Shine Integrative Physical Therapy

After trying PT at another PDX office and several months of sports massage, I followed the suggestion of my OHSU physician and tried Shine PT. I was amazed by the lasting positive response. PRI focused PT actually realigns your posture and reduces pain. It also teaches you how to sit, stand and walk in a way that minimizes the likelihood of future injuries. Be forewarned though, it’s not the usual hands-​on PT. It takes a lot of between session work, but I think it’s worth it. I’ve recommended it to a number of friends who’ve also had good outcomes. The adjacent yoga studio incorporates PRI principles, so it’s a great adjunct to treatment.

I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my experience at Shine and here’s my review:
I was referred by a couple of coworkers who raved about Shine so I decided to give them a try.
Scheduling
I actually tried calling them to schedule an appt for a couple of months. I would leave voicemails, not hear back, it would slip my mind, repeat. I mentioned this to one of my coworkers and it wasn’t until then that I heard from Shine. My coworker sent an email to the office manager, cc’d me, and we scheduled an appt over email. Apparently they had been having phone problems for months and didn’t know it. (?)
The Beginning
For my first visit, I saw a rotating therapist. Although I really liked her personally, I could tell that she wasn’t very connected to the practice. She audibly griped about minor inconveniences (equipment, forms, etc) which was awkward. She didn’t explain Shine’s approach to physical therapy. It wasn’t until my second visit, when I saw Jenny, that I understood that I was doing «Posture Restoration», not regular ol’ PT.
The Middle
Jenny was wonderful. I really liked her. But at every visit the practice itself just seemed unorganized and unprofessional. The office manager was confusing, the schedule was constantly changing, I never got a solid, professional, or grounded vibe. The single redeeming aspect was that I liked Jenny even though I felt ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ about my progress.
The End
Then Jenny quit and so did I. It really wasn’t worth it to stay. I wish that I had better things to say. Every time I went to Shine, I left feeling kinda blue. I hate to say it but I got some pretty bad energy from that place (yes, I realize how hippie-​dippy that sounds).

If you’re looking for a physical therapy solution to guide you in healing, look no further. A friend of mine recommended I visit Shine and I did. I’ve been visiting off and on for the past six months. I have a shoulder impingement which is a relatively common issue for people who lift heavy weights. I went to shine and was met by Kyle at the front desk. He’s a super kind and extremely helpful young man who helped answer any and all of my billing and scheduling concerns. I even came down with the flu twice this year and wasn’t able to make it to my appointments. I had to cancel last minute, and they accommodated the inconvenience of having to reschedule last minute. I wasn’t charged a late fee and I didn’t feel like I was being pressured into buying more appointments or spending more money there. I really believe that their goal and mission is to help you get better.
My physical therapist is Tina! She’s a great lady! She’s super straight forward and will be honest with you about where you’re at and where you can realistically be. I’ve been to about three other clinics for the same issue and none has come close to the level of care and treatment that I have received from Shine and from Tina. When I walk into each appointment I know what to expect. I know that each minute I’m there will be spent correctly and focusing on getting me back in tip top shape.
If you didn’t read all that, read this:
The people there are awesome. The location is great. It’s not super expensive, and they will get you taken care of.

Shine is rad! I went several times last year for a shoulder injury that impacted my livelihood in a huge way. The staff is friendly and helpful and Emily is my absolute favorite. It’s clear that physical therapy isn’t just a job for her — it’s her passion. I wouldn’t be surprised if she spends most of her time outside of the office reading up on physical therapy studies and news… seriously. She’s so knowledgable and definitely an expert in her field. And, being in the healthcare industry myself, I can say that not all health care providers take the time (or even care) about staying on top of the latest research. She’s professional, friendly, easy to talk to and great at what she does. What else could you want? If you’re looking for a PT, go see her. Really. Go call now. You won’t regret it!

In short: Shine cares more about getting your money than helping you.
Why: I was in-​between insurance and limited on cash and options to treat my chronic back pain. Shine was in my neighborhood and had a «generous» 25% off if you pay in full at the time of your visit. I walked out paying $ 168 for less than an hour of PT and in much more pain than I arrived in.
At first contact, the owner was very friendly & energetic. I gave her a brief history of my pain, current medical treatment and stressed concerns of not getting help beyond a ‘first consultation’. She assured me that they would give me additional help to hold me off until I had insurance and could come in regularly. Before my apt when turning in my paperwork and payment we revisited this concern and she once again reassured me. She also provided me paperwork to apply for ‘financial hardship’.
During the assessment I was told to bend and move in ways that were slightly painful, which I assumed was normal and did so carefully. One twist sent shooting pain through my spine similar to the pain when my back injury first occurred. I mentioned this pain to her and told her I needed to lie down so I didn’t pass out. I asked her if she was going to help me «undo» whatever just happened and she assured me I would be fine before I left, and continued on with the assessment while I was sitting/​lying. She gave me one muscle strengthening exercise to do. She did not attempt to do any pain release or muscle relaxation or assessing the new pain.
When I checked-​out with the owner, she was trying to guilt me into making two more immediate appointments and stressed the importance to see me twice a week for almost two months. I reminded her of my insurance/​financial situation and the compromise was making two appointments once my insurance went into effect. I told her that I worked 8 – 5 M-​F. She kept trying to get me into consecutive appointments early/​mid-​day and respond in irritation that it conflicted with my work.
I went home and had to lie down and alternate ice & heat on my back all evening. In the morning I had to go in to work late because I was in so much pain I had to see my chiropractor, forking out more money. It took a few days for the pain to subside. Obviously I canceled my appointments. (FYI: They keep your CC on file and charge a $ 45 cancellation fee if you don’t cancel over 24hours in advance. A cancellation fee I understand, but $ 45???)
After three emails and four weeks without any response I finally got their decision that I didn’t qualify for ‘financial hardship’. (They only look at income vs. medical/​CC debt, NOTHING else. (Of course my only medical/​CC debt was the $ 168 from their appointment.) As a «thank you» for my business they offered a free yoga class. This seems like a nice gesture except that anyone who walks in the door gets a free first yoga class. When I was coming in as a new patient they were quick to respond with enthusiasm by phone and email. Once I canceled my appointments their communication near stopped. This communicates to me that their customer service is great as long as they’re guaranteed to be making money off you.
I have shared my experience in more detail to other people who have gone through PT for similar back issues and they all have had many better/​thorough experiences, especially in regards to pain assessment and treatment for pain relief even in their first sessions. During my recent yearly check up my General Practitioner even told me not to return and made a referral for another PT incase I chose to continue in the path of PT.
I understand that services cost money and don’t want to devalue PT and like services. However, at Shine these «services» are not worth the monetary value. I would be willing to pay twice as much for something that was truly worth the value.
All this to say: I wasn’t impressed with Shine.
I don’t like writing such in-​depth negative reviews but I’m hoping to save someone else the experience I had. There are plenty of other PT in Portland with great reviews, I should have done more research and not made my decision based on timing and convenience.