The Running Institute

This review is for Dr. Chin and the Running Institute, located on Wabash in downtown Chicago. It’s a very good practice offering some of the very best sport podiatry, but beware of high costs and billing mishaps.
GOOD: Dr. Chin is the very best foot doctor I’ve ever worked with, and the entire practice is geared towards runners. From analysis to examination to orthotic fitting, this is the place to go. I’m pleased with my orthotics (I’ve purchased three pairs here over the years) and the service I received. My mom (not a runner) also saw Dr. Chin to address her painful foot issues, and was able to enjoy her European walking tour without further issue.
BAD: The top flight service you get here comes with a hefty price tag. And watch your medical bills carefully: I was billed for *every* visit, including just to pick up my orthotics. All of my billing issues were eventually worked out, but not without a good deal of hassle. If you don’t have patience and really good insurance, you should be careful about coming here unless you have money to spend.
PRO TIP: My wife and I have purchased orthotic inserts with and without insurance. If you don’t have good insurance, expect to pay up to $ 600 a pair. If you are self-​pay, consider other options.

Plagued by plantar fasciitis for months after the 2014 NYC marathon, I finally decided to see a doctor. I can’t say enough about how great Dr. Reilly and Dr. Ardell are, and I am grateful I chose them for my care. After many PT sessions, pool work, and at home exercises and still no relief, I ended up having three EPAT sessions. I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical of this therapy (and price) at first, but after reading a lot of the research and feeling almost immediate relief, I highly suggest it as an option. I’m crossing my fingers that I stay injury free, but if I find myself injured again, the RI will be the first practice I call.

Dr Chin is quite possibly the best Dr I’ve ever worked with. In Jan 2014 I tore my Lis Franc ligament playing soccer and came in assuming it was a sprain. As expected, I took the news hard when the x-​rays came through and I knew I needed surgery to repair it. I will never forget he stayed after my appointment to talk me through what to expect with surgery and recovery time. It was realistic, not lofty to get my hopes up, and he escorted me downstairs to help flag a cab with another Running Institute employee to make sure I got home safely.
Even the day after the surgery called from his cell phone on a Saturday to check in to see how I was feeling. Every follow up appointment he and his staff were very caring, professional and helpful as I worked back to 100%.
If you’re doing any kind of podiatrist work, GO HERE! These people are incredible and will do the best they can to get you to your goal!

I came here the other day to have a pain in my root foot looked into. The pain in my heel has been such that I have not been able to run for distance in a very long time. My primary care physician recommended the Running Institute and I immediately made an appointment.
First off, getting an appointment was very easy and they were able to see me within a few days which was great. I came in at my appointed time, the staff was very friendly, and the wait was less than 5 minutes (after filling out all the paperwork) before I was seated in an exam room. A very nice assistant asked me a little more about the reason I was in. And once she left, not 2 minutes later, the doctor came in. I’m used to often waiting 20 minutes or more in an exam room before the doctor comes in so this was a very welcome surprise.
Dr. Chin examined my foot. Asked me some questions. And then proceeded to give me a detailed assessment of what he thought were the issues causing my foot pain. He took a good amount of time explaining and showing me the issues and creating a plan for the next steps on how to get everything better. It definitely appears that I came to the right place and am seeing the right doctor.

Such a helpful and educational place. The concern is on making patients able to enjoy life to the fullest, including exercise that we love. Dr. Chin took the time listen to my foot concerns, made suggestions for me to try before considering anything drastic. End result, I should not wear flip flops — definitely an easy fix! But I got some additional supplements to help my joints and am back to running!

I recently went in to The Running Institute with a foot injury-​they got me in quickly and Dr. Reilly was wonderful. She was very thorough, understanding and genuinely had interest in my particular situation. I have nothing bad to say about the care I received or the staff as they were all very friendly.
My disappointment came when I needed a doctors note stating I was unable to participate in a marathon [due to the injury I was seeing them for]. They complied with the request but charged me $ 20 for a signature. It required no time from the practice and I was currently under their care. They claim it is a new practice policy-​one I’ve never heard of.
My frustration had nothing to do with the price but more so the principle or it all. I was an active and paying patient-​the least they can do is sign a sheet of paperwork saying I was injured and under their care.
Again the staff and doctors are great, but this is a practice policy that needs to be rethought in my opinon.

