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Neck & Back Physical Therapy

Your recovery is our goal
Scerbo Physical Therapy > Our Services > Neck & Back Physical Therapy

Causes of Neck and Back Pain

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), approximately one-third of the population will experience neck or back pain at some point in their lifetime.

When certain nerves are affected, the pain can extend beyond the back of the neck to areas such as the upper back, shoulder, and arm. Neck or back pain can be caused by sudden trauma such as a fall, sports injury, or car accident, or by long-term health problems. If left untreated, and in severe cases, surgery may even be needed on the affected area. However, surgery can often be avoided with physical therapy. Ways Physical Therapy can help:

  • Manages recent or long-lasting pain
  • Helps reduce painful feelings from nerve problems
  • Teaches movement & strengthening exercises
  • Assists with recovery after surgery
  • Gets patients back to work, sports, or hobbies
  • Educates about preventing a reinjury

Forms of Treatment Modalities

Active Physical Therapy

The patient learns to move his or her own body through exercises and stretches. By improving strength and flexibility in the neck, these muscles may become less painful and better able to maintain good posture, which reduces stress on the cervical spine.

Passive Physical Therapy

Involves treatments being applied without effort from the patient. Numerous treatment methods are available, such as applying ice packs, heat therapy, massage therapy, ultrasound, electrotherapy, and others. The goal of passive physical therapy is to help reduce pain and swelling.

Additional Treatment Techniques

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

This technique involves using special instruments of various shapes and sizes to massage and mobilize tissues. Commonly used instruments include adhesion breakers, GuaSha tissue scrapers, and cupping tools.

Deep Massage

Deep tissue massage targets the deep tissue structures of fascia and muscles. This type of massage involves applying firm pressure to reach the deeper layers of muscle and fascia. Deep tissue massage techniques focus on the release of muscular tension and are used to break up scar tissue and adhesions that can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited range of motion, and inflammation.

Range of Motion Program

Range of motion (ROM) exercises are designed to increase the movement of joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves. ROM exercises include passive stretching, active ROM, gliding exercises, and blocked motion. A home exercise program will be created to complement the exercises performed in the clinic.

Strengthening Program

Strengthening exercises typically begin once pain levels and swelling have decreased and soft tissues and joints have been stretched. Upper extremity strengthening exercises can include (but are not limited to) theraputty exercises, flexbar exercises, theraband exercises, and weights. A home exercise program will also be developed to assist you in reaching your strength goals.

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