Spinal Pain Physiotherapy Singapore

Written by Zita Sham, Fairuuz Saleh and Shiv Mohan Banka, Principal Physiotherapists at Phoenix Rehab.Clinically reviewed by Louise Yow, Principal Physiotherapist and Director, AHPC A1300363H.Last reviewed 28 September 2026.

Spinal pain includes neck and/or back pain. Up to six out of ten adults suffer from spinal pain every year. Of these six adults, 50% will develop long term (chronic) pain.

This means that 30% of adults have long term back pain or neck pain.

This may be surprising, but it has unfortunately become the norm. Spinal pain is often a result of issues with:

back and neck discs
back and neck joints
back and neck muscles
back and neck ligaments.

Most of the time it is directly linked to:

trauma such as falls, direct blows/hits or motor vehicle accidents
poor posture/poor postural habits
repetitive strain injury.

Of course, there are other causes of spinal pain too, such as inflammation, or medical conditions such as:

arthritis (e.g. juvenile arthritis, spondylosis)
other progressive diseases that can affect the bones, muscles and joints of the spine.

SPINAL PAIN PHYSIOTHERAPY

Back and neck problems can cause sciatica, which means that the spinal nerve is being compressed somewhere along the spine, and this leads to

back pain (including back strains and low back pain) and neck pain
numbness
tingling down the buttocks, leg, ankle and foot.

Sciatica can be triggered even by very small everyday activities or movements, such as leaning forward to pick up your toothbrush or bag. In some cases, it may happen for no obvious reason at all (meaning that you can’t connect a specific event to the pain, although there may have been something that triggered it that you’re not aware of).

Sciatica can also be caused by a stretch injury. In some cases, sciatica may happen due to a muscle pressing against the nerve (see Piriformis Sciatica).

It usually affects one side of the leg/hamstrings, and patients often report experiencing tingling and tightness that travels (radiates) down the back of the thigh and sometimes to the front of the shin.

Phoenix Rehab senior physiotherapists are carefully selected to join the team, and they are experienced clinicians in assessing, diagnosing and treating back and neck problems that you or your loved ones may face.

SPINAL PAIN PHYSIOTHERAPY SYMPTOMS

Spinal physiotherapy treatments by senior physios are generally regarded as effective conservative management for your back and neck pain.

Treatments by our clinician senior physiotherapists will help to:

decrease muscle spasms related to spinal pain
relieve spinal nerve root compression caused by slipped discs
treat secondary conditions caused by compression of the sciatic nerve.

Other than treating the symptoms of pain, discomfort and nerve symptoms (such as radiating sensation/tingling), we provide our patients with customized back exercises to effectively strengthen their core and back muscles. This helps to build stable supporting muscles.

Research shows that specific exercise therapy prescribed by qualified and experienced clinician physiotherapists is vital in the successful management and treatment of spine-related pains.

SPINAL PAIN PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENTS

Our clinician spine physiotherapists are clinicians in assessing and treating spinal conditions.

One of the most important things for patients to note is that spinal problems can be prevented from occurring or recurring by regular training to keep the back and core muscles strong but flexible.

Spinal physiotherapy treatments may include:

hands-on manipulation and mobilization (manual therapy)
computerized decompression spinal traction physiotherapy
soft tissue management
cold therapy
heat packs and heat treatments to relieve tight muscles and joints
ultrasound therapy to accelerate soft tissue healing
exercise therapy
acupuncture or dry needling
deep tissue release.

If you have any back or neck pain, or you know someone who does, do consider seeing our clinician spine physiotherapist. You may even prevent the need for back or neck surgery with early spinal physiotherapy intervention.

Do not hesitate or wait for it to go away – pain is a normal response from our body to signal to us that there is an issue to resolve – and the earlier we address it, the faster it’ll be resolved. If you delay, it may become worse and progress into something more serious that may take much more time to resolve.

Where are you with this right now?

1. It is settling on its own

Most injuries and most flare-ups settle over weeks with sensible load management and a return to normal movement. Improvement is judged over a month, not over a day, and good days and bad days inside that are usual. If you are doing more this month than last, and sleeping better, it is behaving the way it should. You do not need us for this, and we would rather say so.

2. It has stopped improving

You have adapted without noticing. The other side takes the load, you plan movements you used to make without thinking, and you have quietly dropped things you used to do.

Pain is the first thing to leave. Movement and strength are the last things trained back, and most people stop before that part is done. That is the gap worth measuring, and it is not measured by how you feel on the day.

The Stalled Recovery Review is three appointments over three weeks with the same therapist, because what a joint does under load cannot be read in one visit. The first finds what is limiting it. The next two measure how it responds. $690, nett, no GST, which is three appointments at $230.

3. You have had surgery, or you have a date

Recovery after an operation has a shape, and knowing which stage you are in tells you whether you are on it. See the recovery programs, hand and physiotherapy, or the four stages and what each one works on if you are not sure which applies to you.

All of it runs on the same four stages. The Phoenix Recovery Protocol explains what each stage works on and what you have to meet to move up. No referral needed to start.

What our patients say

Google reviews from our clinics in Singapore.

       
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   Micah 
 34 days ago
 
 
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Amazing experience with Phoenix Rehab, was assisted by Mavis. She’s very kind and professional and did thorough check on my wrist. I feel very comfortable during the process.

I went in for thermoplastic splint, and everything went smoothly. She was able to address my needs on my left wrist sprain.

They were prompt with appointment process and inquiry. Also the clinic is very close to Tanjong Pagar MRT. I highly recommend!
  
 
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   Chiky Phan 
 38 days ago
 
 
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Fist time doing ultrasound for my tennis elbow!! Let’s hope it gets better the next few weeks!! Thank Mavis Tham!!
  
 
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   XIN WANG 
 55 days ago
 
 
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Great treatment from my therapist. My painful wrist felt a lot of relief after the session. I’m glad I can slowly get back to doing my usual activities without constant pain.
  
 
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   Abby Lee 
 71 days ago
 
 
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Very helpful and friendly !
  
 
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   雪梅Cui 
 109 days ago
 
 
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The masseur is very professional and provides excellent service ，yati is very good!
  
 
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   Tra Nguyen 
 200 days ago
 
 
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I wasn’t able to close my fingers due to an injury. Nurul at Phoenix Rehab has helped me tremendously with my recovery process. I have been able to resume my daily activities and exercises after only a few sessions. Nurul has been very professional and positive throughout the entire process. Thank you so much for your help!
  
 
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   Juzer K 
 238 days ago
 
 
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Huge shoutout to Yuna Zhang from Phoenix Rehab for helping in my recovery from golfer’s elbow 🙌

I walked in with persistent elbow pain that was affecting workouts and everyday tasks, and Yuna immediately made me feel confident I was in the right hands. She took the time to properly assess my condition, explain the root cause, and tailor a treatment plan to my specific needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach.

What I really appreciated was how personalised every session felt. The exercises she gave me were practical, easy to follow, and actually worked. Within a short time, the pain reduced significantly and my strength and mobility improved much faster than I expected.

On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable and affordable, which made committing to recovery much easier.

Professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring — highly recommend Yuna at Phoenix Rehab if you’re dealing with hand-related sports injuries 💪
  
 
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   Fazal Hanafi Chaudhry 
 322 days ago
 
 
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I enjoy coming to Phoenix rehab as they offer a wide variety of services. I had a finger accident and was working with a very experienced hand therapist. Place is clean and comfortable.  Staff were friendly and appointment was on time
  
 
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   Stella Yam 
 463 days ago
 
 
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Very good
  
 
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   Juliana 
 465 days ago
 
 
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Have both physio n Tcm visits here, highly recommend!
  
 
 
  
 
 
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Next step

Find out which stage you are in

Pain is the first thing to leave. Movement and strength are the last things trained back, and most people stop before that part is done. One Assessment and Treatment is a single 45-minute appointment at $230, nett, no GST. Your therapist finds what is actually limiting you, treats it in the same appointment, and you leave with your current stage and a written plan.

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