The spine is very complex as it consists of many joints, soft tissue, a spinal cord and hundreds of nerves that run to your arms and legs. Functionally, it is the anatomical feature that connects your arms to your legs and allows the human body the ability to move around and be productive.
A physical therapist skilled in the treatment of the spine will fully understand the anatomy and physiology and all the functional aspects of the human spine. At Professional Physical Therapy, our licensed physical therapists receive advanced clinical training in the treatment and management of patients who are suffering from various spinal conditions.
Common spinal and mid back problems
Below are some common injuries and conditions effecting the mid back. Click on the diagnoses below to see detailed information about how physical therapists at Professional treat these conditions.
Post-surgery for laminectomy, discectomy and spinal fusion
Back Pain Q&A
I threw my back out. Can physical therapy help my pain?
Yes, physical therapy is becoming the treatment of choice by medical professionals when managing patients experiencing back pain. If back pain has just occurred and it is difficult to move then finding positions of comfort and rest is the best treatment. There are also many forms of manual treatment with physical therapy that can help decrease pain such as massage, soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization and manual traction. Once the acute symptoms (sudden pain) have subsided then active movement and exercising can be very beneficial. A skilled physical therapist trained in treatment of the spine can help prescribe the right treatment program for your back pain.
I have neck pain. What could cause this?
Repetitive work with your arms or poor postural positions may cause problems in your neck. Also, improper strength training exercises or poor exercise technique can be problematic. A physical therapist can be helpful in advising on posture and exercise. Some common diagnoses in patients experiencing neck pain are degenerative discs, pinched nerves, muscle tightness or tension, and facet joint problems that cause pain and stiffness.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a general term used for referred pain in one’s legs that originates from his or her back. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs down the back of your leg. There are many nerve roots that come out of your spinal column and bundle together to form the sciatic nerve and therefore injury to, or inflammation of, the sciatic nerve (sciatica) can give you varying degrees and locations of pain in your leg (referred pain). Often times, the problem lies at the nerve root level due to some sort of impingement (“pinched nerve”) like a bulging disc or a chemical inflammation from locally inflamed tissues. It is very common for patients to experience both back pain and sciatica. Physical therapy can be helpful when experiencing back pain and sciatica.
When is spinal surgery a treatment option?
Generally speaking, for those suffering from neck pain and back pain, there is a very small percent of this population that are good surgical candidates and your surgeon will help identify the criteria for a particular surgery. In most cases, when you are not a surgical candidate, trying conservative treatment such as physical therapy first is the best choice. Those who do elect to have surgery usually require physical therapy post-operatively. Some of the most common surgical procedures we see post-operatively would be discectomy, laminectomy, and spinal fusion.
I got whiplash from a car accident. Why is there so much pain?
A bad whiplash injury is similar to a bad ankle sprain in that due to the trauma of the injury there can be a lot of swelling and inflammation of the many tissues that surround your joints. The difference being that in the neck there are many more joints and nerves. Just like a bad ankle sprain, it can take months and even up to a year to heal. Physical Therapy can benefit those suffering from whiplash as there are various pain modulation techniques and it also can help stabilize the joints along the spinal column.
Treatment of middle & upper back pain
Pain Modulation Techniques
Manual Therapy
Joint Mobilization
Manual Muscle Stretching
Manual Traction
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Exercise Therapy
Self Management Techniques
Heat/Cold Therapy
Do you have pain in your upper or mid back?
Our physical therapists will customize a back pain treatment plan just for you. We will work in an effective way to get you back on your feet, focused on your wellness before, during and after therapy.
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Insurances We Accept
Below is a condensed list of insurances we participate with throughout our network of physical therapy clinics. Find your particular provider below based on your area. For a complete listing of all insurance providers and individual plans by name: CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL INSURANCE PAGE.
Amerihealth Caritas (effective date 4/27/2020 - NH)
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (NH)
BCBS Massachusetts (MA)
CeltiCare (MA)
Commonwealth Care Alliance (MA)
Fallon Health (MA)
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (MA, NH)
Health New England (MA)
Magna Care (MA, NH)
Magna Comp (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
Martin’s Point Health Care (NH)
Mass General Brigham Health (formerly AllWays Health Partners)
Massachusetts Health (Medicaid – MA)
Medicaid (MA, NH)
Medicare (MA, NH)
Med Risk (Workers' Compensation – MA)
No Fault (Various Carriers)
One Call (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
SPNET (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
Streamline (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
TRICARE (MA, NH)
Tufts Health Plan (MA, NH)
Tufts Medicare Advantage (MA)
Tufts Public (Medicaid – MA)
UniCare (MA)
United Health Care (Optum – MA, NH)
WellSense Health (Formerly BMC – Boston Medical Center – MA)
Workers’ Compensation (Various Carriers)
Convenient physical therapy clinics near you
We provide treatments for middle and upper back pain injuries from our clinics throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Fill out the form above, or contact a clinic near you to speak with a Professional Physical Therapist and middle back pain specialist today.
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