Evidence-Based Spinal Rehabilitation for Your Most Challenging Patients
Fix Back & Neck Pain works with MDs, DOs, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, and primary care physicians across the Eastside. We provide isolated lumbar and cervical strengthening with medical-grade MedX equipment, with published research behind it, integrated with manual therapy, spinal decompression, and advanced modalities. No prior authorization required. We communicate outcomes back to you.
Evidence at a glance
- Isolated lumbar extension with pelvic stabilization: RCT evidence that the stabilization is what produces the strength and pain change (Smith 2011; Graves 1994).
- 895-patient controlled study: 76% of completers good or excellent, 94% maintained at 1 year (Nelson 1995).
- Manual therapy added to exercise: short-term benefit beyond exercise alone in 8 of 10 RCTs (Narenthiran 2025).
What PT Leaves Unfinished — And Why It Matters
Physical therapy restores movement. We rebuild the structural foundation that prevents the pain from returning.
The Lumbar Extensor Problem
The lumbar extensors respond poorly to exercise that lets the hips and legs do the work. In training studies, isolated lumbar strength rose only when the pelvis was restrained (Graves 1994; Steele 2015). MedX provides that restraint.
The Cervical Stability Gap
Neck pain patients are routinely discharged from PT with improved range of motion but chronically weak deep cervical extensors. Isolated cervical strengthening on MedX equipment targets those extensors directly.
The Recurrence Cycle
Patients return to you. Re-enter PT. Improve temporarily. Return again. Structural strengthening interrupts this cycle by addressing the muscular deficit, not just the symptom. MedX training produces measurable strength changes, retested at fixed intervals.
We Complement Every Member of Your Patient's Care Team
We are not a replacement for PT, surgery, or pain management. We are the piece that makes each of those work better and last longer.
With Physical Therapists
PT establishes range of motion, addresses soft tissue, and retrains movement patterns. We take over where PT benefit plateaus — progressive spinal strengthening that PT clinics rarely have the equipment or visit count to complete. We actively coordinate with referring PTs and share progress notes.
With Personal Trainers & Athletic Coaches
Trainers build general conditioning and athletic performance. But loading a structurally deficient spine through general training is a liability — for the trainer and the patient. We identify and correct the spinal deficit first, then the trainer can safely do their job without fear of aggravating an underlying weakness.
With Orthopedic Surgeons
Pre-operatively: we build strength in the stabilizing muscles around the surgical site. Post-operatively: once cleared, our protocols rebuild the structural support around the repaired anatomy. We are a natural extension of the surgical care pathway.
With Pain Management Specialists
Injections and medication manage the symptom. We address one of its root contributors, muscular insufficiency around the spine. We support your treatment plan, we don't contradict it.
What We Use and Why
Every modality we use is selected for clinical efficacy, not revenue. Here is what your patients will experience:
MedX Spinal Strengthening
Isolated lumbar and cervical extensor strengthening with pelvic or torso restraint. Full-range resistance in a stabilized position limits compensation and targets the muscles responsible for spinal support. See the published evidence summary.
Best for: Chronic low back pain, degenerative disc disease, lumbar stenosis, cervical radiculopathy, post-surgical rehab, failed conservative care.
Piezowave Shockwave Therapy
Acoustic pressure waves delivered to tendons, fascia and calcifications. Used for tendon and soft tissue conditions that have plateaued under other care.
Best for: Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendinopathy, hip flexor issues, patellar tendinopathy.
Low Level Laser / Red Light Therapy
Photobiomodulation at therapeutic wavelengths. A Lancet meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials found low level laser reduced neck pain, with relief lasting up to 22 weeks in chronic neck pain (Chow et al., 2009).
Best for: Acute and chronic inflammation, post-surgical tissue healing, nerve pain, joint pain.
Manual Therapy
Advanced hands-on soft tissue and joint work targeting the specific muscular and fascial restrictions identified in each patient's assessment. Used to prepare tissue for strengthening or to address acute restrictions.
Best for: Muscle guarding, trigger points, joint mobility restriction, post-immobilization tightness.
Scan Your Patient Panel: Conditions We See Most Often
If your patient has tried PT, had injections, and is still symptomatic — that is our ideal referral.
We Communicate Back
You'll receive a brief intake summary and progress note at key milestones. We treat your referral as a clinical handoff, not a transaction.
No Insurance Friction
We operate outside the insurance pre-authorization maze. Your patient can schedule within days, not weeks. No prior auth forms land on your front desk from us.
We Keep Them Motivated
Our patients are self-selected — they want to get better without surgery. That mindset combined with a structured protocol produces compliance and outcomes that reflect well on everyone involved in their care.
"Fix Back & Neck Pain has become my first call before I send a spine patient to surgery. Their MedX protocol has kept more than a few of my patients off my OR schedule — and they're grateful for it."
— Referring Orthopedic Surgeon, Eastside
Tailored to Your Specialty
How we partner with physicians across disciplines — select your specialty for relevant clinical detail.
We are a pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation partner for spinal procedures including lumbar discectomy, spinal fusion, laminectomy, and cervical surgery.
Pre-Surgical
Our pre-surgical MedX conditioning protocol, typically 4 to 8 weeks before elective procedures, builds deep lumbar extensor strength before surgery. We coordinate with your surgical timeline and provide progress notes.
Post-Surgical
In a randomized trial of 75 patients after lumbar discectomy, those who began isolated lumbar extension training six weeks after surgery returned to work within 4 months at 87% versus 24% of controls (Choi et al., Neurosurgery, 2005). We begin post-surgical rehabilitation at 6 weeks post-op with a progressive MedX protocol tailored to the specific procedure, and we communicate directly with your office at key milestones.
Adjacent Segment Protection
For fusion patients, adjacent segment degeneration is a recognized long-term concern. Our post-fusion strengthening protocol targets the extensor musculature around the fused levels, and we are happy to co-design it with your team.
The Referral Process
Simple. Fast. No friction.
Contact us
Call (425) 758-4619 or use the referral form below. Describe the patient's presentation and what you've tried. Email referrals@fixbackneckpain.com for non-urgent referrals.
We assess
We typically see referred patients within 3 to 5 business days. Our comprehensive assessment identifies the specific structural, muscular, and soft tissue factors driving the patient's presentation.
We treat and report
Treatment begins immediately following assessment. Written summary to the referring physician within 5 business days. Progress notes at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and discharge. Available by phone for clinical questions throughout.
No prior authorization required. We are a cash-pay practice and see patients with or without insurance.
We Put the Research in One Place for You
Eight pages of peer-reviewed evidence, clinical protocols, referral indications, and outcome data — written specifically for referring physicians. Includes the Nelson surgery avoidance study, University of Florida MedX validation research, and the complete referral pathway.
- Peer-reviewed studies summarized
- Referral indications by condition
- How we fit your care ecosystem
- The 5-step referral process
Spinal Rehabilitation & Strengthening
A Clinical Reference for Referring Physicians
Download the Clinical Reference Brief
For licensed healthcare providers. We will send the PDF directly to your email.
Refer a Patient — We'll Take It From Here
Complete this form and we will contact your patient within one business day. We'll send you a brief update once they're seen.