Conditions & Pain
What's causing your pain — and how physical therapy treats it
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Most aches, strains, and joint problems fall into patterns physical therapists see every day. These guides explain what's likely going on, how PT treats it, and when it's time to see someone — written in plain English from published research and clinical practice guidelines.
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Ankle & Foot Pain
Most ankle and foot pain comes from the tendons, ligaments, and tissues being overloaded, sprained, or irritated — where it hurts is a strong clue (heel, arch, ball of foot, or the ankle itself). The large majority of cases improve with load management and progressive strengthening rather than rest or surgery. Get urgent care if you can't bear weight after an injury, the joint is hot and feverish, or you felt a sudden pop in the back of the ankle.
2 min read
Elbow Pain
Most elbow pain comes from overloaded tendons or an irritated nerve — and the location tells you a lot. Pain on the outside is usually tennis elbow; pain on the inside is usually golfer's elbow; and tingling into the ring and pinky fingers points to a nerve at the elbow. The large majority of cases improve with load management and progressive strengthening rather than rest or surgery. Seek prompt care for a sudden pop with lifting, a hot swollen elbow tip with fever, or a deformed elbow after injury.
2 min read
Hip Pain
Most hip pain comes from the muscles, tendons, and joint surfaces being overloaded, irritated, or worn — where exactly it hurts is a big clue. Pain in the groin usually points to the joint itself, while pain on the outer hip usually points to the tendons there. The large majority of cases improve with guided exercise rather than rest or surgery. Get urgent care if you can't bear weight after a fall or the joint is hot and feverish.
2 min read
Jaw & TMJ Pain
Most jaw pain comes from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles that move it — often from clenching, grinding, stress, posture, or the joint's disc not moving smoothly. It can cause pain, clicking, limited opening, and headaches. The good news: most jaw problems are managed well with conservative care, and jaw-focused physical therapy is an effective first-line option. Call emergency services if jaw pain comes with chest pressure or breathlessness, which can signal a heart problem.
2 min read
Knee Pain
Most knee pain comes from how the joint is loaded — not permanent damage — and responds well to physical therapy. Start with the condition that matches your symptoms, or see a PT for a diagnosis in one visit.
1 min read
Lower Back Pain
Most lower back pain is mechanical — it comes from the muscles, joints, discs, and nerves of the spine being overloaded or moving poorly, not from serious disease. The large majority of cases improve within a few weeks with movement, gentle exercise, and physical therapy rather than bed rest, scans, or surgery. Seek emergency care if you lose control of your bladder or bowels, go numb around the groin, or develop sudden major leg weakness.
2 min read
Neck Pain
Most neck pain is mechanical — it comes from the muscles, joints, and discs of the neck being strained, stiff, or overloaded (often by posture and stress), not from serious disease. The large majority of cases improve within a few weeks with movement, gentle exercise, and physical therapy rather than rest or a collar. Seek urgent care for neck pain after a major accident, or neck symptoms with hand clumsiness, balance problems, or slurred speech.
2 min read
Pelvic Health
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base of your pelvis that support your organs and help control your bladder and bowels. When these muscles are too weak, too tight, or poorly coordinated, you can get leaking, pelvic pain, pressure, or related problems. Pelvic-health physical therapy is a first-line, evidence-based treatment for many of these issues. A key point: not everyone should do Kegels — a trained PT figures out whether your floor needs strengthening or relaxing.
2 min read
Shoulder Pain
Most shoulder pain comes from the soft tissues that move and stabilize the joint — especially the rotator cuff tendons — being overloaded, irritated, or stiff, rather than from serious disease. The large majority of cases improve with guided exercise that restores strength and motion, not rest or surgery. Get urgent care if shoulder or left-arm pain comes with chest pressure or breathlessness, or after a significant injury with deformity or an inability to move the arm.
2 min read
Upper Back Pain
Most upper back (thoracic) pain is mechanical — overloaded or stiff muscles and joints, often driven by posture, desk work, and stress. It's usually not serious and improves with movement, posture variety, and strengthening. Because the upper back sits near the heart and lungs, though, certain warning signs matter: get emergency care for chest pressure, breathlessness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, and urgent care for upper-back pain with leg weakness or balance problems.
2 min read
Wrist & Hand Pain
Most wrist and hand pain comes from tendons, nerves, joints, or ligaments being overloaded, compressed, or irritated — often from repetitive use, a fall, or arthritis. Where it hurts and what makes it worse are strong clues. The large majority of cases improve with activity changes, splinting when needed, and targeted exercise rather than surgery. Seek prompt care after a fall with thumb-base tenderness, or for constant numbness with hand weakness.
2 min read
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