Serving Oakland
Pittsburgh Physical Medicine & Oakland
Oakland is the academic, medical, and research heart of Pittsburgh — home to the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, UPMC's main campus complex, Duquesne University, Carlow University, and dozens of affiliated research institutions. It is one of the densest concentrations of intellectual, medical, and academic activity in the United States east of the Appalachians — and one of the highest-risk populations for the postural and repetitive strain conditions that Pittsburgh Physical Medicine specializes in treating.
Our East Liberty clinic at 5916 Penn Ave is 1.5 miles from Oakland — about 6 minutes east on Fifth Avenue to Penn Ave. Oakland patients consistently tell us the short drive is worth it because our combined chiropractic and physical therapy model, with one-on-one provider care every visit, is simply not available in Oakland itself at the same clinical level.
Who We Treat in Oakland
Pitt and CMU's combined 50,000+ students, faculty, and staff represent one of the largest concentrations of desk workers and academic researchers in the region. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers — who spend 10–14 hour days at computers, laboratory benches, and in library carrels — develop severe patterns of forward head posture, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar disc problems, and repetitive strain injuries that accumulate over years of academic work. We specialize in treating this population and understand the unique demands and constraints of academic life, including irregular schedules and the pressure to return to work quickly.
UPMC's Oakland campus — including Presbyterian, Montefiore, Magee-Womens, and the Hillman Cancer Center — employs tens of thousands of healthcare workers. Surgeons develop the chronic neck and shoulder conditions that come from years of operating room posture; nurses accumulate lumbar strain from patient transfers; radiology and laboratory technicians develop the repetitive strain conditions of sedentary, high-precision work. We are in-network with UPMC Health Plan and treat UPMC employees regularly — often for conditions they've been managing inadequately with the treatments available internally.
Oakland's student population also generates a high volume of sports and recreational injuries from Pitt Athletics, CMU club sports, Schenley Park runners, and the Oakland neighborhood's recreational fitness community. We treat student athletes alongside the general population with the same standard of clinical care.
Common Conditions We Treat for Oakland Patients
- → Academic Researcher & Graduate Student Pain
- → UPMC Surgeon & Nursing Occupational Injuries
- → Forward Head Posture & Thoracic Kyphosis
- → Lumbar Disc Pain from Prolonged Sitting
- → Schenley Park Running Injuries
- → Student Athlete Sports Injuries
- → Wrist, Forearm & Repetitive Strain
- → Cervicogenic Headaches
- → Disc Herniation & Sciatica
- → Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
Frequently Asked Questions — Oakland
📍 Directions from Oakland
Head east on Fifth Avenue from Oakland toward East Liberty. Continue past Shadyside to Penn Ave — turn right. We are at 5916 Penn Ave, just past Whole Foods on your left. About 6 minutes. Free street parking on Penn Ave.
(412) 404-8337
