Back pain can disrupt every part of your life – from work and recreation to sleep and mobility. It’s a problem that affects millions of people, leaving them feeling frustrated and searching for answers.Â
At Cynergy Physical & Occupational Therapy in New York, New York, your goals and well-being are at the center of everything we do. Our team of highly trained physical and occupational therapists provide one-on-one care and use the latest evidence-based treatments for all of our patients. We can help you find relief, regain strength, and finally see lasting improvements from your back pain.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Physical therapy is a proven approach to managing back pain by addressing the underlying causes. Targeted treatments such as manual therapy, strengthening exercises, and posture correction will improve your mobility and provide relief from discomfort.
By working to improve alignment and movement strategies, physical therapy can reduce the likelihood of future injuries, giving you the tools to maintain a more active lifestyle.
Discectomy
When a disc herniation becomes severe, patients may begin to experience burning, numbness, tingling and weakness in their upper or lower extremities due to nerve root compression. If these symptoms are the result of a large herniation, your surgeon may decide to perform a discectomy.
This surgery removes the protruding disc material, freeing up the nerve roots. Following surgery, your physical therapist will help you to improve your flexibility and range of motion, instruct you on stabilization exercises, educate you on activities to avoid or modify, and provide you with strengthening exercises to work on the muscles weakened by the herniation.
Foot Drop
Foot drop occurs when you do not have enough strength in your ankle to flex your foot up against gravity, known as dorsiflexion. This can occur from general weakness and range of motion dysfunction, or can occur as a result of compression of the deep peroneal nerve in the leg, the sciatic nerve in the thigh, or nerve roots in the spine. Lack of dorsiflexion can lead to problems and safety concerns when you are walking as you are more likely to drag your foot and trip.
Physical therapy can help by reducing compression on the nerve and this is achieved through a variety of manual therapy techniques, nerve mobilization exercises, stabilization exercises, postural re-education, strengthening of the ankle dorsiflexors, and gait training.
Low Back Pain
Low back pain (lumbar backache) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and affects 80% of people at some point in their lifetime. There are many conditions and causes that can lead to low back pain, including disc herniation, disc degeneration, stenosis, facet joint irritation, fractures, spondylosis (arthritis), spondylolisthesis (vertebrae slipping forward) or muscle strain.
While pain and discomfort may occur at the site of the issue, you may also experience pain into your pelvis, hips and legs if there is nerve involvement. Your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to find the cause of your back pain and then develop a plan specifically tailored to your needs. This may include lumbar stabilization exercises, soft tissue mobilizations, joint mobilizations, stretching, functional activity training, and postural re-education.
Neck Pain
Neck pain (cervical ache) is a common issue that many individuals deal with on a daily basis. There are many different causes of neck pain including disc herniation, disc degeneration, stenosis, spondylosis (arthritis), nerve entrapment, or muscle strain. Besides pain occurring at the site of the problem, pain may also be referred into your arms, upper back, head, or face.
Your therapist will conduct an evaluation to find the cause of your pain and work with you to design and implement an appropriate treatment plan consisting of soft tissue and joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening, postural re-education and ergonomic education.
Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is a very common spinal condition that occurs when a nerve root or roots become compressed as they exit the spine. This can cause a variety of symptoms including radiating pain, burning, numbness, and tingling. While radiculopathy can occur anywhere along the spine, it is most common in the lumbar and cervical regions.
Some common causes of radiculopathy include disc herniations, arthritis, disc degeneration, stenosis, and fractures. Physical therapy can help by reducing the compression on the nerve, thus decreasing your symptoms. This occurs through soft tissue and joint mobilizations, stretching, stabilization exercises, postural re-education, and improving movement strategies.
Stenosis
Stenosis is a common condition of the spine that occurs when nerves become compressed by the narrowing of the canal that they exit through when leaving the spinal cord. This primarily occurs in the cervical and lumbar spine and is caused by degenerative bone changes in the spine, osteophyte (bone spur) formation or disc degeneration/herniation.
Symptoms of stenosis include chronic and worsening back pain, weakness or pain in one or both arms/legs depending on where the stenosis is occurring, decreased range of motion and loss of sensation with severe symptoms. In lumbar stenosis, cramping can occur in one or both legs. This is referred to as neurogenic claudication, and can be aggravated by prolonged standing and walking, and is relieved by sitting, lying down or leaning forward.
