Whenever pain flares up – one of the most popular questions and concerns I get from clients is whether or not they need an MRI. When you have persistent pain that won’t go away, or shooting pain or numbness down your arm or leg, it’s scary. It makes sense to get a look inside with an MRI, right? Not necessarily. MRI’s are an amazing technological advancement that will...
If you’ve ever felt a sharp, shooting pain that starts in your lower back and travels down your leg, you’ve probably been told you have sciatica. And if you’re like most people here in Portsmouth or the Seacoast—you’ve already tried a handful of things to fix it. Rest. Stretching. Maybe chiropractic care. Maybe even physical therapy or injections. Maybe some of it helped… but the pain keeps coming...
If you’ve ever Googled “how to fix back pain,” you’ve probably seen advice suggesting consistent movement, stretching, and core strengthening. And while that’s not wrong, it’s incomplete. At our Portsmouth, NH physical therapy clinic, we see people every day who have been doing all the “right” core exercises—and still struggling with back pain. Here’s why. The Problem with Generic Core Strengthening for Back Pain Yes, movement matters.Yes, stretching...
If you’re dealing with back pain in Portsmouth, NH or the Seacoast area, your first instinct is probably to stop everything and rest. That feels logical — when something hurts, you avoid it. But when it comes to back pain, that instinct may actually be keeping you stuck in a cycle of pain. After more than 20 years of helping people overcome back pain at CJ Physical Therapy...
Seven Smarter Ways to Manage Arthritis Pain – Without Drugs or Surgery (Portsmouth & Seacoast, NH) Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic joint pain and mobility limitations, affecting nearly 60 million adults in the United States. Many people in Portsmouth, NH and throughout the Seacoast live with persistent stiffness, swelling, and joint pain that can interfere with daily activities, exercise, and quality of life....
Why New Year’s Fitness Goals Backfire — And How to Protect Your Back Every January, it happens like clockwork. Gyms fill up. Fitness challenges kick off. People recommit to moving more, getting stronger, and finally prioritizing their health. And honestly — that motivation is a great thing. But then February and March arrive… and we start seeing a different pattern here at our physical therapy clinic in Portsmouth,...
What If Your Back Pain Didn’t Have to Follow You Into 2026? As the year winds down here in the Seacoast, many people in Portsmouth and the surrounding New Hampshire area take time to reflect on the last twelve months. You might think about your accomplishments, challenges, and the changes you hope to make in 2026. It’s a natural rhythm as the calendar turns over — and with...
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably left your holiday wrapping to the very last minute. And if that’s the case, there’s a good chance you’ll overdo it — and aggravate any existing neck or back pain you’ve already been dealing with. The good news? You can avoid making your pain worse — and even prevent it altogether — with just a few simple adjustments. As a physical...
Why Your Lower Back Still Feels Tight — Even When You Stretch Every Day If you’re dealing with lower back pain in Portsmouth NH and stretching every day — but still feel tight, stiff, or sore — you’re not alone. At our physical therapy clinic in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we see this all the time. People are consistent. They’re motivated. They stretch daily.And yet — their back still...
Struggling with Sciatica? Why What You’ve Tried Might Not Be Working If you’ve ever experienced a sharp, shooting pain that travels from your lower back down your leg, you’ve likely been told you have sciatica. And if you’re like most people, you’ve probably tried a few things – rest, stretching, physical therapy, chiropractic care, maybe even a cortisone shot – only to find the pain returns just as...
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Portsmouth, NH’s people-first physical therapy studio. We help active adults 40+ find the root cause of their pain and build a long-term plan to fix it, so they can get back to doing what they love most.
