Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Spine Care >
  • ... >
  • About Us >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Matt Salerno
Spine Care
About Us
Your Care Team
Patient Stories
Why Choose UPMC?
Giving
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Spine Care
About Us
Your Care Team
Patient Stories
Why Choose UPMC?
Giving
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations

Matt Salerno: Neck Pain

Matt Salerno

Easing Neck Pain Without Surgery

For Matt Salerno, one of the toughest parts about his job as a police officer are the hours spent sitting in a patrol car and wearing 30 pounds of equipment — including a tight, heavy, bullet-proof vest. It all added up to neck pain radiating into his shoulder and back.

“It became a constant aching pain,” says Matt, 38. “It was hard to focus. I was thinking about the pain all the time.”

Over the course of four years, Matt sought help from two different chiropractors and consulted an orthopaedic doctor. He even tried some physical therapy. Although he felt temporary relief, the neck pain kept flaring up.

Finally in 2021, his primary care doctor referred him to the UPMC Program for Spine Health, which offers a nonoperative approach to neck and back pain.


“I thought everyone did a good job. They showed me the exercises I needed for my specific problems,” — Matt


Schedule an Appointment or Ask a Question

A different approach

The UPMC Program for Spine Health takes a different approach to spine pain. Instead of focusing on pain or looking at one part of the body, it takes the entire patient into account. The goal is to help patients understand their problem and empower them with knowledge and tools they can use to regain function and feel better.

A resident of the South Hills, Matt initially met with Karen Barr, MD, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, at the program’s Bethel Park location at the UPMC Outpatient Center. She recommended that he begin working with one of its physical therapists. Known as primary spine practitioners, they are specially trained in the complexities of spine care.

Bill Dileonardo, PT, OT, also saw Matt at the Bethel Park location. He began with a thorough evaluation of Matt’s pain issues before starting physical therapy.

“Previously, everyone had focused on Matt’s neck,” says Bill. “We didn’t just look at his neck. We looked at the entire spine and how he was moving. We looked at how his spine bends forward and backward, and how it rotates. We looked at his hips, his feet and ankles, and whole posture to see what was contributing to his pain.”

Taking charge

Matt, a serious weightlifter since age 15, knew he was strong. But he learned that his lack of flexibility was causing issues in his mid-back and spine that led to his neck pain.

At weekly physical therapy sessions over two months, Bill worked with Matt on flexibility with stretching exercises that he could add to his weightlifting regimen. He also provided guidance on home remedies he could use, including purchasing an orthopaedic pillow to help with posture during sleep. Matt also purchased his own electrical muscle stimulation device so he could recreate that treatment at home for mild pain relief.

“I thought everyone did a good job. They showed me the exercises I needed for my specific problems,” says Matt. “I know what I need to do. It’s something I’ll have to manage.”

After three or four sessions, Matt was feeling much better. At his two-month follow-up appointment with Dr. Barr he reported he was 80% improved. Three months later, he was 95% better. He no longer needed to rely on anti-inflammatory medicine and muscle relaxers.

“Matt was a good patient because he listened. He was good about doing his exercises and working on flexibility,” says Bill.

“He was diligent and stuck to the program. That helped him get better quickly.”


Read more stories from UPMC Program for Spine Health patients.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE