corns said he is excited to see another business, adding that the supervisors have been able to attract new commercial properties to the township.

Corns praised Paul’s recent improvements to Hyde Park Plaza and said Paul works closely with the municipality to achieve common goals.

“I am working with another property owner in the neighborhood to fill some of his units. I think the new tenant ESSMC will help us attract other tenants to some of our other vacant properties,” Corns said.

In addition to the Allegheny Township site, East Suburban Sports Medicine Center has seven other physical therapy centers in Greensburg, Penn Hills, Penn Township, Plum, Monroeville, Murrysville and North Huntingdon.