Expert Back Pain Physical Therapy in St. Augustine, FL
Get lasting relief from back pain with data-informed physical therapy tailored to your unique needs. 1-on-1 care for 60 minutes—no cookie-cutter protocols.
Are You Frustrated With Back Pain That Won't Go Away?
Traditional physical therapy often falls short when it comes to addressing the root cause of your pain.
You’ve Been Told to Just Stop Your Activities
Instead of finding solutions, you’re told to avoid the sports and activities you love—leaving you frustrated and inactive.
Cookie-Cutter Treatments That Don’t Work
You’re juggled between multiple patients while receiving the same generic protocols that ignore your unique body and goals.
Pain Keeps Coming Back
Your back pain may improve temporarily, but without addressing the underlying dysfunction, you’re stuck in a cycle of recurring issues.
Why St. Augustine Chooses PS+R for Back Pain Relief
At Performance Science + Rehab, we don’t just mask your pain—we identify and fix the root cause using data-informed assessments and specialized manual therapies. Our cash-based model means no insurance restrictions, giving you truly personalized care.
- Full 60-minute 1-on-1 sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy—your recovery is our only focus
- Data-driven performance profiling that identifies exactly what’s causing your back pain
- Treatment flexibility with dry needling, manual therapy, and customized exercise prescription tailored to you
Real Results From Ventura Patients
“Maya is amazing, I was having terrible neck pain and muscle that would just not stop tensing. Maya spent time with me finding the problem and giving me solutions and how we could prevent this from happening again. She’s extremely knowledgeable and knows just how to help any athlete get back to their sport.”
— Kelly C., Ventura, CA
Your Path to Lasting Back Pain Relief in Three Simple Steps
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call
Share your goals and challenges with our team. We’ll help you determine if PS+R is the right fit for your back pain recovery.
Get Your Data-Informed Assessment
Receive a comprehensive evaluation that identifies the true source of your pain and creates your personalized treatment plan.
Recover Stronger Than Before
Build resilience through specialized manual therapy and progressive exercise, returning to your activities with confidence and strength.
Back Pain Conditions We Treat in St. Augustine
Our team specializes in treating complex orthopedic dysfunctions of the spine using evidence-based techniques and performance science principles.
- Chronic lower back pain and recurring spine dysfunction
- Sciatica and radiating leg pain from nerve compression
- Post-surgical spine rehabilitation and disc injury recovery
- Athletic back injuries and return-to-sport programming
Real Results from St. Augustine Patients Just Like You
Discover why we’re rated 5 stars with 22 reviews
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“Libby is amazing, encouraging, so smart and knowledgeable. In less than a year’s time her recovery and rehab protocol had me ditching the crutches after 7 months and bicycling, hiking, traversing airports and able to function again! Steve got me on his amazing strength and stability progression program. I’m as strong if not stronger than I was before the injury. We are SO lucky to have PS & R in our small community.“
B. Blonder
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“I think Steve and Libby at PS+R are the best PTs in our area. In the past, other PTs had told me that running was the cause of my pain and I needed to stop. Thankfully Steve told me this was not the case. He gave me a thorough evaluation examining my strength and stability. It has been over a year and I am still pain free and running. I highly recommend PS+R to anyone with an injury or to athletes looking to improve their performance.”
Allison Dempsey
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“Combining decades of study, education and practical application, Steve, Libby and team are building the foundations of a complete rehabilitation practice. Their collective approach to working with clients enables an atmosphere of cohesion and understanding unmatched in this part of Florida. I visited both before and after a couple of surgeries and was given top notch unmatched care. To this day I have yet to find anyone anywhere that can come close to matching the care and knowledge that I had at PS+R!“
Adam James
Meet Your Back Pain Specialists in St. Augustine
Expert clinicians with professional sports experience
Steve Fell, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Board Certified Sports Physical Therapist and Performance Coach. Steve has served as a high-performance practitioner in Major League Soccer and with the US Men’s National Soccer Team, bringing world-class expertise to St. Augustine.
Libby Bergman, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Director of Rehab and Innovation specializing in complex orthopedic dysfunctions of the spine and extremities. Libby is pursuing her PhD in physical therapy and has 8 years of dry needling experience treating chronic pain.
Sarah Cason, MSAT, LAT, ATC
Board Certified Athletic Trainer with expertise in gait analysis and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. Sarah brings extensive Division I sports experience and is certified in lower body dry needling.
Max Gottwald, XPS
Certified Performance Specialist through EXOS and collegiate All-American. Max specializes in return-to-sport programming and holistic athlete development, helping clients rebuild strength and confidence.
Dr. Daniel Firth, MD
Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with advanced training in integrative medicine through the Andrew Weil Center. Dr. Firth provides comprehensive medical care to optimize your overall health and performance.
Dr. Trent Salo
Specialist in ultrasound tissue characterization for chronic tendon and soft tissue evaluation. Dr. Salo provides advanced diagnostic imaging to guide treatment decisions and track healing progress.
Visit Our St. Augustine Back Pain Clinic
Conveniently located near St. Augustine Premium Outlets and Cobblestone Village, just west of SR 16 and I-95.
Just 19 minutes from Historic Downtown St. Augustine via 4 Mile Rd and FL-16 W. From downtown, take N Volusia St to the traffic circle, exit onto 4 Mile Rd, then turn left on FL-16 W. We’re located within Ktlyst Fitness at Liberty Center—easy to find and plenty of parking available.
Back Pain Physical Therapy FAQs
Common questions about our St. Augustine practice
Do I need a doctor’s referral for back pain physical therapy?
No referral needed! Our Doctors of Physical Therapy are trained to evaluate your condition and refer you to appropriate healthcare providers if necessary. You can schedule directly with us to start your recovery.
Do you accept insurance for back pain treatment?
Performance Science + Rehab operates on a cash-based model, which means we’re not in-network with insurance providers. This allows us to provide true 1-on-1 care for 60 minutes without insurance restrictions, giving you personalized treatment plans that actually work. Many patients find faster results make it a worthwhile investment.
How long until I see results from back pain physical therapy near me?
Every body is different, and we pride ourselves on a customized approach to your recovery. However, most clients find the best results in 6-12 visits. During your initial evaluation, we’ll give you a clearer timeline based on your specific condition and goals.
What makes PS+R different from other physical therapy clinics in St. Augustine?
Unlike insurance-driven clinics that juggle multiple patients simultaneously, we provide dedicated 1-on-1 care for an entire hour each visit. Our data-driven performance profiling uncovers issues often missed in other settings. We don’t just treat your pain—we address the root cause so you can return to your activities stronger than ever.
Can you help me avoid back surgery?
Many of our patients have successfully avoided surgery through our comprehensive, data-informed physical therapy approach. We work closely with physicians and can provide objective assessments to help you and your doctor make informed decisions about your treatment options.
Do I have to be an athlete to receive treatment at PS+R?
Absolutely not! While we work with professional and collegiate athletes, we serve anyone dealing with back pain or injury. If pain or limitations keep you from activities you enjoy—whether that’s gardening, playing with grandkids, or weekend sports—we’d love to help you get back to doing what you love.