Irvine Start Physical Therapy

Love this place!!! I just had a hip replacement and in one month made amazing progress! Thank you Rich and Marcos!!! On the contrary of other reviews, the receptionists have always been helpful and courteous. I also appreciate the cleanliness and order of which everything is kept!!!

you gotta get rid of that receptionist. The receptionist doesn’t know what the heck is going on. I have one month old prescription from MD and shoe will not accept it. Just to let you know that i went with another company and they accepted it without any problem. Get your info straight.

I have nothing bad to say about my Therapist Bryan. He is very professional and really knows his job. The office staff is another story. I tried three times in two days to schedule my return appointments. On the third time I spoke to someone that said their computers were down (for 3 days) and they couldn’t schedule any appointments. She finally scheduled me for Thursday at 4:45. I was told I needed to be there on time. I get there at 4:20 and was told that Brian does not work late Thursday’s. No offer to reschedule. The person who scheduled me wrote it on a different day. She told me to make sure not to be late since the computer was down and they were not sure how many people would show up… REALLY?
Like I said… the therapists are great, the office staff…, GET RID OF THEM!!! and fix your computers!!!

In summer 2014 I had a partially successful spinal fusion – by a surgeon who shall remain nameless– that left me free of sciatic pain but with lingering, severe pain in my right hip and knee and rendered me nearly as crippled as before the back surgery. Also, following the first part of the spine surgery, I discovered that my right leg was suddenly over an inch shorter than the left. The surgeon had no explanation of the leg length difference other than to suggest that it either did not exist, or – if it did– it had always been that way and I had simply not noticed it in the preceding 67 years that I have been alive. Right!
Following the spine surgery, I took PT at Irvine Start with Richard and his assistant Marcos. Although helpful, my hip problem simply did not get better. Finally, after a close evaluation Richard suggested that my problem was pretty clearly not in my spine, but in my right hip itself. He urged me to get a second opinion, and even sent a message to my primary care Dr asking for a new ortho referral b/​c of my hip. Specifically he said, I needed my Rt hip X-​rayed. The referral came through and in early January I saw the hip specialist, who, upon X-​raying my hip discovered that during the course of the spine surgery, the top of my right femoral head had basically sheared off or disintegrated forcing the rest of my femur head into the top of the socket in my hip. This not only left me with severe bones against bone pain, but also explained my mysterious leg length difference.
Hip replacement surgery followed, and now 3 weeks later, I am expecting a full recovery. Not only can I walk again with little to no pain, the leg length difference has completely gone away.
I thank Richard for for his deep concern at my lack of progress and his strong encouragement of me to explore other possibilities. I realize now that had my original spine surgeon had the presence of mind to request a hip X-​ray, my problem might have been diagnosed and solved months earlier, but in the event, Richard’s perceptive diagnosis of the real problem saved the day, and has spared me a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering.
I returned yesterday to Irvine Start and amazed everyone with my progress. I cannot recommend the facility Richard, Christine and the other staff highly enough! Rich V

Today was my first time at Irvine Start and I saw Dr. Christine. I highly recommend her!!! I have been visiting a few doctors offices over the past month and none compare to Dr. Christine. She said hello to each patient that walked in and knew them each by name. Her assistant Calvin is also great. They actually care about their patients. She did a full exam to see what was going on with me before treating me. She made sure I didn’t have to get to work right away and then proceeded to work on me. They also gave me exercises and a band to take home. The office staff lady was nice as well. So nice to finally leave a doctors office happy!!!

I’ve been to other physical therapy clinics for m;y sholder pain and I was very pleased with the physical therapy I received there from Sylvia (Brian). They measured me before and after physical therapy was over. Gave me a good variety of exercises plus copy of them to take home. They are detailed oriented and thorough. I liked their hours they are open so I didn’t have to take off work – was able to go aver work. Brian evaluated me and said I need to see an ortho doctor as my shoulder pain was still there.

Terrible place. I went there for back and neck treatment for more than a month. I got worse after their therapy. My PT Brian was overconfident and not receptive to patient’s discomfort. Though assistant and reception staff were nice but overall quality of treatment is poor. This place work like assembly line and no one to one attention to patient. I learned it hard way. Don’t go there if you want to get treated.

This place is horrible. You are income, not a real person.
The office is dated and dark. The office does not do it’s job to work with your insurance. They threaten and bully when they are incompetent.
Don’t go here. There are many better physical therapists. It is your body and your life. Go someplace that cares about you.