The goal of physical therapy is to reduce the symptoms associated with stenosis, and this occurs through manual therapy, stretching, core stabilization training, postural re-education and education on strategies to avoid symptom provoking positions and activities.
Thoracic Spine Pain
The thoracic spine is the area of your back located between the neck and low back. This part of the spine serves as an attachment for your ribs. Dysfunction in this area can occur when the joints of the thoracic spine become too loose or too stiff.
Pain may also occur due to muscle tightness or spasm on this area. Physical therapy can help by restoring proper motion or stability to this area by soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening and postural re-education.
Vertebral Fractures
There are three kinds of fractures that can occur in the spine: compression fractures, burst fractures and fracture dislocations. Compression fractures are the most common of the three, and can occur with rapid forward flexion (bending) of the spine. Risk factors may include a history of any of the following: osteoporosis/osteopenia, diabetes, kidney failure, gastrointestinal issues and hyperthyroidism. Onset is sudden and can be associated with trauma.
Symptoms are aggravated by weight bearing and forward bending activities. Patients relieve pain by offloading their legs. Physical therapy can help by first ensuring the injury is protected, allowing the bone time to heal and reducing the risk of re-injury. Once it is safe to do so, physical therapy will include mobilization of the soft tissue and joints to increase flexibility, stabilization exercises and postural re-education to prevent re-injury.
Why Choose Cynergy Physical & Occupational Therapy?
At Cynergy, we don’t just treat your back pain – we work with you as a whole person. From the moment you walk into our offices, you’ll notice the difference. Our team is made up of experienced therapists who bring professionalism and energy to every session. Every treatment plan is created to focus on what matters most to you. We’re here to help you move better, feel better, and get back to living your life.
Cynergy PT pairs our expert care with a personal touch. Our therapists know that healing happens best when it’s grounded in trust, respect, and some humor to keep things positive. Whether you’re an athlete, a busy professional, or someone just looking for relief, we’re here to provide an experience that makes you feel supported throughout your therapy and recovery.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Physical Therapy Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions you'll need for your back pain depends on the cause and severity of your condition, as well as your goals for recovery. During your initial evaluation, your therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan and provide an estimate of the time needed to meet your goals. We will evaluate your progress regularly and can adjust the plan if necessary.
Will I Need To Do Exercises at Home?
Yes, home exercises are an important part of recovering from back pain and preventing it from returning. Your therapist will give you clear instructions and specific exercises to complement what you work on during your sessions. These exercises will help you build strength and maintain progress between visits.
Is Physical Therapy Painful?
Physical therapy for back pain should ultimately reduce your discomfort, not add to it. That said, some techniques may cause temporary soreness as your body adjusts. Your therapist will ensure all treatments are done within your tolerance and will listen to your feedback to avoid unnecessary pain. The goal is always to make you feel better and restore your function.
What If I Don’t See Improvement Right Away?
Progress with back pain treatment can vary depending on the severity and duration of your symptoms. If results take longer than expected, your therapist will reassess and adjust your plan to ensure it aligns with your needs and goals. Patience and consistency are key to achieving lasting improvement.
Does Insurance Cover Physical Therapy?
Most insurance plans cover physical therapy for back pain, though coverage may vary depending on your provider and policy. Our team will help you verify your benefits and explain what your plan includes. If needed, we’ll also discuss payment options so you can focus on your recovery.
Patient Testimonials:
"Great staff and knowledgeable therapist. My therapist Gabrielle knew exactly what to do to relive my back pain."
"I'm so impressed with all the staff at Cynergy. The gals at the front desk are so hospitable, friendly and efficient. They are all just marvelous! These girls try to be as accommodating as possible. I have the utter most respect for my PT therapist. He is not only incredibly skilled, but has a wonderful bedside manner, and keeps things light to cheer me up. One cannot ask for a better therapist and organization. Already, I have raved about Cynergy to my surgeon, and my friends."
"This place is honestly the best! I have a back issue and was originally going somewhere else for PT, let me tell you Cynergy is above and beyond anywhere I have been. Basically this place and it’s employees are the absolute best and I cannot recommend them enough!"
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
Interested in learning more about your available treatments for back pain? Call (212) 974-7252 to schedule your consutlation with one of our providers today! Find a location near you here.