Neck and Back Injuries
Accelerate Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy for Neck and Back Injuries
The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate Physical Therapy treat a variety of injuries sustained to the musculoskeletal system, and even more specifically injuries of the head, neck, mid-back, and low back. Injuries to any of these body regions can be caused by a number of reasons, many of which include: motor vehicle accidents, blunt trauma, repetitive strain, overuse, postural, and lifting/carrying among many others.
From your initial evaluation, we will determine the extent and cause of your injury, the source of your pain, your prognosis (i.e. how long your recovery will take in our professional opinion), and a customized treatment plan based on your learning style and specific injury.
Each of your physical therapy visits will be one on one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy, and because continuity of care is our highest priority you will see that same physical therapist for the duration of your treatment (outside of unforeseen circumstances).
To learn more about our physical therapy services or to schedule an appointment, call or text (949)502-3388, or click on the “Schedule Appointment” button below.
Injuries We Treat
Types of Neck and Back Injuries We Treat
We offer evaluation and treatment for a variety of head, neck, mid-back, and low back injuries. Listed below are some of the most common we see; however, if there is not an injury or condition you recognize on this list we highly recommend you speak directly to one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy to determine if it’s something we can treat and assist you with. If it is something that is out of our scope of practice, we will connect you with the resources you need to address the issue.
Our number one priority is to ensure you find the right treatment and know all available options to address your injury. We are available via email at info@ptaccelerate.com and by text/phone at (949) 502-3388 for any specific questions as they pertain to your specific injury and condition.
Muscle Strains
Ligament Sprains
Fractures
Post-Surgical Injury
These are common injuries you will research or hear about from an orthopedic specialist, pain management specialist, or your primary care physician. Ultimately, if it deals with bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments, a Doctor of Physical Therapy can be of service to you.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Neck and Back Injuries
In general, physical therapy treatment is intended to reduce the amount of time it takes for an injury to heal. Although the body is designed to heal on its own, many factors can affect how quickly it recovers. The biggest factors and most pertinent to physical therapy include habitual postures, movement patterns, and daily routines involving posture and movement. Physical therapy aims to restore your body’s natural movement patterns, with reinforcement through education and movement retraining. This can include visual and tactile (touch and feel) cues combined with reminders on your specific postural and movement habits.
Specific to the head, neck, back and spine are ways to reduce strain, which includes reducing excessive motion through each of these regions. Whether it’s how you sit at work, carry and hold your little ones, lift a suitcase, or perform a bending motion, the strategy you use can make all of the difference. Physical therapy provides you with the knowledge to understand and learn the body through anatomy and biomechanics in order to alter your movement and apply these changes in daily life.
Physical Therapy Techniques
Physical therapy uses various techniques to improve your mobility, motor control, and muscle performance. Each of these things can be improved with education on the body, “hands on” soft tissue and joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening, scar tissue mobilization, exercise and movement re-education. It is directed at those individuals searching for pain resolution, improved movement, and a fast, non-invasive remedy for injuries. It can prevent surgeries, provide a second opinion after seeing a medical doctor, and determine whether there are functional ways to prevent pain. Last but not least, it can save you money. Research has shown physical therapy treatment is one of the most cost-effective ways to resolve pain and recover from an injury.
Services
Tools We Use to Treat Neck and Back Injuries
We offer a range of orthopedic physical therapy treatment methods specifically designed to deliver maximum results for neck and back injuries, helping reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve long-term spinal health.
Manual Therapy is a highly structured, hands-on approach to physical therapy used to treat neck and back injuries by applying specific manual pressure, joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization techniques. It is designed to reduce tension, strain, guarding, muscle spasm, and scar tissue restrictions throughout the body—especially in the cervical (neck), thoracic, and lumbar (back) regions. Tissues affected can include muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments that are commonly involved in neck and back injuries.
More recent additions to a physical therapist’s manual therapy techniques for neck and back injuries include IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), myofascial release, cupping, foam rolling, and scraping (i.e., gua sha). These advanced techniques help improve mobility throughout the spine, allowing the body to move more efficiently while reducing stress and strain on injured neck and back tissues. By restoring proper movement and decreasing pain, manual therapy supports faster recovery and long-term relief from neck and back injuries.