Dr. Reilly thoroughly explained what was happening with my foot and suggested an orthotic. When the orthotic arrived, it was shaped completely differently from what she described. In addition, I was charged a second co-​pay to have the orthotics cut to fit into my shoes. And then they suggested another follow up appointment (with another co-​pay) to make sure the orthotics were working properly.
At the dentist there’s no additional co-​pay to make sure the crown fits properly. At the eye doctor there’s no additional co-​pay to make sure the glasses fit properly. I felt nickle-​and-​dimed to death, besides that the orhtotics are not what was described to me. Going elsewhere next time. Not impressed.

Looking to alleviate my plantar fasciitis, I’ve had a wonderful experience thus far at The Running Institute. The staff is very helpful, and Dr. Reilly is the best! Super understanding, informative, and very personable. I’m glad I found them.

After experiencing a great deal of pain in my foot that would not go away after one night, I made an appointment to see Dr. Reilly. After going through broken bones in the past, saying I was worried I did it again was an understatement! I found Dr. Reilly to be extremely helpful and professional, and she was able to provide me with a very fast diagnosis.
The staff was very friendly, it was a short wait to see Dr. Reilly, and best of all she was very understanding. In visiting other Doctor offices in the past, I felt at times that I was just a «number» and I was being pushed out the door right after my appointment in order to make room for the next patient… not the case here, people. Dr. Reilly took the time to explain to me the exact condition I had, was very empathetic of my injury, and we talked about treatment options which then turned out to be very successful.
If your are experiencing any pain in your foot/​ankle, get checked out immediately; do not wait to see if it gets better! I highly recommend going to The Running Institute.
Diagnosis: It’s not broken, wahoo!

The Running Institute is wonderful! I had a stress fracture in my heel that Dr. Chin treated medically and Dr. Ardell treated via laser. The entire staff is friendly and accommodating. I’ve referred several friends there and will continue to do so.

LOVE this place (well, as much as you can love going to the doctor!!) Dr. Chin helped me earlier this year with a foot issue I had while training for Ironman.
I returned this week for a different issue and found out I have a small fracture in my toe. Dr. Chin took the time to review all options with me. Turns out surgery is best so we’ve already set up the schedule and treatment plan. I appreciate that he has so much experience with athletes so he understands my long term goals. The staff is great — everything I needed was set up fast and I always feel welcome here. I’ll be back running in no time!

This has been the worst experience I’ve had with seeking medical care. I sought treatment here for a severe case of plantar fasciitis. Having recently relocated from California, I was unfamiliar with physicians in Chicago and found myself at the Running Institute and I am no better off now than when I walked in their door several months ago. Per Dr. Reilly, I went to Athletico for PT which was unsuccessful in treating my injury as the therapist passed me off to a student for 90% of the session which actually made my injury worse. Dr. Reilly then suggested I try three sessions of the EPAT treatment which didn’t work. At all. There went $ 450.
On the final EPAT session — in September — I ordered my orthotic and wouldn’t you know, I still don’t have the pair. Dr. Reilly received the initial orthotics but they weren’t correct and she said I could try them even though they weren’t what she ordered for me. Um, no. I’m not going to take a $ 450 investment to fix an injury if it’s not 100% right. She sent them back and it’s been almost THREE MONTHS and I still don’t have them.
This office staff has zero customer service skills. The front staff — and the aide/​assistant who takes you back and goes over your history — are incredibly unfriendly (and he is borderline cold). I have had to call every other week for an update on my orthotic and I’m told I’ll get a call back for an update but I never do. In fact, when I expressed my growing frustration with Dr. Reilly about the lack of follow-​through about two weeks ago, she said she’d have someone call when the orthotics arrive which ‘should be any day.’ I called today and apparently «they’ve been in.» Not a call from anyone as Dr. Reilly promised.
So after nearly spending a $ 1,000 at this place, I’m exactly where I was in terms of pain when I walked into their office this summer. Oh, and they don’t answer their phones after 4:30pm. Spare yourself and skip this place.

