At first, I went to another PT place because this place was not covered by my insurance. Four weeks went by and no significant improvement. My doctor told me that he did not want to perform surgery based on the performance of a PT he never met, so he told me to try Active Care, specifically Coleman. He spoke very highly of Coleman, joking with another physician how Coleman got all the difficult cases. Anyway, I told the doctor I will try anything if that saves me from surgery, so I am ready to pay for sessions out of my own pocket. When I first got there, I was not happy. Apparently, there were three other people having the same appointment time as I do w Coleman. I waited for thirty minutes before I was able to see Coleman. I was appalled! So then, I finally went to the exercise area and holy cow, it was soooo busy. I finally met Coleman and not only he is super nice, he is also very knowledgeable and despite all the other people, he spent a lot of time with me because it was my eval. Afterwards, then he asked a trainer to work with me. So, that's how he was able to juggle three patients at a time. The eval ended up taking about 2 hours and each session about 1.5 hrs, 30 minutes longer than what the sessions are supposed to be. Apparently, Anthem BC dropped this place and a bunch of other excellent PT places six months ago without any talks. Coleman works with me for the payment plan since I was paying out of my own pocket and he wants me to come twice a week until my next appointment with my doctor. I definitely get my work out. In my other PT, it is almost like just going through the motions and finishing the rep, regardless of muscle fatigue. Here, they make sure that you feel the burn. Awesome! Definitely, highly recommended! read more

Very expensive physical therapy session, and my hour was shared amongst 3 clients. This has never happened before during a PT session with other providers, I've never had to share my hour session with other people. Also, the environment is not safe with regard to Covid, as people are packed in an open room and there is no physical separation between clients. Also, no privacy at all. I had to explain my situation while another client was exercising right next to me, very unsettling. read more

What's a great place! I personally have never been to other physical therapy place, so I can't compare. It was setup like small gym, super clean. People here are friendly, and they do care about helping you to get better. I was super nervous coming here as it was my first time seeing a physical therapist in my life. My therapist, Leada was super friendly and caring. She was cheering and at the same time pushing me to work hard. Josh was very great too, but I didn't get to work with him as much. I felt better with my back pain right after the first session until umm I hurt myself again (which I always do)... I was lucky to have a trainer with me and helped me through all exercises the entire time. He was pretty attentive and informative. He spotted out my weak spots during my exercises to add more types of exercises to strengthen those. He pushed me to a higher limit all the time This place is pretty crowded, especially if you come maybe after 5pm when everyone is out of work/school. The therapists will not be able to spend a lot of time with you since multiple clients are there. Due to my poor exercise performance on the ground and prone to injuries, I got to have a trainer with me throughout the session to prevent further injuries. However, other trainers might have two clients at a time. This place is ideal if you like exercises and can do it on your own with guidance (minded you I'm not ground active at all, and I liked it here still). If you expect a lot of massages and plentiful time with the therapist, you might not be able to get it here. I still highly recommend Active Care as they will help you get to be functional again read more

I'm no athlete and as far as a dancer, well picture Elaine on a vintage Seinfeld episode and you've got me down. But I am really into "strong is the new skinny" and taking good care of myself. So after having major cervical spine surgery I asked my surgeon (Dr Bobby Tay at ucsf-amazing!) "who would you go to for pt if you were me?" And the answer I got was "Colman, but you have to be willing to work hard- really hard and understand, that's not for everyone". After many months of forced near inactivity, all I wanted was to get my pretty awesome and not so inactive life back. So despite the fact my insurance coverage was so bad I was better off self paying, off to Colman and Active Care I went. Colman was a half hour out of my way to anywhere in my daily life, and there and back I went 2x a week for 8 mos. The commitment and challenge went way beyond the physical. Work hard? Check. Get caring and expert attention? Check. Somebody else needed more help and attention than me on a particular day and it's not necessary I'm at the center of their universe? Make that a very grateful check. Do I get told by someone who's not even my trainer for the day to adjust my position, lower my eyes, or whatever from across the room? Do they really have eyes in the back and sides of their heads and know what I'm doing even if they're not hovering over me? Do they know how to keep things in perspective and work me at an appropriate level and kick it up or slow me down? Check, check, and check. This is a healing, caring and wonderful environment to rehab in. If you're ready for the challenge, they are more than ready and willing to help you optimize your potential- dancer or athlete or just someone who wants their life back. Thank you Colman, Ian, Anthony, Leigh Anna and the entire staff! read more

I worked with Lita (PT) and Mo(PTA). I'm probably butchering the name spelling, sorry! You can't argue with results. I've had nagging knee and shoulder injuries for the last 2 years. After two appointments I'm moving around pain free. read more

