Sports and Orthopedic Leaders-SOL Physical Therapy

Was referred here by my orthopod for a chronic hip issue. It was his first choice in a list of local PT facilities. Have been seeing Nolan for about 6 weeks now and he has been extremely helpful, identifying and isolating the issues and working on turning around this painful and debilitating issue. As a hiker and power walker, hip and leg pain was significantly interfering with my activities. Yesterday I completed an 8 mile, hike in the redwoods with a 3,500 ft elevation gain with minimal pain. 6 weeks ago that was not possible. The trainers there are also really good, teaching you strengthening exercises and techniques that, once becoming part of your regular routine, will prevent recurrence. While I hated needing PT, I really enjoy working with Nolan and his colleagues there.

I started coming here at little over 1.5 months ago for a chronic shoulder and back issue, and I’ve been happy with the results. I discovered SOL through Unilocal and a personal recommendation and I’m very pleased with the results.
I work with Dan as my main PT, but all of the other PT’s are just as friendly and good at what they do. Dan is an ideal Physical Therapist as he is knowledgable, personable and takes the time to really help his patients. The aids who help you during the exercises are great and are just as personable (little things like understanding and remembering the exact injuries you’re working through).
The equipment and venue at SOL is prefect, and they make sure to keep the facility tidy and clean. From icing machines to Stim-​Treatment to various other treatments, they have everything you would need to recover from a chronic to severe injury. SOL PT really does their best to get their patients healthy and you can see that every member of their team genuinely loves what they do. I’ve had a positive experience coming here; their work is highly effective as the state of my injuries are improving steadily with their care and help.
I highly recommend SOL for anyone who is in need of PT!

Dan has been my physical therapist for almost a year. He has been very accommodating with my schedule and how I’m feeling each visit. His personality and professionalism has made me look forward to coming to physical therapy. Which is very rare for me since I’ve been going to physical therapy for so long and have had 3 knee surgeries. I feel like I’m getting the best care and advice from him. I definitely trust my recovery in his hands.

The therapists and trainers at SOL are amazing. I had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people here and each interaction I’ve had has given me new enthusiasm and motivation to push me beyond my athletic level I had before my injury. I came in to recover from a dislocated left shoulder (that had seen a separation and chronic clavicle fracture in recent years) and fractured pelvis sustained from a mountain bike accident. I race at a reasonably high level (expert category for my age, right below pro) and probably already had an eagerness to heal up and progress as fast as possible. But I can’t lie — I had doubts about my shoulder getting back to how it is now.
My biggest impression is just how excited the PTs and trainers are to help you get better. If you come in with a positive attitude and willingness to work yourself, they feed off that energy and have as much desire as you to get you to the level you want to be at. I am so very thankful for their help (Kelly, Tyler, Dan, Bryan, Garrett, Christine, Jen, Jason…) and truly believe their dedication helped me advance beyond what I was expecting.
Besides the PT/​training aspect, the admin side of things was seamless and trouble-​free. Not sure if this was because of my circumstances, insurance (I have BCBS high deductible w/​HSA), or whatever, but the admin staff were always on top of things, I received reminder calls/​txts, and even had an exception when I needed to re-​schedule an hour before my appointment.
While my PT is over, I have moved over to personal training and stop by the office to say hi to the PTs and trainers.
Thank you SOL!

Review of front office – not actual PT.
I scheduled a PT session here far in advance of my knee surgery to ensure that I would have an appointment within the recommended post-​op timeframe. My insurance information was taken and I was assured that it was accepted and valid. The afternoon prior to my first session (which was the next morning) I received a call that they actually do not take my insurance – even though they assured me they did when I made the appointment over a week prior to the visit.
No apology was made and there was no attempt to connect me with a different PT to ensure that I was seen in the recommended time frame by my surgeon (which is standard in the health care industry if you cannot treat a patient). Now I have to wait until beyond the recommended time post-​op for my first PT visit – as other reputable PTs in the area were already booked – potentially slowing my recovery.
I feel as though a cancellation this late due to their clerical error – with no attempt to connect me to other services – is extremely unprofessional. Their cancellation policy will charge the full price of the visit if cancelled by a client less than 24 hours prior to a visit, yet they will cancel a visit due to their mistake less than 24 hours prior with no hesitation – even if it adversely affects a person’s recovery.

