Conditions We Treat
Most back pain isn't a structural emergency — it's a recoverable problem. Physical therapy is the first-line, evidence-based treatment recommended by the American College of Physicians for both acute and chronic low back pain. No referral needed in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, and we offer same-week evaluations at all three locations.
Most back pain belongs in physical therapy first. Get to an ER instead if you have progressive weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, fever with back pain, recent significant trauma, or unexplained weight loss. Otherwise, start with PT — earlier is better.
Mechanical low back pain (muscle strain, disc irritation, joint dysfunction), sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy, disc herniations (most resolve without surgery), lumbar spinal stenosis, SI joint dysfunction, post-surgical recovery after fusion or discectomy, and pregnancy- and postpartum-related back pain.
Sixty-minute initial evaluation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We perform a movement screen, strength and neuro testing, and palpation, then explain in plain English what's driving your pain. First treatment happens the same visit. A typical plan of care is 6–12 visits over 4–8 weeks.
Hands-on manual therapy (joint mobilization, soft-tissue work), dry needling when trigger points are driving the pain, graded loading and McKenzie-style directional preference work, hip and core retraining, and practical education on how to sit, lift, and sleep without flare-ups. We're not chiropractic, pain management, or surgery — we're conservative care that resolves most cases.
We accept most insurance, including Medicare, CareFirst BCBS, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Tricare. Self-pay is $150 per session. Direct access — no referral needed in DC, MD, or VA. See our insurance pages for payer-specific details.
Capitol Hill (1301 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC), Bethesda (6931 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD), and in-home visits throughout the DMV. Same-week evaluations at all three.
Same-week evaluations at Capitol Hill, Bethesda, and in-home throughout the DMV.
Book a Back Pain EvaluationMost patients see meaningful improvement within 4–6 weeks. A typical plan of care is 6–12 visits. Chronic cases (over six months) often take longer but still respond well to conservative care.
No. DC, Maryland, and Virginia are direct-access states. You can start PT without going through your primary care doctor first.
Usually not. Imaging is rarely needed before starting PT for most back pain. We'll let you know during evaluation if your symptoms warrant imaging or a referral to a specialist.
Almost always yes — with modifications. Complete rest typically makes back pain worse. Your PT will help you keep training safely while we work on the underlying issue.
Yes. Chronic back pain responds to PT, though the plan is different from acute care. We focus on graded loading, central nervous system desensitization, and rebuilding capacity over time.
Yes, when performed by a trained PT. We use it for trigger-point-driven muscle pain in the lumbar and gluteal regions. It's evidence-supported and well-tolerated.
Yes. See our sciatica page for specifics — the evaluation and treatment approach is different from non-radicular back pain.
We handle a lot of post-surgical lumbar rehab — fusion, discectomy, laminectomy. The approach is paced more carefully than non-surgical cases, but the outcomes are strong.