Update to the review: I’m now 4 years post ankle surgery and doing great. I’ve done a full Ironman and completed a few more marathons without incident. Proof is in the pudding folks…

Excellent Service! Saw Dr. Reilly for my sprained ankle. Knowing I had my 1^st marathon coming up in less than 2 months she calmed me down to told me it is still possible for me to run it. After two weeks of her prescribed PT, I feel great.

Another WOW, Limped in walked out. No more pain. Dr. Chin scraped off the infection and that was it. After one week still no more pain. I had been suffering for six months. It is great.
Jack Mooney

Wow… Dr. Reilly and the team at the Running Institute are fabulous. I had an appointment for a minor ankle issue and had never been to a foot specialist before. Dr. Reilly was very thorough, prompt, and smart. She offered multiple solutions and the pros/​cons to each.
I was welcomed kindly by the front desk staff who got me in and out smoothly. Great service!
Thanks Dr. Reilly and the Running Institute!

Currently seeing Dr. Ardell for a toe fracture. The office is clean and everyone is very friendly.

First off, I NEVER thought I would be running again… and I AM!
Thanks to Dr Chin. I had an old running injury that was about 14 years old, that caused me great pain and created new problems over the years. It was a simple pinched nerve that was ruining my life and keeping me from what I love doing… running! When my sciatica finally went down to my feet and was giving me drop foot, it was time to fix this (mostly because strangers would ask me if I was ok?! lol). So, I went to Athletico to get it looked at. They referred me to Dr Chin.
Now I have done physical therapy for this old running injury at least once every two years, with very little pay out and lots of $$. But, with Dr Chin’s treatment and suggestion of Active Release Technique (with Amy at Athletico), it ABSOLUTELY worked!!! It is not a comfortable treatment, but, soooooooo effective. I would do it again if I had to. Then he referred me to a nuerologist to finish the PT on my back (that I should have gotten fixed years ago! I just didn’t know how to go about it).
I am back to running and ran a 5k in November and now training for a 10K in March and half marathon in the summer! I never EVER thought I would be doing this! And I run with a stupid grin on my face every time!
I absolutely recommend Dr Chin and the Running Institute! Hope this review helps someone else get the same opportunity I did, to do something again that they never thought they would get to do.
:)

I received a call from the doctor a few days after posting my review. He saw that I wasn’t happy with my visit and wanted me make things right. He offered to see me again free of charge.
I declined to see him again since I didn’t think I needed it. I didn’t have any issues with his diagnosis.
He explained to me reasons why some of the staff wasn’t friendly and he said that he would counsel them.
Also, as for the shorts issue, the option to put them on should have been given to me. But, then again, I didn’t fill out my paperwork ahead of time so that’s my fault for not doing that.
I appreciate the phone call and desire to make things right.

I’m not sure it gets much better than Dr. Chin. From the minute I walked in with top of the foot pain, I felt at ease and well-​cared for. I was petrified of being put back in a boot, as other doctors had done in the past.
To my relief, Dr. Chin isn’t quick to jump to the boot. Instead, he went out of his way to find alternative methods of relief so I could continue my running and my racing, including laser therapy and dextrose injections. Further, he doesn’t believe in cortisone (as he shouldn’t!). For me, it turned out not to be a stress fracture, but some extensor tendonitis, which has virtually disappeared within weeks with the prescribed therapy.
But most importantly, Dr. Chin takes the time to really understand your pain. For my first appointment, he spent over an hour with me. Incredible, really, given that most of the time you see a doctor for about 10 minutes.
I’m impressed, and I highly recommend Dr. Chin to runners everywhere.