I have been receiving light therapy at SOL to treat my hands that have been impacted by both trigger fingers and Dupuytren’s Contracture. This therapy is non-​invasive unlike surgery and cortisone shots (just for trigger fingers) that are among the standard medical treatments. In several weeks of 2 – 3 times a week sessions, nerve damage from surgery has almost completely healed and I am able to almost straighten my ring finger that has been bent from a contracture for over a year. Light therapy can be used for any body part that is having an issue. A bonus _​the staff at SOL is friendly and helpful and the facility is very comfortable and state of the art.

Really great PT — I loved working with Emily (no longer there) … the facility is great. The staff of PTers are smiling, energetic and helpful, front desk is super great … and the billing is a problem. It took many emails and calls back and forth to get the superbills to submit to my insurance company. Not sure what the problem is … how hard can it be? So I’m afraid that lack of administrative response took the bloom off the rose for me. Otherwise, great place.
PS. If your insurance is accepted here it should be a piece of cake.

Kelly is amazing!!! I have had chronic back/​neck pain for years and have seen multiple PTs. Kelly is the first PT to really help me and understand what is going on AND I am finally seeing progress! Kelly is smart, patient and really cares about her patients. You’ll be lucky to work with her!

Great place for physical therapy. Emily is amazing! She is very knowledgeable and professional, an all around great Physical Therapist.

I absolutely love this place! Everyone from the front desk staff (Pat), the office manager/​director lady to my favorite Kelly are friggin awesome!!! When I first hobbled in on crutches, thinking I would never enjoy outdoor activities such as running, cycling, hiking, etc. It was depressing. But Kelly and her team (Curtis, guy with the wooden cross around his neck) showed a tremendous amount of care and professionalism. Kelly has vast amounts of knowledge in all areas of PT. I really enjoyed when she told me stories of when she attended PT conferences and learned new information from researchers in the field. She is always learning and applying the knowledge. The guys on the floors, always positive, showed me several different ways to properly completed an exercise. Most importantly always met me where I was. On the days I felt week, they pushed me just enough to challenge me. On days when I wanted to go full on beast mode, they made sure I was safe, had correct techniques and form. I could not have imagined it any different. If i could give 10 stars I would.
Don’t waste your time looking for another place without checking this place out first. If you are local within 20 miles there is no excuse. Give them a shot. You will get stronger, you will heal, you will learn and you will enjoy the process!
Thanks again SOL for being part of my healing process!

The owner read my review and reached out to me with a full refund! They definitely still have some other issues to work out but I appreciated the extra effort they made to make it right.

When I actually saw my physical therapist — for about 15 mins of my 1 hour appointment — he was terrific. But for 45 min of each hour, I was with a «trainer» who had very little knowledge or specialized training. If I wanted a trainer, I would go to the gym. When I’m injured or disabled, I want to see my physical therapist.
I’ve heard from other physical therapists that SOL is known for this.

After struggling with knee, back, and neck pain for 10 years and seeing a variety of different physical therapists and chiropractors, I feel that, at SOL, I am finally learning the right exercises that will get me out of this mess. Ann-​Michele and her assistant Tyler are very knowledgeable and helpful. Not to mention quite friendly. I always look forward to my appointments.

Pros, everyone at SOL. Clean, helpful and educational. Therapeutic, and did i mention that they are professionals. Hard working great people, honest and warm-​hearted. And on top of all that, they have a great facility with multiple locations in the area.
My knee has come a long way in just a short amount of time. I had a reconstructed ACL and repaired Meniscus. Started with them prior to surgery and will continue with them till the end.
Every session begins with some soft tissue work, which Emily (my current PT trainer), does an amazing job with. Then they continue with some controlled stretches and exercises, ending with some electro-​stimulation and icing. :) With a nice and relaxing atmosphere why would you go anywhere else. Very pleased with the results thus far. Every time i leave SOL my knee feels stronger and healthier. 5 stars for the Leaders.

I love SOL! I’ve had some recurring knee issues, and have gone to SOL three times in the last few years. They do amazing work. Most recently I re-​triggered my right knee, and went back and worked with Bryan Ausinheiler and the lovely trainers. Within a couple of weeks the initial pain from my fresh injury was gone, and over the next month we continued to work on strengthening things. By the end, I felt better and stronger and more stable than I had been before the re-​injury. Hoping I won’t have to go back again for a while, especially if I continue to stick to the exercises they recommended, but if something does happen, I know that Bryan and the rest of the folks at SOL will fix me right up again.

I’ve seen a lot of PTs and Tyler at SOL pt is pretty much the best guy I have seen. I have a chronic injury and he really came at things with a fresh approach. Others have made me feel I am doing useless irrelevant exercises but Tyler keeps things very functional and relevant. He’s very knowledgeable and experienced — has a lot of experience with runners so that was useful for me. He has a nice relaxed style and I felt more motivated to do his exercises than anyone else I’ve ever worked with because it all seems to make sense.
Just wish SOL wasn’t so expensive though and had better insurance connections. I have a very generous insurance coverage but they are not in network.