Therapeutic exercise involves a variety of targeted movements designed to correct dysfunction and support recovery from neck and back injuries. It is used to address impairments, restore proper muscular and skeletal function, and improve blood flow to injured tissues in the cervical (neck) and thoracic/lumbar (back) regions. The most common forms of therapeutic exercise for neck and back injuries include strengthening exercises, endurance training, flexibility, and balance and coordination work.
The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate Physical Therapy use a combination of therapeutic exercises for neck and back injuries, carefully individualized based on your current condition, prognosis, and specific injury. These customized programs help reduce pain, improve mobility, and promote long-term spinal health and function.
Movement analysis for neck and back injuries focuses on evaluating how the head, neck, back, and spine move during everyday activities. Your physical therapist will assess both the quantity and quality of movements that may be contributing to your neck or back pain. This includes identifying movements that increase symptoms, such as bending, lifting, squatting, standing, transferring, and turning or positioning your head and spine.
Through one-on-one movement analysis—whether in the clinic, via telehealth, or through guided review—your physical therapist will help you understand how your movement patterns impact your neck and back injuries. You will be educated on proper body mechanics and posture to reduce strain on the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Follow-up physical therapy sessions are designed to reinforce these improved movement patterns, helping you prevent pain and protect your neck and back during daily activities.
Neuro re-education for neck and back injuries is a specialized physical therapy technique used to restore proper movement and improve the connection between the brain and body. This approach targets motor control dysfunction often seen with neck pain, lower back pain, and spinal injuries, helping retrain the muscles that support and stabilize the spine.
Neuro re-education focuses on how and when muscles in the neck and back activate, including timing, coordination, and movement control. Your physical therapist will use visual, auditory, and hands-on (tactile) cues to improve your movement patterns, activate underused muscles, and relax overactive muscles contributing to pain and dysfunction. This process helps restore efficient, pain-free movement and is essential for long-term recovery from neck and back injuries.
Neck and Back Injury FAQ
Learn more about how physical therapy can help with neck and back injuries by exploring our frequently asked questions.
Physical therapy for neck and back injuries helps reduce pain, improve flexibility and strength, restore normal movement patterns, and prevent future injuries. It also provides a cost-effective, non-surgical alternative to injections or medications while addressing the underlying cause of pain.
While some minor neck and back injuries may improve on their own, physical therapy helps speed up healing, reduce the risk of chronic pain, and correct movement or posture issues that may have caused the injury. Early treatment can also prevent long-term complications and recurring pain.
Recovery time for neck and back injuries varies depending on the severity of the condition, but many patients begin to see improvement within a few weeks. A typical physical therapy plan may last several weeks, with consistent treatment and at-home exercises helping speed up recovery and prevent future issues.
During physical therapy for neck and back injuries, your provider will perform a detailed evaluation of your posture, movement, strength, and pain triggers. Treatment may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, posture correction, and movement training to address the root cause of your pain—not just the symptoms.
Physical therapy can treat a wide range of neck and back injuries, including herniated discs, sciatica, muscle strains, ligament sprains, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and postural-related pain. Treatment plans are customized based on the specific condition, symptoms, and severity of the injury.
Yes, physical therapy is one of the most effective, non-invasive treatments for neck and back injuries. It helps reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve strength through targeted exercises, manual therapy, and movement retraining. Most cases of neck and back pain respond well to conservative care like physical therapy and do not require surgery.
Service Options
We offer three service options for your convenience:
Accelerate Physical Therapy
Types of Injuries We Treat
The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate PT specialize in the evaluation and treatment of any and all orthopedic related injuries. Orthopedic injuries refer to anything affecting the musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, as well as nerves as they interface through each of these structures). Sports specific injuries, work related injuries, and injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident fall under the orthopedic umbrella. Pre and post-operative care is intended to improve mobility, muscle performance, and motor control in individuals with surgical intervention to alleviate pain.
