Physical Therapy
Know When It’s Time to Begin Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can play an essential role in recovery after injury, surgery, or the onset of chronic pain. While some discomfort improves with rest, targeted therapy often provides the structured support needed to restore movement and prevent further injury. South Texas Spinal Clinic offers the San Antonio area comprehensive physical therapy services, combining leading-edge techniques with personalized care to help individuals regain their strength and mobility.
You should request an appointment with a physical therapist if you experience:
Discomfort that interferes with walking, working, or daily activities
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in affected areas
Pain that lasts more than a few weeks without improvement
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in affected areas
Pain that worsens with movement or stress on joints
Pain that spreads or radiates to other parts of the body
Sleep disturbances due to chronic pain
Your goals matter to us, and your success depends on a true partnership. Consistent treatment, both in our clinic and through your home exercise program, is crucial for lasting improvement. Building strength and endurance takes time, dedication, and teamwork—and you are the most vital member of that team. The more you communicate with your therapist, the more effective your treatment plan will be. Together, we’ll guide your recovery and help restore your mobility, function, and confidence.
What to Expect
At South Texas Spinal Clinic, physical therapy begins with a thorough evaluation of your condition, history, and goals. Your therapist will design a personalized plan that may include manual therapy, guided exercises, and supportive modalities. Each session builds strength, flexibility, and endurance while teaching safe techniques to continue at home, with steady progress through regular visits and open communication.
There are three important components of your physical therapy program:
Initial Evaluation
Your first visit includes a thorough assessment of your condition, medical history, and goals to create a personalized treatment plan.
Subsequent Visits
Follow-up sessions focus on progressing your therapy, adjusting treatments as needed, and tracking your improvement.
Discharge Visits
Your final visit reviews your progress, provides guidance for ongoing care, and ensures you have the tools to maintain long-term results.
Your first visit includes a one-on-one evaluation to understand the source of your pain and establish clear goals for recovery. From there, we’ll guide you through consistent, structured treatments designed to reduce pain, restore mobility, and build strength. We maintain constant communication with your doctor, collaborating on patient-specific protocols to ensure optimal outcomes. Our goal is to provide comprehensive care tailored to your specific needs, aligning with the goals set with your healthcare providers.
Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or regaining function after an injury, our team is here to help you return to the activities you love with confidence and lasting results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Physical therapy can raise many questions, especially if it’s your first time in treatment. Our goal is to make the process clear, approachable, and effective so you feel confident about your care. Below are answers to some of the most common questions patients ask about physical therapy.
When you’ve experienced an injury, have a degenerative disease, or require recovery from orthopedic surgery, physical therapy aims to rebuild muscle strength, enhance range of motion, and facilitate the restoration of normal function. The treatments administered during physical therapy effectively alleviate inflammation and pain, relax muscles, and foster healing by improving blood flow to injured tissues.
At your initial physical therapy appointment, you collaborate with a professionally trained therapist who assesses and works with you throughout the treatment process. Your therapist conducts a musculoskeletal evaluation to identify the cause of your pain and assess the extent of your physical limitations, tailoring a treatment plan to meet your specific goals.
Throughout the treatment, your physical therapist partners with your doctor to establish patient-specific protocols that ensure optimal outcomes. Your dedication, however, plays a crucial role in determining your success. Regular attendance is essential as building strength and restoring your health requires time and effort.
Physical therapy can make a positive impact on nearly every individual with a musculoskeletal problem. Some of the issues that physical therapy can address include:
- Back and neck pain
- Children’s musculoskeletal injuries
- Knee injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Spinal pain and injuries
- Sports injuries
Treatment methods vary depending on your needs but may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, stretching, functional training, and modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, dry needling, or heat and cold therapy. Each plan is designed to support healing and long-term wellness.
Continuing your therapy at home is crucial for achieving the best results. Throughout your time in physical therapy, your therapist educates you on exercises to perform at home, including proper body mechanics to ensure safe activity. After completing your physical therapy sessions, you’ll receive a personalized exercise plan to continue progress. Your physical therapist also guides you on recognizing when it’s safe to adhere to your regimen despite pain and when pain indicates the need for rest.
Our physical therapists are highly trained in specialized areas of care to help patients recover, rebuild strength, and move with confidence. Some of their areas of expertise include:
- Manual physical therapy
- Sports medicine
- Motor vehicle injury rehabilitation
- Work-related injury rehabilitation
- Dry needling
- Physical training
Wear comfortable, nonrestrictive clothing and closed-toe shoes, preferably athletic wear and sneakers.