Just finished 2 months of PT with Bryan Ausinheiler at SOL after hip replacement surgery. Started PT using a cane, could barely get up the stairs. Finished PT in great shape. Walking better than I did prior to the surgery (with no limp). Can;t wait to get back on my mountain bike (my Doc says another 30 days before that is allowed) !!!
Bryan was wonderful to work with, a nice easy going guy with good sense of humor. He takes a very scientific approach to his PT regimine. He keeps close tabs on your range of motion throughout the PT process to track your progress. He is very focused on using correct form (to avoid back injuries).
Highly recommended !!!

I spent several months working with Ada Jauregui on a neck and vertigo issue, and could not be happier with the lasting results! After a car accident, I spent two years seeing various medical professionals, bodyworkers, acupuncturists, and others, but only experienced temporary improvement. By the time I walked into SOL PT, my condition was so debilitating that I was not able to work and could barely even turn my head due to pain and dizziness.
After only my first session with Ada, I experienced a major improvement, and I continued to improve with each and every session. She gave me effective exercises that really helped to relieve the pain, and used Active Release Technique, Graston, and kinesiotaping in our sessions. Ada is astoundingly skilled at figuring out what is going on and being able to address it through various effective manual therapies. I’m a bit of an anatomy and biomechanics geek, and she clearly and knowledgeably answered all of my very detailed questions.
It has been over a year since I finished my PT course with Ada, and I am still feeling great. I do go back every once in a while to get «tune up» ART sessions with her, and these not only keep me out of pain but also get me working even better than before my injury.
I also saw Aracelly a few times and was just as impressed. Everyone in the office is extremely professional, friendly, and absolutely dedicated to getting you back to your optimum self. I wholeheartedly recommend this place.

I was referred to Ann-​Michelle at SOL’s Walnut Creek location by my orthopedic specialist Dr. Ross after seeking treatment for what turned out to be an ITB issue. The diagnosis was troubling to me since I was training for my first marathon. My concerns were alleviated after my first meeting with Ann-​Michelle. She worked with me to modify my training schedule; easing me into training for the marathon while treating me with Active Release Therapy (ART) (which I now swear by). I completed the marathon in March 2012… the first person I texted after crossing the finish-​line was Ann-​Michelle because I could not have done it without her help and guidance.
Since March 2012, I have run several half marathons while continuing to incorporate Ann-Michelle’s awesome wellness bodywork into my fitness régime. Ann-​Michelle taught me the important role that strength training exercises have in correcting/​preventing bio-​mechanical and neuromuscular dysfunction for which I am so grateful.
I highly recommend the best PT on the planet: Ann-​Michelle!

Wow … I never write Unilocal reviews but this place absolutely deserves one. Bottom line: if you need a physical therapist and can even possibly get yourself to this place, you need to go. Period. Go.
I have seen a variety of physical therapists over the years for a range of injuries — ankle fracture, abductor tear, calf strain, etc etc. These guys were hands down the best and I take my physical therapy and medical treatment extremely seriously.
Extremely intelligent and knowledgeable staff. Shocking really how bright these guys are — they really know their stuff. I worked with Natasha — wow … she’s better than my doctor in terms of knowledge and understanding. And he’s not a bad doc.
The clinic also definitely focuses on bringing to bear some of the newer modalities that really work — graston and athletic release technique. Both worked miracles for me.
I have been suffering from itinerant calf issues for about two years. Turned out I had some biomechanical issues and a fair amount of residual scar tissue that obstructed my calf muscles normal functioning. We just finished up our 2 months and I am back on the treadmill — could not be happier.
Definitely give these guys a chance — you will not be disappointed.

