Pain Management

Pain Management in New York

One-on-One Care, Every Session, with a Doctor of Physical Therapy

Lifestyle Physical Therapy provides pain management through physical therapy at two Manhattan locations, with every session led by a Doctor of Physical Therapy from evaluation through discharge. Founded by Dr. Matthew Seltzer, PT, DPT, and co-led by Dr. Alexis Allmaier Seltzer, PT, DPT, this family-owned practice was built around a straightforward principle: patients deserve undivided clinician attention, not a rotating cast of assistants and aides. That commitment shapes every appointment.

Treatment draws on evidence-based methods including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, neuromuscular reeducation, and patient education. The goal is to identify and address the underlying sources of pain, not just quiet symptoms temporarily. Lifestyle Physical Therapy sees patients of all ages and activity levels.

Ready to address your pain with a Doctor of Physical Therapy? Call (212) 577-9313 or use our online contact form to schedule at either Manhattan location.

Conditions We Treat

Musculoskeletal pain takes many forms, and the practice is structured to handle a wide range. Treated conditions include joint pain, tendinitis and tendinosis, sprains and strains, neck pain and headaches, spinal conditions, and post-operative pain. Long office hours and daily commuting through New York City create predictable patterns of back and neck pain, and those presentations are a routine part of the caseload.

Sports-related pain and overuse injuries are addressed through the practice’s sport rehabilitation services. Whether a patient is managing a recent acute injury or chronic pain that has persisted for months, care is structured around the individual’s history, goals, and movement demands.

What Sets Lifestyle Physical Therapy Apart From High-Volume NYC Clinics

At many large New York clinics, patients begin with a physical therapist and are handed off to an assistant or aide within a few sessions. Lifestyle Physical Therapy doesn’t operate that way. Each patient works with one Doctor of Physical Therapy for the full course of care. That clinician examines, evaluates, treats, and progresses the plan each visit.

Appointments run up to 60 minutes, giving the therapist time for thorough hands-on treatment rather than brief check-ins between other patients. Sessions are private and individualized, and treatment plans are built around the underlying causes of each patient’s pain, with ongoing reassessment built into the model so the plan evolves as the patient does.

Insurance & Access for Manhattan Patients

The practice accepts most commercial insurance plans, including Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, United Health Care, Oxford Health Plans, Medicare, UMR, and the WTC Health Program (World Trade Center Health Program). Telehealth services are available for patients who need remote access to physical therapy care.

Two locations serve patients across New York City: one near Park Avenue and one in the Garment District on Broadway. Both are accessible via major Midtown transit corridors, making it practical to fit appointments into a full schedule.

Start Your Pain Management Plan in Manhattan

New and existing patients are welcome. Whether you’re dealing with chronic discomfort or recovering from a recent injury, our team can build a plan around your specific needs and goals.

Call (212) 577-9313 or reach out through our online contact form to schedule your first appointment with Lifestyle Physical Therapy.

What Pain Management Physical Therapy Involves

Physical therapy for pain management combines several treatment methods, each targeting a different dimension of pain and functional limitation. At Lifestyle Physical Therapy, that typically means therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, neuromuscular reeducation, and structured patient education working together across a course of care.

Therapeutic Exercise
Strengthening and mobility exercises address the muscular imbalances and movement deficits that often drive pain. The specific program is built around each patient’s condition and adjusted as strength and range of motion improve.

Manual Therapy
Hands-on mobilization and soft tissue work can reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and address restrictions in the connective tissue that contribute to chronic discomfort. Manual therapy techniques are integrated where they support the overall treatment goals.

Neuromuscular Reeducation
Injury and chronic pain patterns disrupt coordination between the nervous system and muscles, leading to compensatory movement habits that perpetuate symptoms. Neuromuscular reeducation retrains that connection, and restoring it can be central to long-term recovery.

Patient Education and Home Exercise
Understanding what drives your pain gives you tools to manage it between sessions. Patient education is built into treatment, and home exercise programs extend the work done in the clinic. Electrical stimulation and other physical modalities may also be used to reduce inflammation and support tissue recovery where appropriate.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

The initial visit begins with a thorough evaluation. Your Doctor of Physical Therapy reviews your medical history, conducts a physical examination, and assesses your movement patterns to understand where pain originates and what’s limiting function. Your specific concerns, pain history, and goals all factor into how the plan is built.

Before you leave, you’ll have a customized treatment plan and a set of home exercises to support your in-clinic work. Most patients begin at two to three sessions per week, with frequency decreasing as progress is made. How long a course of care takes depends on the condition and how the individual responds. Your therapist sets realistic milestones from the first visit so expectations are clear from the start.

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Hear From Our Happy Patients

At Lifestyle Physical Therapy, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our patients have to say about working with us.

"Thank you, Lifestyle PT!"
Remarkably effective PT offices with the most caring, knowledge and skilled staff I’ve worked with (I was paired up with Andy at the Broadway location);

- Sambit M.
"Would recommend without a doubt to anyone."
I've been working with Nick on a tricky knee issue for the last 6 months, and he is fantastic.

- Leah S.
"I’ve had a great experience at Lifestyle Physical Therapy!"
I’ve had a great experience at Lifestyle Physical Therapy! I worked with Nick after a total knee replacement surgery. He is incredibly knowledgeable, and also incredibly caring.

- J.C.
"Andy and the Lifestyle staff have been incredible in helping"
After having an ACL and meniscus tear in my knee, and then repair surgery, Andy and the Lifestyle staff have been incredible in helping accelerate my recovery and accommodating my needs.

- Angelina S.
"Their stars is very responsive, flexible and attentive."
Andy and the whole Lifestyle team are best in class. During my training for the. New York City Marathon, Andy was able to get my body right after some lingering injuries and training woes.

- Alex H.
"Matt is easily the BEST physical therapist that I've worked with"
Matt is easily the BEST physical therapist that I've worked with (I played collegiate level soccer, so I've worked with many PT's over the years).

- Matthew F.
"Would highly recommend"
I’ve been working with Dr. Puleo for about two months now, I came in with a TMJ issue that was super distressing. I tried chiropractic and acupuncture but physical therapy was the way to go.

- Paige S.
"Nice & Knowledgeable"
I came to see him with a knee and both shoulders at the beginning of 2022. He is also a very great and nice person, so the PT hour flies very fast.

- RK.

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