As a courtesy, South Texas Spinal Clinic will bill your insurance company for provided services. We attempt to verify your insurance before the initial evaluation. Co-pays, coinsurance, and deductible amounts are your responsibility and are due at the time of service.
We discourage cancellations to maintain effective treatment. Consistent and continuous treatments are crucial for achieving your goals. Since your appointment is specifically scheduled for your needs, we require 24 hours’ advance notice for cancellations. In case of a cancellation within less than 72 business hours or a no-show, a visit cancellation fee may apply.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a hands-on approach used by physical therapists to reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore function. By applying targeted pressure, stretching, or mobilization techniques, our physical therapists can address joint stiffness, muscle tightness, and restricted movement.
Spine & Joint Mobilization
Spine and joint mobilization involves gentle, controlled movements that improve flexibility, reduce stiffness, and restore normal joint motion. This technique helps relieve pain caused by restricted joints and enhances range of motion—allowing patients to move more freely during daily activities.
Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Therapy
Trigger points are tight, tender spots in muscle tissue that can cause pain locally or radiate discomfort to other areas. Manual therapy for trigger points applies focused pressure to release these knots, decrease muscle tension, and restore normal movement patterns.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release focuses on the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles and joints. When fascia becomes tight or restricted, it can cause pain and limited mobility. Gentle, sustained pressure is used to stretch and release these restrictions, restoring flexibility and reducing discomfort.
Kinesio Taping
Kinesio Taping® uses specialized elastic tape applied to the skin to support muscles and joints without restricting movement. This technique can reduce swelling, improve circulation, and provide stability during recovery. It is often used in sports medicine and rehabilitation to enhance performance and protect against further injury.
Soft-Tissue Mobilization & Therapeutic Massage
Soft-tissue mobilization combines massage-like techniques with targeted pressure to break up adhesions, reduce swelling, and relax tight muscles. This therapy improves blood flow, supports healing, and relieves pain while promoting overall tissue health.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise therapy is a core part of physical rehabilitation, focused on restoring strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance. Our physical therapists design and guide exercises that are customized to each patient’s condition and goals, helping to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent future injuries.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is an advanced stretching and strengthening technique that combines targeted stretching with periods of muscle contraction and relaxation. Guided by our physical therapists, PNF improves flexibility, restores range of motion, and enhances muscle performance—making it especially effective for recovery, athletic performance, and long-term functional health.
Therapeutic Exercise & Functional Exercise Therapy
Therapeutic exercises target specific muscles and joints to improve range of motion, build strength, and support healing. Functional exercise therapy goes a step further, training the body for real-life movements like walking, lifting, or climbing stairs. Together, these exercises help patients regain independence and return to daily activities with confidence.
Rehabilitation & Home Exercise Programs
Rehabilitation exercises are designed to support recovery after injury, surgery, or periods of limited activity. To reinforce progress made in the clinic, our physical therapists create home exercise programs that are safe, simple, and effective. These personalized plans keep patients engaged in their recovery and encourage long-term wellness outside of therapy sessions.
PT Videos
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound uses sound waves to gently warm tissues, increase blood flow, and promote healing in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This therapy is often used to speed recovery and reduce stiffness in injured areas.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation helps reduce pain, improve circulation, and activate muscles during rehabilitation and recovery. It can also retrain weakened muscles and support nerve healing.
Therapeutic Heat & Cold
Heat relaxes tight muscles and improves flexibility, while cold reduces inflammation and swelling—both supporting comfort and healing. These therapies are often alternated to relieve pain and promote faster recovery.
Our Physical Therapists
Our licensed physical therapists combine advanced training, extensive experience, and patient-centered care with leading-edge technology to create highly effective treatment plans. They work closely with each patient to understand their unique goals, guide them through personalized therapies, and provide the tools needed for long-term recovery.
With expertise in reducing pain, restoring mobility, and preventing future injuries, our therapists are dedicated to helping patients return to active, healthy living with confidence.
Our Physical Therapy Locations
Huebner Medical Center
9150 Huebner Road
Suite 290
San Antonio, TX 78240
Hardy Oak
18626 Hardy Oak Boulevard
Suite 200 (2nd Floor)
San Antonio, TX 78258
Schertz
6704 Guada Coma Drive
Schertz, TX 78154
Schedule an Appointment
Don’t let pain, stiffness, or weakness keep you from living fully. At South Texas Spinal Clinic, our physical therapy team will create a program tailored to your needs and guide you every step of the way. To begin your path toward recovery, please call us at
(210) 293-3165 or use the button below to schedule an appointment online.
