If your back pain hasn’t improved after physical therapy or other treatment, a second PT assessment can help you decide what to try next. We listen to what helped, what did not and what you want to get back to, then reassess your movement and symptoms so your next step feels clearer.
One-on-one PT with Dr. Emily Warren, DPT, Cert. MDT. No referral needed. In-person care in Holladay, serving Greater Salt Lake City, and virtual coaching from anywhere.
Mindful Movement PT offers one-on-one assessment with Dr. Emily Warren, DPT, Cert. MDT, in Holladay, serving Greater Salt Lake City, with virtual visits when suitable.
Which second opinion will answer your question?
- “Why did my exercises not help?” A PT reassessment can review the actual movements, dose, response and progression. Bring the program you tried.
- “Is the diagnosis complete, or do I need medical treatment?” Ask your primary-care clinician or an appropriate nonsurgical spine specialist, such as a physiatrist. A PT examination may identify reasons for medical review.
- “Is this operation right for me?” A second surgical opinion belongs with a qualified spine surgeon. MMPT can explain the rehabilitation options and functional findings, but does not replace that opinion.
Write down the unresolved question and the activity you want back. Use our care-provider comparison to prepare. New or worsening weakness needs prompt medical assessment; emergency warning signs should not wait for a second-opinion appointment.
DPT, Cert. MDT
Your story comes first with Dr. Emily
Emily’s early work in neurological rehabilitation shaped her interest in movement, pain and what people want to get back to.
Emily wants to hear what pain has changed in your day and what earlier care did or did not help. She connects that story with the examination and your response to selected movements, then practices a manageable plan with you and reviews it against the activities you want back.
Meet Emily and explore her approach · Request a Free Case Review to discuss how to get back to the activities pain has interrupted.
Google review: Kim P.
“She quickly identified my back and leg issues within just a few appointments, leading to immediate improvements in my condition.”
Another way to understand what is keeping you stuck
Bring your scan, your questions and the story of what you have tried. We will help connect those pieces with an assessment and a plan you understand.
Your scan is one part of the story
Dr. Emily uses a simple overflowing-cup analogy to explain how imaging findings, activity, sleep, stress and sensitivity can contribute to pain. We connect your scan with your symptoms and assessment so you have a clearer idea of what to work on.
Key points from the video
- Dr. Emily uses an overflowing-cup analogy to explain how several factors can contribute to pain.
- Imaging findings, activity, sleep, stress and sensitivity can all be part of the picture.
- The message is that you may have options for improving pain and activity without having to change every scan finding.
When a second assessment may be useful
- The current plan is not helping the activities that matter to you.
- You do not understand how the diagnosis relates to your symptoms.
- You want a review of an exercise program before continuing it.
- You need help organizing questions for your medical team.
A second assessment should have a specific purpose rather than a promise to overturn another clinician’s recommendation.
What PT can and cannot answer
PT can assess movement and function, review responses to activity and discuss rehabilitation options. Dr. Emily may recommend medical evaluation when findings warrant it.
Decisions about prescribing, procedures and surgery belong with the appropriate clinician. If you are seeking a second surgical opinion, arrange that with a qualified surgical specialist.
What to bring
- Imaging reports and relevant consultation notes you already have.
- Previous exercises and the response to each approach.
- Current medication and medical history information.
- Your main questions and the activities you want to regain.
What a fresh assessment can investigate
Bring one specific example: “This exercise eased my back for an hour, but I still could not sit through lunch.” That tells us more than whether a treatment was good or bad.
A second assessment should answer a question the first plan left open. Could you explain why an exercise was selected, what to notice afterward and how it would progress?
Bring the program you actually tried, including anything you added on your own. Dr. Emily can compare your present movement response with that history, practice a useful starting point and explain how we will review it. Pain education gives us room to address worries or confusing explanations that may still be holding you back. Our McKenzie guide explains the published evidence behind this assessment approach.
- Choose one task to reassess before and after an appropriate movement strategy.
- Clarify whether the next phase needs symptom management, strength, endurance or further medical evaluation.
- Agree on the home plan and a review point before committing to ongoing visits.
Read how movement assessment and pain education work together when symptoms have persisted.
Leave with a clear next step
A useful outcome is understanding what was assessed, what remains uncertain and what the proposed plan is intended to change. Ask how progress will be measured and when to reassess.
See the back-specific reassessment checklist or the surgery discussion guide.
Choose a visit format
Virtual care may suit discussion, guided movement or review of an existing plan. Some findings require an in-person appointment at our Holladay clinic, serving Greater Salt Lake City. Let us know your preferred format when requesting a case review.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to a back-pain second opinion?
Bring your previous exercise plan, relevant reports and a short account of what helped or worsened symptoms. Choose one activity you still want back. Dr. Emily can use that information to investigate what the previous plan did not resolve and explain a useful next step.
Does a second opinion mean starting treatment over?
No. Previous treatment provides useful information. The new assessment should clarify an unresolved question and lead to a plan you understand: what to practice, what improvement to watch for and when to reconsider the approach.
Evidence and further reading
Google review: Susan W.
“My pain has decreased, my confidence is much higher and overall quality of life improved.”
Let’s look at what has been missing
Bring the questions you still have, the treatments you have tried and the things you want to do more comfortably. We’ll listen to the whole story, reassess your movement and help you understand what a useful next step could look like.
In your Free Case Review, we’ll listen to what you want back, answer your questions and help you decide whether care with Mindful Movement fits. Send a request and we’ll contact you by phone or text to arrange a time.
Dedicated one-on-one PT with Dr. Emily Warren, DPT, Cert. MDT—McKenzie certified. No referral needed. Your first PT visit is 60 minutes for assessment, explanation and a starting plan practiced together. The Free Case Review is a conversation before care.
In-person care at our Holladay clinic, serving Greater Salt Lake City. Virtual coaching from anywhere.
Call/text (385) 332-4939.