A man seated at a desk rubbing his lower back

Spinal Conditions

A variety of spinal conditions, such as scoliosis, can cause back and neck pain. Learn how they are diagnosed and what options you may have for treatment.
Beautiful little boy on wheelchair smiling and looking with admiration at his unrecongizable physical therapist
What to Know About Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Child in wheelchair with parents
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Diagnosis Includes Several Types of Tests
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
Child at home in a wheelchair
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)—a Rare Type of Muscle Weakness
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Explaining spinal nerves and spine structure
Facetectomy: Uses, Procedure, & Results
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
spinal cord
Everything You Need To Know About Spinal Cord Compression
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
before surgery
10 Things Your Spine Surgeon Should Know Before Surgery
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Senior couple walking in the woods hand in hand
Tips for Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease
Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO
Child physiotherapist examining patient spine
5 Scoliosis Treatments You Should Know About
Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO
Doctor consulting with patient Back problems Physical therapy concept
Painful Facet Joints? It Could Be Hypertrophy
Medically reviewed by Mohamad Hassan, PT, DPT
Annular fissure
Annular Fissure of the Intervertebral Discs
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Senior man with back pain. Spine physical therapist and paient. chiropractic pain relief therapy. Age related backache
Neuroforaminal Spinal Stenosis
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Mature woman showing medical professional her painful arm
Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
Doctor looking a spine figure with her patient
Learn About the Symptoms and Causes of Central Canal Stenosis
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
a jogger stretching and touching her toes
How Flexion and Extension Bias Help Classify Back Pain
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
Neuralforaminal Narrowing Treatment
Ways to Abate Symptoms Related to Neuralforaminal Narrowing
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Vertebral column
Is Your Back Pain Caused by Spinal Synovial Cysts?
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
A doctor examines a young patient's spine.
Unraveling the Mystery of Scoliosis
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Back problems.
Risks of Spinal Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease
Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS
Scoliosis of the spine, artwork
Adult Scoliosis Has More Complications Due to Aging
Medically reviewed by Miho J. Tanaka, MD
Xray image of arthritic spine.
Is the Pain in Your Neck Cervical Spondylosis?
By Anne Asher, CPT
Doctor checking senior mans back in examination room
10 Different Types of Back Pain Doctors
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Doctor looking at an x-ray of a patient's neck while performing an exam
Does a Referral to a Spine Surgeon Mean Surgery?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Senior women doing ore stabilization workout on exercise balls
The Consequences of Spinal Instability
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Woman rubbing sore neck
How to Prevent Your Scalene Neck Muscles From Being Tight
Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS
A Doctor Reviewing X-ray Results stock photo
Traction Spurs and Other Conditions of the Spine
Medically reviewed by Mohamad Hassan, PT, DPT
A woman with shoulder and back pain
What is Spondylolisthesis?
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Vertebra or spinal bone
Vertebral Body and Spinal Compression Fractures
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Surgeons handing forceps in operating room
Are You a Candidate of Spine Surgery for Your Retrolithesis?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Tired office worker suffering from neck pain
5 Common Causes of Neck Pain
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
Woman with neck and shoulder pain
Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Spasm Cycle
Medically reviewed by Chris Vincent, MD
Senior man with neck pain.
Spinal Fractures or Degenerating Discs in the Elderly
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Cervical kyphosis is a reversing of the natural curve in the neck (or low back.)
When Can a Straight or Flat Neck Become Problematic?
Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD
Sacroiliac joint seen from above.
The Controversy Over Sacroiliac Joint Pain Treatments
Medically reviewed by Miho J. Tanaka, MD
Man with broken neck reading
How to Treat a Broken Neck
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
A man telling his doctor about his back problems.
Learn About the Causes and Treatment of Annular Fissure
Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD
Surgeon talking with senior patient lying on bed in hospital ward
Spinal Degeneration Can Happen After Fusion or Other Back Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Annular tear and irritated spinal nerve root
Three Ways Your Spinal Discs May Be Causing You Back Pain
Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS
Teenage girl at the doctor with back pain
Scheuermann's Disease Causes Abnormal Curvature of the Spine in Teens
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
A doctor and his patient looking at an x-ray
The Symptoms, Anatomy, and Treatment of Neurogenic Claudication
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Close up unhealthy mature woman touching back, sitting on bed
How Sciatica Is Treated
Medically reviewed by Miho J. Tanaka, MD
Neck bones
Simple Wedge Fractures of the Neck
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Physiotherapy on a woman's neck
Torticollis Symptoms and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Cobb Angle Measurement
Why the Cobb Angle Is Used to Diagnose Scoliosis
Medically reviewed by Mohamad Hassan, PT, DPT
Man sitting on bed with backache
Find Out If You Have Cauda Equina Syndrome Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
Sciatic back pain
Are Back Mice Real?
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
A woman in a wheelchair painting on an easel
The Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Spina Bifida
Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD
A spine doctor talking to her patient
Clay Shoveler's Fracture Is an Occupational Injury
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Woman holding her back
What is Lumbar Lordosis?
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
surgeons in an operating room
What to Know About Dural Sac Tears During Spinal Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Top-and side-view illustration of spinal stenosis
Everything You Need to Know About Spinal Stenosis
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Sacroiliac and low back pain
Inflammatory Arthritis: Types of Active Inflammation
Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS
Woman with backache, massaging her back.
Radiculopathy Overview: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Young male doctor holding model spine in front of blonde woman with her back to the camera
Arachnoiditis: A Rare and Painful Spine Condition
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Nerve cells.
Spinal Nerve Roots and Dermatomes
Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD
Boy in wheel chair holding a ball
An Overview of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Whiplash diagram
How to Recover From a Whiplash Injury
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
Female doctor and surgeon in discussion over spine model in clinic
The 6 Types of Spondylolisthesis
Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD
Whiplash Depiction
What Happens During a Whiplash Injury
Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO
Male doctor explaining the spine to senior patient
How to Find Treatments for Hyperkyphosis in Seniors and the Elderly
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
The spine, ribs, pelvis and sacrum
The Anatomy of the Spine Including Transverse Process and Lamina
Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS