Thorough Education for Back & Neck Patients

Our highly-trained physical therapists work very closely with each patient to provide specific education about not only the impact of a neck or back injury but the collateral issues such an injury can cause. Further, South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness believes that your healing occurs not only as a result of your efforts in the office but at home as well.

South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness routinely educates patients about the positive results of at-home exercises to treat neck and back pain, including specific stretches, light aerobic activity, use of resistance bands, or regular massage treatment. Of course, we also recommend our patients work closely with us in the office as well, as one-on-one time with the physical therapist cannot be duplicated at home. Further, you will work with the same physical therapist for the duration of your treatment. 

Neck Stretches

All neck and back exercises should be carefully monitored by a trained physical therapist to avoid further injury or strain. For neck injury patients, a specific plan is created to gradually increase the range of motion, comfortability, and strength. When just starting out, this may be as simple as working to move the head from one side to the other, up and down, or side to side.

Strengthening the Back Muscles

Stronger back muscles may mean less strain on the surrounding muscle and tissue. In the South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness office, we can help you reach your strength goals with regular, repetitive movements designed to isolate the particular muscle group in need of strengthening. These high-frequency movements may also help eliminate stiffness and swelling as well.

Prevention Techniques

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This stands just as true in the physical therapy field, as learning techniques to prevent future injury can help you avoid painful injury in the future. All patients will work on proper posture techniques and ongoing at-home exercises to keep muscles strong and healthy.

Is Physical Therapy Always Appropriate?

Physical therapy for back or neck pain should be accompanied with through medical advice from providers familiar with your history and background. The following conditions may be appropriate for treatment with one of our highly-trained therapists:

• Ongoing chronic pain in the neck and back
• Recovery from surgery to the spine
• In the aftermath of an acute injury, including sports injuries. 

In any of the above scenarios, your medical provider will work in collaboration with our team to ensure your treatment goals being met and you are healing along the appropriate timeline. In many cases, physical therapy is a vital component to holistic healing – and we look forward to partnering with you to meet your wellness goals.