University Hospital Aston Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program provides non-surgical treatment options for patients suffering from back and neck pain, including conditions such as low back pain, degenerative disc disease, and herniated discs.

Who We Are

Our goal is to work with patients to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility to alleviate pain and improve quality of life without resorting to surgery or long-term medication. Physicians use medical histories and physical examinations to gain a thorough understanding of your symptoms, and technologies such as X-rays, computerized tomography (CT scans), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to diagnose conditions and assess their severity. Once a diagnosis is complete, appropriate rehabilitative techniques can be prescribed.

Our Services

Rehabilitation techniques generally fall into two categories – active and passive.

Passive Physical Therapy

These techniques focus on decreasing the pain without requiring much effort from the patient. They include:

Electrical stimulation of nerves

Targets specific nerves and relieves pain with painless electrical stimulation by using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) unit

Heat/cold application

Reduces muscle spasms and inflammation; often used alternatively through the course of treatment

Topical application of steroids

Applied to the skin through a process called iontophoresis, which uses a mild current that causes the medicine to migrate to soft tissue and reduce inflammation.

Ultrasound deep heating

Uses sound waves to penetrate the body’s soft tissues to relieve pain and promote healing

Active Physical Therapy

Active physical therapy in the form of stretching and strengthening exercises is critical to the rehabilitation and long-term health of the spine.

Depending on your condition, the following may be included in the treatment plan:

• Dynamic lumbar stabilization
• Low-impact aerobic conditioning
• Muscle strengthening exercises
• Stretching the back and other areas.