Back, Spine, and Neck Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a treatment that helps reduce pain and increase mobility. Pain and mobility issues in your back, neck, or spine can make it difficult to perform your daily activities, like getting out of bed, sitting or standing for a long period of time, or doing household chores. If you’re having trouble with any of these activities because of back pain, your doctor may recommend physical therapy for your back.

A physical therapy program is managed by a physical therapist — a trained, highly educated medical professional who can treat a range of injuries, diseases, and pain or mobility conditions. They can also assist in the recovery process after a back surgery.

Back physical therapy exercises

Your physical therapist may have you do several different types of exercises if you’re experiencing back, spine, or neck pain or mobility issues. There are two main types of back physical therapy:

• Passive physical therapy, which involves applying therapies like massage, heat, ice, electric stimulation, or ultrasound to a patient
• Active physical therapy, during which the patient moves his or her own body through stretching, strengthening, core and joint stabilizing, or aerobic exercises

Another type of active physical therapy program is the McKenzie method, which uses spine-lengthening exercises to help extend the spine to reduce back pain.

Your physical therapist may also recommend ergonomic modifications to your workplace and give you suggestions for a home exercise routine.

Back, spine, and neck conditions treated

Physical therapy can help improve mobility and pain in several back conditions, including:

• Back arthritis
• Back bursitis
• Degenerative nerve disc disease
• Herniated discs
• Sciatica, which is nerve pain that runs down the leg
• Scoliosis, which causes a curve in the spine
• Spinal stenosis, which is caused when nerve roots in the spine get compressed (choked)

Make an appointment at Beaumont

At Beaumont, we provide physical therapy for people of all ages experiencing back, spine, and neck mobility and pain issues. Our team of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants are licensed healthcare professionals focused on maximizing mobility and relieving pain in a caring environment.

Talk to your doctor about getting a referral to a Beaumont physical therapist. To make an appointment and learn more about physical therapy locations and services at Beaumont, visit beaumont.org/treatments/physical-therapy.