Low Back Pain Physical Therapy in Quincy, MA
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people stop exercising, miss work, and feel limited in everyday life. At Quincy Physical Therapy, we provide evidence-based spine rehabilitation to reduce pain, restore movement, and help you return confidently to daily activity, work, and the gym.
Our approach goes beyond quick fixes. We identify the factors driving your symptoms, improve movement quality, and build long-term strength and resilience so you can move better—and stay active.
Common Symptoms of Low Back Pain
Low back pain can present in different ways. You may benefit from physical therapy if you’re experiencing:
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Pain with bending, lifting, sitting, standing, or walking
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Morning stiffness or pain that worsens throughout the day
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“Pulling,” tightness, spasms, or guarding in the low back
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Pain that travels into the glute/hip or down the leg
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Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot
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Pain with getting in/out of the car, rolling in bed, or changing positions
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Difficulty returning to workouts or sports without flaring up
Understanding Low Back Pain
Low back pain can arise from many sources, including muscle strain, joint irritation, disc involvement, nerve sensitivity, or changes in movement patterns over time. In many cases, symptoms are influenced by multiple factors—including physical, neurological, and lifestyle components.
Modern research supports a comprehensive approach that combines education, movement, and progressive loading rather than passive treatment alone.
Common conditions may include:
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Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
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Disc herniation or bulging discs
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Lumbar stenosis
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Spondylosis or degenerative changes
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Acute or chronic mechanical low back pain
What’s Really Driving Your Pain
Low back pain isn’t always caused by one “broken structure.” Common contributors we evaluate include:
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Reduced strength or endurance (hips, trunk, legs)
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Limited mobility (hips, thoracic spine, ankles) affecting how you move
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Overuse or rapid training volume changes (“too much too soon”)
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Movement strategies that overload the spine (especially with lifting)
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Nervous system sensitivity and protective guarding
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Poor sleep, high stress, low recovery capacity, or prolonged inactivity
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Fear of movement after flare-ups or prior injuries
The goal is to identify what matters most for you—and build a plan that changes it.
How Physical Therapy Helps
Evidence-based physical therapy can help you:
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Reduce pain and muscle guarding
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Improve mobility and flexibility
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Restore strength and stability around the spine
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Improve coordination and movement efficiency
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Reduce fear of movement and flare-up anxiety
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Build long-term recovery and recurrence prevention strategies
Your plan is individualized and adjusted based on your goals, symptoms, and response to rehab.
Our Approach to Spine Rehabilitation
At Quincy Physical Therapy, we use a comprehensive, spine-focused approach that emphasizes active recovery and long-term results.
Your program may include:
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Movement assessment and biomechanical analysis
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Targeted mobility and flexibility work
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Progressive strengthening and graded exposure to lifting/movement
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Motor control and trunk stability training (without over-coaching “perfect posture”)
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Pain science education (so symptoms make sense and feel less threatening)
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Functional retraining for the tasks that aggravate you (work demands, gym lifts, sports movements)
Hands-on techniques such as Manual Physical Therapy or Dry Needling may be used when appropriate to improve mobility and reduce discomfort—so you can participate more effectively in active rehab.
Strength-Based Recovery
Long-term back pain outcomes improve when rehab transitions from “early phase relief” to building real capacity.
Many patients benefit from progressing into structured strength development through our Strength Training and Performance approach. This improves resilience, reduces recurrence risk, and restores confidence with lifting and everyday movement.
Chronic or Persistent Low Back Pain
Persistent low back pain does not always indicate ongoing tissue damage. In some cases, the nervous system becomes sensitized over time, contributing to ongoing symptoms.
When symptoms are persistent or flare-ups keep returning, we incorporate education, pacing, and graded exposure similar to our Chronic Pain Physical Therapy approach—helping you regain control and reduce fear associated with movement.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
Most back pain is not dangerous, but seek urgent medical attention if you have:
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New loss of bowel or bladder control
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Numbness in the groin/saddle region
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Progressive or significant leg weakness
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Fever/chills with severe back pain
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Severe pain after major trauma (fall, car accident)
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Unexplained weight loss or pain that is constant and worsening without relief
If you’re unsure, we can help guide next steps.
What to Expect at Quincy Physical Therapy
1) Comprehensive evaluation
We assess movement patterns, strength, mobility, neural symptoms (if present), and functional limitations—then identify what’s driving your symptoms and what needs to change.
2) Clear plan + early wins
You’ll leave with a plan you understand: what to do now, what to avoid temporarily, and what progress should look like over the next few weeks.
3) Active rehab + smart progression
We combine targeted exercise, movement retraining, and education with strategic hands-on care when helpful. As symptoms improve, we progress your plan toward real-life tolerance—lifting, sitting, walking, work demands, and gym activity.
4) Independence + prevention
Our goal is to help you feel confident managing your back long-term, with a plan to reduce recurrence and keep you active.
Low Back Pain FAQs
Do I need an MRI before starting physical therapy?
Usually not. Most back pain can be evaluated and treated based on your history, exam, and functional limitations. If we see signs that imaging may be helpful, we’ll guide you.
Is it safe to exercise with back pain?
Often, yes—with the right dosage and progression. We don’t guess; we match exercises to your tolerance and build up gradually.
What if I’ve been told I have a “bulging disc” or “degeneration”?
Those findings are common and don’t always explain pain. We focus on function, symptom behavior, and progressive capacity building—not fear-based labels.
Can PT help sciatica or leg symptoms?
Yes. If nerve irritation is present, we’ll assess and treat it with appropriate progressions and education—while building strength and movement tolerance.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on your goals, how long symptoms have been present, and how consistent you can be with the home plan. Many patients start 1–2x/week and taper as they gain independence.
Will I get hands-on treatment?
When appropriate, yes—often via Manual Physical Therapy and/or Dry Needling—but it’s used to support an active plan, not replace it.
What if my pain keeps flaring up?
That’s common. We look at load management, recovery factors, fear/avoidance patterns, and build a flare-up strategy so you don’t get stuck in the boom/bust cycle.
What should I do if sitting makes my back worse?
We’ll help you identify positions and movement breaks that reduce sensitivity, then build tolerance so sitting becomes less limiting over time.
Do you treat work injuries?
Yes. If your back pain started at work or needs documentation and return-to-work planning, see Worker’s Compensation.
Do you coordinate with other providers if needed?
Yes. When appropriate, we collaborate with Dr. Richard Mazzaferro and his team at Quincy Spine Center for additional conservative spine evaluation and non-surgical options.
Related Services
Depending on what’s driving your symptoms, you may also benefit from:
Schedule an Evaluation
If you’re experiencing low back pain, early intervention can help prevent symptoms from becoming more limiting. Contact Quincy Physical Therapy to schedule an evaluation and begin your recovery.