I went to Start Therapy for my back. The therapist would see maybe at the most for 5 minutes and then make me do my exercises. The place is real busy and I felt like I was on an assembly line.

The therapist, Roger, would spend maybe 5 minutes with me. The rest of the time, I was either with the assistant or by myself doing the exercises. From across the room as he was working with another patient, he would sometimes correct my positioning. For quality treatment, i believe more hands on time is needed.

Wow! Caroline is incredible! She is so good at her job and is really helping me make progress! I’m 34 and had reconstructive surgery (TRAM flap) after breast cancer, and she is the first person who has really known how to improve the tightness in my chest, arms, and neck. I can’t say enough, they are all wonderful!

I came here for a neck injury from a car accident. The doctor was nice and knowledgable but he alway overbook himself. By always I mean every single time, so when i went I only get to talk to him for less than 5min and the rest of the hour i was just doing my own thing.
Eventually I wondered why I kept going and decided to do the same exercise at home. Now my neck is fine and I guess I should give them the credit.

Came here for some lower back pain and these guys fixed me up right! Taught me plenty of exercises. Staff is really friendly!

You will be in very good hands at Irvine Start Physical Therapy. I’ve had surgery on both knees and these guys know what needs to be done to get you back on track.
Roger, an experienced physical therapist with 25+? years is extremely knowledgable and has seen what you are going through many many times over. He also keeps up to date with the latest PT findings and is always looking for ways to improve patient recovery.
Roger & Marcos are the dynamic duo. They’re professional, efficient, friendly and have the best bedside manner. They know you’re in pain and build your therapy regimen to what you are able to do.
Another thing I appreciate is they work you without any fancy equipment. They also encourage you to work on exercises at home or when you’re traveling. Their goal is not to keep you in PT forever but to get you up to snuff again. Unfortunately, not all injuries are healed with PT but if given the choice, you should at least try before you have surgery. There’s always a risk with any surgery — no matter how commonplace the procedure may seem.
I sure hope I don’t have anymore injuries but I wouldn’t hesitate to seek treatment from Irvine Start if I needed physical therapy.

I don’t know of any other PT establishment as this is the only one I’ve visited. The reason why I have only been to Irvine Start is because my first visit with Roger was great. Broke my clavicle skiing and he got me back into great shape. Very personable and professional.
Had such a great rehab with Roger and enjoyed the support staff so much, that I came back when I had ACL issues (soccer this time) and «enjoyed» Brianna’s services («enjoyed» because it’s painful, yet great). Again, she is a skilled therapist who puts you at ease, and she got me back into my sporting lifestyle in great shape and in little time.
The assistants were also knowledgeable and supportive. Always helps to keep doing the exercises and stretching as recommended by your PT, otherwise some of your mobility may be lost.
I highly recommend Irvine Start, and especially the services of Roger or Brianna. It’s been at least 5 years since my ski injury and 2 years since my knee injury and I’m still skiing, snowboarding, playing softball, surfing, and cycling frequently with no problems.
***Update on ⁹⁄₂₀₁₄ to my original review from 1÷11÷2012 (see above) as I needed to return to PT for an ankle sprain. I saw Brian this time since, as I understand, there may be new management and certainly a new office located in the same building and same 3^rd floor… Brian is very good at what he does (his 20^th year or so of experience and 10 years with START), keeps up on the latest treatments and research in the PT field, and is possibly the most positive person in town. The office definitely has a different feel than the old one, but it works for the hour I need to be there for treatment and is convenient to my office.

I injured my back and shoulder in yoga. My yoga teacher pushes me too far and I tore muscle. I was in a great of pain and had a loss of range of movement when I went to Irvine Start PT. I was skeptical they could me with such a bad injury.
I went twice a week for about three months. My physical therapist taught me stretches and strengthening exercises to do at home as homework in between appointments. My physical therapist was thorough, charted me completely, reviewed my chart before I showed up to remember what I did last time.
The assistant who worked with me pushed me further each time. I was not allowed to wuss out. I had to move forward at all times or they kicked my butt.
I got TENS applied to my back and shoulder. I got ice packs and massage at the end and that made the hard work worth it.
Through their help I recovered from a torn muscle. I recommend them highly.

I injured my knee roller blading so I needed PT for 3 months. I’m still in it now… and I must say PT really helps the healing process.
My PT, Brianna, is really good at what she does in stretching my knee and also explaining what I need to do. She did a great job showing me with a plastic knee what parts I injured and what I need to do to get better.
I am looking forward to running again… I am thankful for my insurance so that I can get PT to get all better :)