Art of Physical Therapy

After numerous visits to the chiropractor and injections of steroids I insisted my doctor send me to further physical therapy. I could barely walk when I began my physical therapy. My right hip has been bothering me for years. He sent me to Trevor D’Souza at the Art of Physical Therapy. This is when my whole life changed. I was given a full assessment and informed of the many reasons causing this recurring problem. After going through some challenging treatments that totally realigned my posture I am now back to my normal daily activities without pain or medication. Trevor found numerous physical misalignments and instructed me how to deal with these problems. I learned more about my body in every session. I have been seen by many physical therapists without lasting results and I find Trevor to be a genius in his field. Always finding the exact spot causing the problem. If you follow his directions and guidance he is a miracle worker. He is the best and has been a blessing in my life. Trevor, I am so grateful!

Some background first: I have been in two horrible car accidents, one severely affected my lumbar spine, the second my cervical spine. My injuries are 25 and 19 years old respectively. Because of these injuries my thoracic spine has become involved. I have been in severe pain for 15 years, and I think I have had a headache for 10 of those years due to the pressure I feel in my neck.
In April my doctor noticed a new range of motion limitation in my right shoulder, so she sent me to physical therapy… here we go! I thought. I have had professional physical therapy more that ten times over the years. It is usually easy I hate to say, however, Art of Physical Therapy, which is inside of San Diego Arthritis Medical Clinic (SDAMC) was much different than anything I have ever experienced. In fact, I waited a couple of weeks after therapy to write this review because I am still amazed at the noticeable improvement in my walking gait and shoulder and neck positions while resting and walking. People have noticed and commented that I am no longer walking like a duck, nor is my head hanging too far forward and low. There are real improvements in my body for the first time in years. First off my range of motion in the affected arm is 80% improved. I am sleeping better. My headache is gone. My endurance is up.
What I am most affected by besides the rigorous physical therapy I received is the truth I encountered at Art of Physical Therapy. My therapist, Dr. Trevor D’Souza, pulled no punches. Not even my orthopedic surgeon told me about the scar tissue that was developing in my shoulders, armpits, and hips. The therapy was very intense, sometimes painful, however, rightfully so when breaking up hard lumps. Sometimes I left there bruised for days. The hardest part was having the actual manual modalities done on my affected parts. There was weeks of actual gym therapy, as I thought I was doing everything right when in fact I was doing it all wrong; too fast and unstable. I had to learn and practice slowing down, holding my body in the proper stance for the move while remembering to breathe. I had to learn how to hold my body and head while walking… who knew! I also had laser work done to ease the pain, reduce inflammation and facilitate healing. After each visit I felt measurably better. All that work paid off. I am not pain free, but it’s tolerable and my range of motion is greater. I wish this was preventive therapy that could continue, the way a gym functions but with disabilities taken into account and experts there to guide the client/​patient. I can’t say enough about this experience.
Art of Physical Therapy can help anyone that is motivated to be their best selves. Thank you Dr. D’Souza.
Must mention Evan and Dr. Chiu, both were experienced therapists and I always felt safe in their knowledge. Thank you! Thank you!