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Physical therapy for back pain
Which back problems it helps, what a therapist does, and how long it takes
Physical therapy for back pain is one of the most effective first treatments for most back problems, including muscle strains, disc irritation, sciatica, arthritis and stiffness. A physical therapist examines how you move, finds what makes the pain better or worse, and combines hands-on care, specific exercises for the core, hips and back, and advice on posture, lifting and activity. Many people feel a difference within two to four weeks and finish a course of care in six to eight weeks. When back trouble is felt mostly in the hip, therapy often treats both areas, as described in hip pain from lower back problems. Back pain with numbness in the groin, bladder or bowel changes, leg weakness or fever needs a doctor right away.
Most back pain is mechanical: it comes from the muscles, joints, discs and nerves of the spine, and it changes with how you move, sit and sleep. That is exactly what physical therapy for back pain is built to treat. Rather than only easing the pain for a few hours, a physical therapist looks for the movement problems that keep it coming back and gives you a plan to fix them. The first video shows part of that plan, with core work on the table and Nick Ursini, DPT explaining which areas a therapist focuses on.
Back problems physical therapy helps
- Muscle strains and sprains: after lifting, twisting or a sudden movement
- Disc problems and sciatica: a bulging or herniated disc irritating a nerve, with pain down the leg
- Arthritis and stiffness: wear of the spinal joints, as in lumbar spondylosis and facet joint pain
- Spinal stenosis: narrowing that makes walking and standing painful
- Posture-related pain: desk work and long hours of sitting
- Pain after an accident or surgery: once your doctor or surgeon clears you
For most of these, therapy is the first lower back pain treatment we recommend, and our lower back pain page lists the conditions we evaluate.
What a physical therapist does for back pain
- Assessment: testing how you bend, twist, stand and walk, checking strength, flexibility and the nerves in the legs, and finding which positions ease or provoke the pain
- Hands-on care: manual therapy for tight muscles and stiff joints, as in the second video with Zoya Reznik, DPT, OCS
- Mobility work: stretching the hamstrings and hips, which pull on the pelvis and lower back, as in the third and fourth videos
- Strengthening: core, glute and back exercises that progress as you improve; see core exercises for back pain
- Traction when it fits: traction and spinal decompression can ease pressure on an irritated nerve for some disc and sciatica patients (offered at both our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices)
- Education: how to sit, lift, sleep and stay active without flaring the pain
Want to start at home? Our lower back pain exercises post has a starter program, and a therapist can tailor and progress it for you.
How long physical therapy for back pain takes
For a recent strain or flare, many people feel better within two to four weeks. Longer-lasting pain, sciatica or stenosis often needs six to twelve weeks of sessions two or three times a week, plus daily home exercise. Your therapist re-tests your movement and strength along the way, so you can see progress in numbers, not just in how you feel. Mild soreness after a session that settles within a day is normal; pain that spreads or gets steadily worse is a reason to adjust the plan.
When to see a doctor as well
See a physician first, or alongside therapy, if back pain follows a fall or accident, comes with numbness, tingling or weakness in a leg, wakes you at night, or does not improve after a few weeks of therapy. A doctor can order imaging or an EMG/NCV test and, when needed, add back pain injections to calm an irritated nerve so you can keep working in therapy. Get emergency care for numbness in the groin or inner thighs, new bladder or bowel problems, or rapidly worsening leg weakness.
More videos on physical therapy for back pain
More clips from our YouTube channel @precisioncaremedical showing hands-on care, stretching and mobility work for the lower back.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
A physical therapist near you for back pain
Searching for a physical therapist near me for back pain? For physical therapy in Brooklyn, our physical therapists Zoya Reznik, DPT, OCS and Maggie (Yi) Zhang, DPT, with physical therapist assistants Dennis Furman, PTA and Leila Nahmoud, PTA see patients at our Brooklyn physical therapy office on Shell Rd, close to Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach and Marine Park. Ashley Marcus, MD sees patients with back pain at the same address.
For physical therapy on Staten Island, physical therapists Victoria Lynn Kain, DPT and Nicholas “Nick” Ursini, DPT treat back pain at our Staten Island physical therapy office on Richmond Rd, a short drive from New Dorp, Dongan Hills and Midland Beach, where Jake Stephen, DO also sees patients. In Manhattan, Yuri Gordin, MD evaluates back pain at the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan, an easy trip from the Upper West Side and Washington Heights; physical therapy is not offered at the Manhattan office. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
Questions patients ask
Does physical therapy help back pain?
Yes. For most back problems, including strains, disc irritation, sciatica and arthritis, physical therapy is one of the most effective first treatments. It eases pain and builds the strength and movement habits that help keep it from coming back.
How many physical therapy sessions do I need for back pain?
A recent strain often improves within two to four weeks. Longer-lasting pain, sciatica or stenosis usually takes six to twelve weeks of two or three sessions a week, plus daily home exercise.
What does a physical therapist do for lower back pain?
A physical therapist assesses how you move, then combines hands-on care for tight muscles and stiff joints, stretching, core and hip strengthening, traction when it fits, and advice on sitting, lifting and sleeping.
Should I see a doctor or a physical therapist for back pain?
For ordinary back pain without warning signs, physical therapy is a good place to start. See a doctor first after a fall or accident, or for leg numbness or weakness, night pain, fever or pain that is not improving.
Is it normal to be sore after physical therapy for back pain?
Mild soreness that settles within a day is normal, especially when you start new exercises. Tell your therapist if pain spreads down the leg or keeps getting worse, so the plan can be adjusted.
Where can I get physical therapy for back pain near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance offers physical therapy at two offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
Physical therapy is not offered at the Midtown Manhattan office, where Yuri Gordin, MD evaluates back pain.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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