San Francisco Osteopathic Physicians

For 30 years, Osteopathic Doctors Irène and Robert Minkowsky have been successfully treating complex musculoskeletal problems.

We share traditional medical backgrounds in Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Internal Medicine, which serves to compliment our knowledge and experience in Osteopathic Medicine. This includes craniosacral and visceral manipulation, and allows us to provide a comprehensive approach both in evaluation and treatment.

In other words, our well-rounded backgrounds coupled with our more natural approach to the body’s own ability to heal itself, and the fact that we actually listen to our patients, sets us apart from other spine and back doctors in San Francisco.

I had the best experience with Dr Robert, who not only took the time to patiently explain my issues but also talked about the process of how we can address it, with realistic timelines and expectations. Having gone though several doctors in the last three weeks due to my herniated disc pain issues, I was tired and frustrated with some of my experiences. Seeing Dr Robert was a pleasant change! – Tulika Jha on Google

Additionally, Dr. Irène Minkowsky helped pioneer proliferative injections for ligament laxity. We think globally about your body, meaning we don’t simply focus on the symptomatic region, but approach your particular issues by looking at you as an entire organism.

We put an emphasis on a clinical evaluation, with a detailed history and physical examination. While we may derive useful information from methods such as MRI scans, we don’t believe there is an adequate substitute to simply talking to patients and examining them in person.

Once a diagnosis is established, the emphasis in treatment is nonpharmacologic. Muscle weakness and structural imbalance is identified and corrected through osteopathic manipulation, a specific exercise program and improved ergonomics and body mechanics. Individuals are self-empowered through understanding all of the elements of their problem and how to address them. The approach is very personalized with a high success rate due to the complex, multifaceted approach with attention to detail.

Dr. Minkowski has the hands of angels. With my lying on the table and her hands touching me I felt like I could float right thru the table. Besides being a delight to talk with, she is so very caring and fun! I walked out of the office with very little of my pain I had walked in with. So glad the appointment was made! – L.M.

We are available at our offices in San Francisco, CA as well as via online consultations, for example via Zoom.

Simply put, we’re spine and joint specialists, experts in headache treatment and migraine and other pain management, where treatment looks at a holistic approach, using functional medicine, instead of turning immediately to surgery and medication.

Meet San Francisco osteopathic physicians Irène and Robert Minkowsky online, and then schedule an appointment to see how we can help you.

What Is the Physicians’ Back Institute?

We are a Spine Medical Center focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the back, neck and musculoskeletal system (hips, shoulders, knees, etc.). We offer a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of spine and joint problems and our orthopedic specialists listen to their patients. The focus in our office is on clinical diagnosis and restoration of neuromuscular balance.

As spine rehabilitation specialists, we have a unique insight into conditions such as herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis and scoliosis. In addition to being traditional medical doctors, we also use an osteopathic approach to help patients manage their spine and joint health. Physicians’ Back Institute Spine Center provides patients with a holistic, comprehensive personalized approach to spine and joint care.