Healing Disc Herniations with AFS Physical Therapy 

Healing Disc Herniations with Applied Functional Science Physical Therapy 

A disc herniation can sound frightening. Words like bulge, tear, or nerve compression often lead people to believe their spine is fragile or permanently damaged. But the truth is, many disc herniations heal successfully—especially when care focuses on restoring how the body moves, not just treating an image on an MRI. 

This is where Applied Functional Science (AFS) physical therapy, developed by the Gray Institute, offers a powerful and hopeful approach. 

Understanding Disc Herniations Beyond the MRI 

Spinal discs are designed to handle load, motion, and pressure in multiple directions. A disc herniation typically occurs when repeated stress, poor movement strategies, or lack of movement variability overwhelms the disc’s ability to adapt. 

Importantly: 

• Many people have disc herniations on imaging with no pain at all 

• Pain is often influenced by how the body moves, not just disc shape 

• The spine is adaptable and capable of healing when loaded appropriately 

AFS physical therapy focuses on addressing why the disc became irritated in the first place—rather than treating the disc as a fragile structure that must be avoided. 

The AFS Approach: Restore Function, Don’t Avoid Movement 

Applied Functional Science is built on the idea that the body heals through specific, purposeful movement. Instead of limiting motion, AFS therapists assess how the entire body contributes to spinal stress, including: 

• Hip and pelvic mobility 

• Trunk rotation and side-bending control 

• Foot and ankle mechanics 

• Load transfer during walking, lifting, and reaching 

Disc herniations often worsen when movement options are limited. AFS therapy restores movement choices, allowing forces to be distributed throughout the body instead of concentrated at the injured disc. 

Why Pain Improves When Movement Improves 

When a disc is irritated, the nervous system often responds by increasing muscle guarding and stiffness around the spine. While protective in the short term, this response can increase compression and slow healing over time. 

AFS physical therapy helps by: 

• Gradually reintroducing safe spinal motion 

• Improving tolerance to bending, rotation, and loading 

• Reducing fear-driven movement avoidance 

• Rebuilding confidence in everyday tasks 

As movement quality improves, pain signals often decrease—not because the disc is being “pushed back in,” but because the spine is functioning more efficiently and with less threat. 

Functional Loading Is Key to Disc Healing 

Discs rely on movement and load to receive nutrients and maintain health. Complete rest or overly cautious exercise programs can actually delay recovery. 

AFS therapy uses graded, multi-directional loading to: 

• Stimulate disc nutrition 

• Improve tissue resilience 

• Prepare the spine for real-life demands 

This approach mirrors how the body actually moves outside the clinic—helping patients return to work, recreation, and daily activities with confidence. 

A Smarter, More Empowering Path Forward 

Healing a disc herniation doesn’t mean avoiding movement forever or waiting passively for pain to disappear. With the right guidance, movement becomes the mechanism for healing. 

Applied Functional Science physical therapy empowers patients to: 

• Understand their pain without fear 

• Move safely in all three planes of motion 

• Build strength, mobility, and adaptability 

• Return to life without constant worry about their spine 

Disc herniations are not the end of movement—they are often the beginning of learning how to move better.   Learn more here: Effective Disc Herniation Treatment | Superior Physical Therapy

Check out these exercises that will help you self-heal your disc herniation: https://youtu.be/UpnnioE5EvY?si=b1a5m-ShlhrxUbDC