Low Back Pain Specialist · Bend, Oregon

Your Back Pain
Has a Root Cause.
Let's Fix It.

🚵 Bikers 🥾 Hikers 🏓 Pickleball ⛷️ Skiers 💼 Desk Workers

Whether your back seizes halfway up a trail, aches through a pickleball match, or grinds through every hour of your workday — you deserve a real answer, not another round of generic stretches and "take it easy."

Who We Help

Does This Sound Like You?

We specialize in two groups who deserve better than "rest and see how it goes."

🚵
Active Adults & Recreational Athletes

Pain That Limits What You Love

You're active — hiking the Cascades, riding trails, playing pickleball, skiing in the winter. But low back pain keeps showing up when you push it, and you're tired of modifying, stopping short, or sitting out.

  • Pain flares on long hikes or bike rides
  • Morning stiffness that takes an hour to shake
  • Nerve pain or tightness shooting down the leg
  • Afraid to push hard because your back might "go out"
  • Missing seasons, events, and activities you love
💼
Desk Workers with Chronic Pain

The Daily Grind Is Grinding You Down

You sit for hours and by midday your back is aching. By evening it's screaming. The pain is constant, dull, and draining — and no amount of stretching, massage, or ibuprofen makes it stick.

  • Can't sit through meetings without constantly shifting
  • Sharp pain when you stand up after sitting
  • Tried massage, chiro, generic PT — only temporary relief
  • Back pain affecting your sleep, focus, and mood
  • Can't do the things you want after work because you're drained
The Real Problem

Why Your Back Pain Keeps Coming Back

Most treatments address the symptom — not the system. Here's what's actually happening.

01

It's a Movement Problem, Not Just a Muscle Problem

Your back hurts because something upstream or downstream — your hips, thoracic spine, or core — isn't doing its job. Your low back picks up the slack, gets overloaded, and eventually breaks down.

02

You've Been Treated for Pain, Not the Cause

Ice, massage, and generic stretches feel good temporarily. But if nothing changes in how you move, load your spine, or sit for 8 hours a day — the pain comes back. Every single time.

03

You Don't Know What's Safe — And That Fear Makes It Worse

Should you rest or keep moving? Stretch or strengthen? Push through or back off? Without clear answers, you default to fear and avoidance — which makes backs worse, not better.

Conditions We Treat

We've Seen It All

From acute flare-ups to years of chronic pain — we treat the full spectrum of low back conditions with a specific focus on getting you back to the activities that matter.

💿 Disc

Disc Herniations & Bulges

Sharp, radiating pain or numbness down the leg. We decompress, retrain movement patterns, and progressively load the spine back to full function.

Nerve

Sciatica & Nerve Pain

Burning, shooting, or tingling from your back down your leg. We identify the nerve root involved and treat it directly — not just the symptoms.

🔩 Joint

SI Joint & Facet Dysfunction

Localized pain, stiffness, or clicking in the low back or pelvis. Hands-on joint work combined with targeted strength fixes this faster than most expect.

💪 Muscle

Muscle Strains & Spasms

That sudden "my back went out" moment. We get you out of spasm fast and build the foundation so it doesn't happen again.

🗜️ Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis

Narrowing of the spinal canal causing pain, heaviness, or weakness with walking or activity. We help you stay active and manage symptoms long-term.

🪑 Posture

Postural & Movement Dysfunction

Back pain driven by how you sit, stand, and move all day. We address the full picture — work setup, movement habits, and strength gaps — not just what hurts.

The Dobson Strength Approach

Rehab Built Around Your Life

We don't just treat your back — we treat you as a whole person. That means understanding your job, your sport, your goals, and what's actually keeping you from living life the way you want.

Hands-on manual therapy to reduce pain and restore mobility fast
Targeted strength work to fix the root cause — not just the symptoms
Activity-specific programming — whether you're hiking, biking, or sitting at a desk
Clear education & self-management tools so you stay pain-free long after treatment ends
Book a Free Discovery Call
80% of people with low back pain have a treatable root cause — not a structural "defect"
1 in 4 adults experience low back pain that limits their daily activity at some point
Dr. Steven Dobson PT, DPT, CSCS — Bend, Oregon
Specializing in active adults & recreational athletes
How It Works

Your Path Back to Pain-Free

A clear, structured process — no guessing, no wasted time, no cookie-cutter treatment.

📞
Step 01

Free Discovery Call

We talk through your history, goals, and whether we're the right fit. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a real conversation about what's going on.

🔍
Step 02

Deep-Dive Assessment

A thorough evaluation that goes beyond "where does it hurt." We assess movement, strength, load tolerance, and lifestyle to find exactly what's driving your pain.

🗺️
Step 03

Personalized Treatment Plan

You leave with a clear diagnosis, a specific plan, and a realistic timeline. You'll know exactly what we're doing and why — no guessing, no generic handouts.

🏔️
Step 04

Back to Your Life

Back on the trail. Back at the court. Back at your desk without dreading noon. We don't stop until you're doing what you love — pain-free and stronger than before.

Real Results

People Just Like You

Active adults and desk workers who got their life back.

" I had been dealing with low back pain for two years and saw two other PTs with no lasting results. Steve found the actual problem in our first session — weak hips loading everything through my lumbar spine. Three months later I finished a 50-mile bike race pain-free.
MR
Mike R. Cyclist · Bend, OR ★★★★★
" I sit at a computer all day and my back was destroying me by afternoon. I'd tried massage every two weeks just to cope. Steve actually fixed the underlying problem — my thoracic spine was completely locked up. I'm six months pain-free now.
JK
Jennifer K. Software Engineer · Bend, OR ★★★★★
" My back would seize up every pickleball season without fail. I thought it was just something I had to live with. Steve showed me it was completely fixable — hip mobility, core stability, and changing how I was rotating. Haven't missed a match since.
DL
Dave L. Pickleball Player · Bend, OR ★★★★★
" I was convinced I needed surgery after my MRI showed a herniated disc. Steve walked me through the research, explained why conservative treatment was the right first step, and had me back on the trail in six weeks. No surgery needed.
AT
Andrea T. Hiker & Trail Runner · Bend, OR ★★★★★
Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Honest answers to the questions we hear most often.

How long until I see results? +

Most patients notice meaningful improvement within 2–4 sessions. Timelines vary depending on how long you've had the pain and what's driving it — but we give you a realistic roadmap at your first appointment so there are no surprises.

Do I need an MRI or X-ray before starting? +

No. Imaging is rarely needed to start treatment — and is often misleading. Studies show disc bulges and other "abnormal" findings on MRI are extremely common in pain-free adults. A thorough physical examination tells us more than a scan in most cases. If imaging is warranted, we'll refer you.

Can I keep exercising and staying active during treatment? +

Usually yes — and in most cases we encourage it. Movement is medicine for back pain. We'll give you clear guidance on what to do, what to modify, and what to avoid. The goal is to keep you active throughout treatment, not bench you.

How is this different from PT I've tried before? +

Most PT for back pain is generic — hot packs, ultrasound, and a sheet of exercises. We do individualized, one-on-one treatment that connects your pain to the actual movement and lifestyle factors driving it. No aides, no cookie-cutter programs. Just direct care from a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in active adults.

Do you accept insurance? +

We are an out-of-network provider. Many patients use HSA/FSA funds or submit for out-of-network reimbursement — we provide superbills upon request. Our cash-pay model means longer appointments, no insurance-driven limitations on care, and treatment designed entirely around you.

What if I've had back pain for years and nothing has worked? +

Chronic pain is our specialty. Long-standing back pain is often undertreated or mismanaged — not untreatable. We've worked with patients who've had back pain for 5, 10, even 20 years and made significant progress once the right root cause was identified and properly addressed.

Ready to Get Your Life Back?

Stop Managing Pain.
Start Fixing It.

Book a free 20-minute discovery call. We'll talk through your situation, answer your questions, and tell you exactly how we can help — no obligation, no pressure.

No obligation
Real answers
Clear next steps
Book My Free Consult Call