Professional Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy

I went to their branch on West 71^st. I left after the 3^rd visit. What constituted a «team approach» was anonymous trainers approaching me without introducing themselves, asking me to repeat exercises that I had already done and getting defensive when I commented on this. There were some ok trainers, but clearly the management style’s demand for treating multiple people at the same time makes it impossible for them to truly attend to anyone’s needs in a personal way. I felt the employees were not happy and that came across. I later went to Sloan Steckler and the approach was entirely personal and specific to me.
This is in response to Professional’s manager response: When I cancelled all my future appointments, the receptionist asked if I would like to speak to someone about why I was choosing to do so. I told her yes and she said the manager would call me. No one ever did call me! It further convinced me of the non-​personal attitude.

I went to their branch on 71^st and Broadway. Most of the time, you end up doing exercise with an assistant or by yourself. The therapist (in my case Ana) has two patients at the same time and is busy doing paperwork for much of the session. After my first session, each session I had to do same two exercises session after session. I did physical therapy two years ago as well, with a different chain, and my experience there was much different and much better. I would NOT recommend this physical therapy branch.

The staff here are friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Joe Gullickson in particular!
Learn their names and speak up if you have a question. They generally see what everyone’s doing and can sense if you are unsure or need help, but I have the best experience when I just ask.
They do a good job getting me out of there at a particular time when I have somewhere I need to be. Just let them know if that’s the case; otherwise you might wait a bit for your therapist at the end for manual therapy.
Fun atmosphere — I like watching all the other patients do their workouts, and it can be social! People seem happy here, both staff and patients.

Very thorough and knowledgeable. Flexible on scheduling.

Xyz A.‘s review is nonsense.
* «the place looks like a factory»
— i.e. it’s well-​organized
* «It was dark, damp and in the back room of an Equinox gym.»
— It is clean, well-​lit (actually a little too biight for me) and in a substantial space
* «a real issue with the fact that the physical therapist saw me for a about 10 minutes during the entire 60 minutes because the therapist was too busy dealing with multiple patients. The rest of the time I was seen by a host of assistants which affects quality of care. There would be 2, 3, and sometimes 4 different people tending to me for a minute here and there.»
— That’s because they’re so well-​organized and it means that you always get helped immediately when you finish an section of work — and they’re not «assistants», they’re the best-​trained physical therapists in town!
Likewise, DDnails L.‘s review is also misleading:
* «Yet another „go stand in the corner and do leg raises“ type of physical therapy.»
— That’s what physical therapy IS!
Unfortunately, the staff behind the desk are only marginally competent, but at least they get the job done without mistakes, they’re just extremely slow.

People are friendly, location convenient.
Had an issue with the billing but it seems to be resolved for the time being

I kept re-​injuring my back and my physician wrote me a prescription for physical therapy to learn how to strengthen and build muscles to prevent the ongoing pain.
I went to Professional Physical Therapy for two months — the place looks like a factory. Long rows of beds, packed to the gills with patients (one man stretching his leg was so close to me his foot hovered near my face which was particularly unpleasant). It was dark, damp and in the back room of an Equinox gym. This, however, was not the main issue. I can deal with small, cramped, dark places (this is NYC after all), but I did begin to have a real issue with the fact that the physical therapist saw me for a about 10 minutes during the entire 60 minutes because the therapist was too busy dealing with multiple patients. The rest of the time I was seen by a host of assistants which affects quality of care. There would be 2, 3, and sometimes 4 different people tending to me for a minute here and there.
This was problematic because:
1) There was no continuity of care. Each assistant had to be briefed on my progress, diagnosis, and they didn’t know which exercises I had done already, or the placement of my shifting pain.
2) I was left alone to do my exercises from day 1. No one watched me. I have since learned this is important in the beginning of therapy because I was unaware when my form started to shift or sag (this inevitably happens when a patient grows tired. Doing exercises in even slightly wrong positions actually does harm to the injury, or you just don’t recover, making PT a waste.)
3) I had no one to ask questions to (am I holding my arm right? should the pain be this strong while I’m doing this?)
4) I was often left waiting for several minutes between exercises for someone to show me the next item. On average I lost about 10 minutes or more, about 20 percent of my time there.
5) The assistants don’t have the same training as a fully educated physical therapist.
I didn’t complain much at first as I thought this is the way it was supposed to be; I tried to grab people for questions, but was inevitably told to wait for the physical therapist because only he or she could answer the question.
I grew frustrated with lack of progress and finally asked my referring physician if this was normal. He indicated that some physical therapy places stack their patients so much, having multiple people per time slot, so they can be profitable. I don’t know if this was the case at Professional PT, but having so many patients was negatively affecting me.
The last straw came when I began scheduling my appointments at ostensibly less busy times (the staff promised they could be on hand more if I did that) and yet I was still left alone to do my own thing (and no, I don’t need handholding, just more than 10 minutes an appointment, or someone to ask the occasional question to who isn’t preoccupied with 5 or 6 other patients and staff) while the assistants and sometimes the therapist were hanging out in the office. They weren’t circulating among the patients, but gabbing or on a computer; all of this is plainly visible as the office is all windows. Additionally, I was doing the same exact exercises for two months (No changes, no new items, no variety, no growth).
I hesitantly switched to another physical therapy practice upon my doctor’s recommendation (it was further from home and work and I was doubtful there’d be much of a difference). I’m glad I did, because there was in fact a big difference. The place was spotless. The physical therapist sees no more than three patients at a time, usually just two. She does have an assistant, but the assistant stays with the patient the whole time. The therapist is always with one of three clients and is constantly adjusting positions making sure the patient knows when his or her form is off. She has her eye on everyone at all times and is calling directives to each person. This therapist changes exercises to keep muscles surprised, to keep the patient engaged. She asks follow up questions and seems to be focused on the individual patient, not preoccupied.
I didn’t know therapy could be like this; I hope potential clients know there can be a better experience or will ask for it better than I was able to. I feel more confident and actually look forward to visits to the new office, where as I was disheartened going to Professional PT.

The staff and facility at Pro PT are the best. I went for many sessions to treat my chronic achilles tendonitis. The staff are busy, but ALWAYS ready to help you. Contrary to what another reviewer said, they absolutely DO take insurances. They will assign you to do many exercises independently, but, I reiterate, the staff is always available to provide guidance and help. Most often this guidance/​help come without the patient even having to ask. All professional eyes seem to be on all patients at all times. You will be pleased with their service.

I hurt myself (sing it Johnny Cash!) again (see my reviews of my ortho and MRI places. Seriously — I am a repeat customer) I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that I am an athlete, but I like to get around without a limp, so enter my need for PT. I’d previously had a very bad experience at Beth Israel’s Ambulatory Center, so I wasn’t keen on the whole idea of PT. I’m sorry DR L felt put in a corner, but that was not my experience. I felt that the whole team took a vested interest in my rehab and I really appreciated the support. Do they hold your hand the whole time? No. Who wants their hand held all the time anyway? I’d rather learn what it is that I can do to strengthen myself so as not to re-​injure. Hahahaha. Good luck with that.

Unprofessional PT… Office manager rude and unprofessional so much to the point you can hear everyone’s dirty laundry, no privacy and tight space! i will never go there unless I am receiving treatment from Jason who seems to be the only physical therapist who cares about patient care… do not go and they don’t take insurances so get ready to get ripped off from the billing department

The staff at Professional PT has worked very hard to help me and is very caring. I’ve had a great experience with them.