[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/primary-spine-practitioner\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/primary-spine-practitioner\/","headline":"What Is a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) And When Should You See One?","name":"What Is a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) And When Should You See One?","description":"When people with chronic back pain come to see Ryan Brown for physical therapy, they are often surprised at what the sessions are like. \u201cThere is more talking than exercise sometimes,” Brown says. \u201cWe talk about their pain and how it’s affecting their quality of life. We talk about the stress and anxiety that causes.” […]","datePublished":"2021-08-09","dateModified":"2024-01-04","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","name":"UPMC Rehabilitation Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-rehabilitation-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1138353899.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1138353899.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/primary-spine-practitioner\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Rehabilitation","Spine Health"],"wordCount":610,"articleBody":"When people with chronic back pain come to see Ryan Brown for physical therapy, they are often surprised at what the sessions are like.\u201cThere is more talking than exercise sometimes,” Brown says. \u201cWe talk about their pain and how it’s affecting their quality of life. We talk about the stress and anxiety that causes.”Only after that do they work on stretching and functional movements.Brown is among the few dozen UPMC physical therapists to have a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) certification. PSP certification is an emerging specialty within physical therapy. It requires advanced training that goes above and beyond typical spine care techniques.Because of a law called Physical Therapy Direct Access, patients can see PSPs directly, without a doctor referral. But many UPMC patients only know about PSP care because their doctor has suggested they give it a try.\u201cWe connect with primary care doctors for each Direct Access patient,\u201d says Shane Conley, PSP program director, UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. \u201cA PSP can help patients navigate the health care system and weigh costs, which can be challenging for many patients.\u201dHow Is Seeing a PSP Different Than Seeing a Physical Therapist?\u201cWhat we do is more specialized and more specific,\u201d says Brown, facility director at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Erie, located at Pine Avenue.He tends to work with adults who have been living with spine pain for some time. They have tried various treatments, from injections to surgery, but the pain always returns.\u201cThey start to identify as someone with back pain, rather than as a runner or a golfer,” Brown says.The pain robs them of their hobbies and even simple pleasures, like complete daily activities or being able to play with their grandchildren.PSPs work closely with people to understand both pain triggers and functional goals. Every program has a pain control component and a functional component.Sometimes the first step is working on standing up longer or getting out of a chair without being in pain. Then Brown will have patients move on to more functional exercises. These are exercises related to things they want to be able to do again, like garden or take walks.\u201cEverything we do is about improving quality of life,” Brown says.PSPs Can Help With All Types of Back PainThough they present with many of the same injuries, each person has different responses and different needs. There isn’t one program for a herniated disc and one program for a pinched nerve. \u201cRarely do two people come in and get exactly the same treatment,” Brown says.On average, most patients see a PSP for 6 t0 8 weeks. This usually works out to be 6 to 8 visits. It’s not the old model of coming 3 times a week and doing a dedicated set of exercises.\u201cThere is more time between visits so that people can really work on the exercises at home,” he says.There are also fewer exercises. But they are highly targeted movements, designed specifically to help the patient meet their goals.PSPs within UPMC Rehabilitation Institute\u00a0also work closely with mental health specialists. Chronic pain affects both the mind and body.\u201cWe are here for your physical pain, but we are here for everything else too,\u201d Brown says.Is Seeing a PSP Right for Me?Many patients start by seeing their primary care doctor, especially for back pain. But if you have tried other treatments and you\u2019re still living with spine pain, a PSP may be the logical next step.To see if there is a PSP at a UPMC Rehabilitation Institute outpatient rehabilitation location near you, call 1-888-723-4277."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"08","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/08\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) And When Should You See One?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/primary-spine-practitioner\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]