Several months after cancer surgery to remove the right-​upper lobe of my lung, I developed pain and restricted movement in my right shoulder caused by scar tissue and guarding of my right side to reduce post-​operative pain. The San Francisco Shoulder and Hand Clinic referred me to Sport and Orthopedic Leaders.
Over the course of 14 weeks I was seen by Ada Jauregui and Aracelly Latino-​Feliz who provided a course of manipulation to free up musculature and increase range of motion, Graston Therapy to breakdown scar tissue that was impeding movement and supervised exercise to stretch and strengthen all of my upper body musculature.
The results have been nothing short of amazing. When I came in I could not sleep on my right side, could not put on a coat or backpack without severe pain, could do little lifting with my right arm.
Today, range of motion in the affected areas has been restored to 100%, pain has been reduced to the occasional twinge when I really push to the end of my range and my upper body strength has increased by at least 75%. Neck and torso rotation are much more relaxed than even before surgery.
Finally, the surgery left a 20+ square inch area below my right nipple completely numb. The Graston therapy and manipulation really helped here too. While I don’t have all feeling back yet, the area of numbness is now less than 8 square inches and the numbness is much less profound.
A couple of final notes: While I credit SOLPT for the lion’s share of my improvement. physical therapy is a team effort. The patient has to do his or her homework (prescribed exercises) between appointments. You will get out of it what you put into it.
I found all the folks at SOLPT to be professional, capable, compassionate, supportive and friendly. Thanks again to Ada, Ara, Aileen and the gang!

I’ve seen about a dozen different PT’s and this was the first time I really recovered — from basic range of motion, to posture, to daily movements, to strengthening. I had a shoulder injury for about 4 years, and after about 6 months of regular PT, i’m happy to say that the folks at SOL really get the credit.
I worked with Aracely and Eileen who totally rock. Professional, fun to work with and super knowledgeable about the body and how it works. If you’ve ever had PT, than you know it can be challenging to stick with, but I really liked their fountain of positive attitude and support. I also loved that it was jocks helping jocks — but without the macho attitude.
It doesn’t help telling a jock, «you need to quit the sport you love so much.» Instead they helped me rebuild and strengthen properly and sufficiently so that i could return to the sport i love: martial arts (go women’s tae kwon do!).
Thanks, SOL and especially Aracelly and Aileen!

I have used SOLPT for over 10 years with 100% results. Lower back, pre– and post-​op ACL surgery, and most recently thoracic back problems.
I had tried several other PT locations prior to finding SOL and none helped. I always felt like I was wasting time and money. Now with SOL, even though I have chronic and recurrent issues that resurface from my own stupidity and decrepitude, these folks make me feel new again. I swear it is magic or voodoo that they do. I originally saw Tammara, the owner, way back when she was a one-​person shop and she is incredible! As they have grown, i was really worried that quality would suffer as she cannot see everyone. nevertheless, she has an incredible ability to hire extraordinary folks who know and do great work. Natasha is my latest hero. A god-​send, a magician, is all I can say.
It maybe kind of sick, but I kind of look forward to treatment, because I know I will have my pain go away. I wish Unilocal would allow me to use 10 stars.
Just me, but I really don’t care about the parking or appointment issues others have mentioned. I always find a spot around the corner and making appointments in advance is important for any recurrent treatment plan. the fact that they are busy is clear evidence that they are worth every penny.

I recently finished up 6 weeks of Physical Therapy at Sports Orthopedics Leaders and could not be more pleased with the results. From the minute I first showed up and met my therapist, Ada — I was at ease and confident that I had come to the right place to solve my lingering shoulder pain.
Ada was extremely attentive and listened to everything I had to say and describe about the pain which is more than I can say for the actual doctor who first examined me and found nothing wrong despite a month of consistent pain. She was able to identify several potential causes and immediately recommended a few things to change in my everyday routine regarding working and working out.
Ada administered a series of techniques which immediately made my shoulders feel better and put me on a program of exercises to help strength the muscles around the tender area. The SOL trainers worked to help me build a series of exercises to strengthen the muscles that were sore.
After completing my PT with SOL, I’m happy to report that my shoulders feel great. I highly recommend that anyone in need of physical therapy go to Sports Orthopedic Leaders, they are top notch.

I am going to SOL right now at the referral/​recommendation of my orthopedic. I’m in my fourth week of physical therapy right now (I’m recovering from a sking fall that lead to a slight fracture to my tibia at the knee and arthoscopic surgery) and I love my physical therapist Melissa. So far I like my trainer. I hope I get to keep the same trainer the entire time I am there because one of the other male trainers up there seems a bit abrasive to me.
The office staff is really friendly and helpful. They answer all your questions, will reprint receipts for you if needed, and even call a cab for you if you ask.
I’m not sure how physical therapy is priced at other places since this is my first time going, but the price here seems pretty reasonable given that I don’t have health insurance.
I’ll review after they have me walking/​biking again, but so far I really like SOL.
Oh, and also they have pilates and other kinds of classes you can take there if you aren’t a gimp like me and have the money for them which is cool. Occasionally some of them are free. I saw a class on how to dance all night without hurting yourself a few weeks back that was free with limited sign-​up.