Orthopedic physical therapy
Neck and back
Care for people whose neck or back keeps them from sitting, driving, lifting or sleeping the way they want to. Many arrive after a spine surgeon or primary care clinician has seen them first.
This care is for you if…
Your neck or back hurts when you sit, turn, bend or lift
You are recovering from spine surgery and your surgeon has cleared you to begin
Pain or tingling travels into an arm or a leg, and your doctor wants it examined
Your doctor has suggested physical therapy for a stiff or painful spine
Your work asks a lot of your back
What to know about neck and back care
What we do
Your therapist moves and tests the joints and soft tissue of your spine by hand, then teaches you movements and exercises to practice at home. Techniques follow from your exam, and they change as you do.
What decides how many visits
Your exam, your goals, your surgeon's instructions if you have them, and how you respond. We review the plan with you as we go and tell you when we think you are finished or need another opinion.
Who treats you
A physical therapist from our five, each with a manual-therapy fellowship. Najla Suleiman and Lena Quarles see most neck and back patients.
How it is paid for
We bill most plan types and explain what you may owe before your first visit. If you pay yourself, we give you a written estimate first.
How fees workWhen to see a doctor first
Call your doctor before you come if you have a fever with back pain, or new numbness in the groin or saddle area, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels. For an emergency, call 911.
What to bring
Your referral or notes if you have them, imaging reports, a list of your medicines and clothes you can move in.
Questions about neck and back
Will you crack my back?
Our manual therapy includes gentle joint mobilization and, where your exam supports it and you agree, thrust techniques. Your therapist explains what they plan to do and its risks, and you can decline any part.
Do I need a scan before I come?
No. Your therapist examines you first and tells you if your findings suggest you should see a physician or have imaging.
Can I keep working while I am treated?
Often, yes. We ask what your job requires and plan around it, and we follow any work limits your surgeon or doctor has set.
Ready to have your neck or back examined?
We call you before your first visit to check your benefits.