Melisa Estes MD

04/18/2026

Pilates for Chronic Back Pain: 5 Exercises to Try

Discover how Pilates can gently strengthen your core, improve spinal alignment, and ease chronic lower back pain through targeted, low impact movement.

04/11/2026

5 Non-Opioid, Non-Invasive, Evidence-Based Therapies for Back Pain Relief

If you struggle with back pain that’s more than a 5 or 6 on a 10 point scale, we understand how frustrating it can be to find effective pain relief. You’ve likely tried several approaches like medications and physical therapy. Maybe you’re weighing injections… or even surgery. And yet the co...

02/13/2026

Psychological care, exercise may provide long-term relief of low back pain.

Nonsurgical treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, exercise and multidisciplinary care may offer long-term relief for patients with chronic low back pain, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

02/11/2026

Study supports acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment for chronic low back pain in older adults.

According to a recent study, older Americans with chronic low back pain who received acupuncture had greater improvement in physical function and reduced pain than those who received usual medical care only, generally prescribed medications or physical therapy.

02/02/2026

Acute Low Back Pain Guideline on the Way.

A clinical practice guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain is being developed by a multidisciplinary guideline development group (GDG), including the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM).

01/30/2026

How Often to Stretch for Better Mobility, Less Pain, and Healthier Aging.

Unless you regularly practice yoga or make it a point to include lunges or butterflies as part of your usual routine, you might not be stretching much on a day-to-day basis. For many people, stretching is reserved for specific moments, like before a workout or when muscles feel especially tight.....

01/26/2026

12 Exercises to Do After Low Back Surgery.

Recovering from low back surgery can be challenging, but with the right exercises, you can regain strength and stability. Here are 12 exercises recommended by physical therapists to enhance your recovery following a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy.

01/23/2026

Physical Rehabilitation: An Overview.

Although physical rehabilitation is similar to physical therapy, and the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are also some significant differences. Physical rehabilitation is a more inclusive term of various professions, while physical therapy falls under the scope of physical rehabil...

01/19/2026

How do you get rid of a lower back spasm?

Lower back spasms can be painful, but they are treatable. Certain remedies, stretches, and lifestyle changes can help reduce or get rid of back spasms.

01/09/2026

Is the Holy Grail for Treating Chronic Back Pain Within Reach?

Chronic pain reroutes circuits in our nerves to the spinal cord and the brain. Understanding how this happens could help us reverse it.

01/02/2026

Steroids for back pain: Why they can be effective.

Steroids, also known as corticosteroids, are synthetic hormones that can help reduce swelling and inflammation in the body, which may help improve back pain.

01/01/2026

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy new year!