This will be brief but clear... I am not an athlete but I do like to be active. I hate pain and suffering more than a cat hates the rain. I was referred but SOAR in Redwood City and have had great improvement. I couldn't move my neck and now I can move pretty normally. They even figured out how to fix what was wrong instead of treating the symptoms. I never want to feel that level of pain again so I would recommend them to anyone looking to get resolution and feel better. I am still going there since I only started treatment two months ago and have more to go...Try them, you won't be disappointed. Love you all at AC! Thank you. read more

I can only describe the progress that my wife has made at Active Care as amazing. She has had a neck and shoulder injury for at least three years and Kaiser did nothing for her. They sent her to "pain management" and had given up. She was in pain virtually every day and could not lift or carry anything. She would get headaches and have a hard time sleeping. It had a really significant impact on her life. Thankfully a friend referred us here and it is really incredible how much better she is doing. In only a few weeks she has progressed more than three years of PT and Doctors at Kaiser. She is even lifting small weights and doing strengthening. For the first time in years I see a potential for her to return to a normal life. I am thoroughly impressed with our experience. Thank you! read more

Active Care... :) My husband recommend active care for my shoulder, since he had use their services before. Their facility is nice and clean.. To me that is a great start. (since people are working out and sweating). The front desk team have been accommodating and awesome. I found myself hanging out with them talking their ear off and they let me :)... Thank you ladies The way that active care is set up is that your first visit you work with Coleman and go over your injury and talk about recovery times. You can ask all your questions then and he will be able to help you. Coleman knew about the injury and really listened to the problems you were having with it. He was thorough and to point, as he should be. I know people do not want to hang out in physical therapy all night.. You are assigned a trainer to work with you. Now I noticed that some people complained that the trainer did not know anything or had multiple people, but that is common in PT unless you pay extra at another place to do one on one. That is really hard to find and expensive. My trainer was Jeff and he was great. He really was kind and helped me when my stretches were not right. I believe he knew what needed to be done and instructed me in the right direction. For most people the proof is in the pudding.. My shoulder was completely frozen and impinged when I arrived. In about 3-4 months (maybe a little less, closer to 3) my shoulder has made great progress and my pain is gone. So they are doing something right. I would recommend their services to other patients, and when you go there so much you start to get to know the others.. Like an afterschool program. : ) My overall review: The place is clean, the trainers are awesome, Coleman is a great leader and very knowledgeable and the Front office employees are so very friendly, kind and helpful. They also stock awesome candy Thank you team for everything. read more

Coleman and Ian are the best. They got me back on my feet and working out. Much appreciated. read more

Tore my ACL playing soccer in March, had surgery in April, and have been going to Active Care for about 6 months now for physical therapy. Great facilities and environment, but the people that work there make this place what it is. Super good vibes all around. Set up is like a mini gym, so you're getting your exercises in with other folks in a similar physical state -- you're not alone! Recovery can be a chore, but there's a great support team at Active Care. Definitely consider this place when looking for PT. Special shout out to Mihaul and Katrina. read more

I've unfortunately have way too much experience at various PT facilities in San Francisco (knees/shoulder/back/foot) so I have ample knowledge to know Active Care is just not up snuff. I have a neighbor (also a fellow runner) who raved about the place so I gave them a try. I went in with a "I'm not quite sure what I did to it" knee injury. I heard a pop (never good. . . ) when I cornered some stairs and instantly felt something shift but I could still walk and put weight on it. Swollen and tender but usable. The DPT (I believe) I saw was Leda. She was by far the best part of Active Care. Experienced and knew what to test/push/press/assess. If this review was only for her- 5 stars. But clearly the policy at Active Care is to pass the patients off to the trainers/assistants. That's fine, but my trainer (Clinton?) also had ANOTHER patient he was monitoring. I literally had to wait 3-5 minutes every single time to get my next exercise. I've seen it mentioned in several other reviews but this place is set up and run like a patient factory. It was unreal. I've never seen so many patients in a place and it was LOUD. After my first visit, I only made a second appointment because it would be 2.5 weeks later due to my traveling. I thought, "just do a follow up so Leda can assess that yes, it's probably just a nasty sprain." My second appointment was "supposed" to be Friday and guess what. . . .? After trekking across town, I show up only to be told that nope, they don't have me on the books. So unprofessional. They could fit me in a little over an hour later though. Yeah, no, I should've trusted my gut and not wasted my time. I left and will NEVER be back. read more

My experience at Active Care was excellent. I went to see Coleman for an upper hamstring tear, which are notoriously challenging to sort out. Coleman was able to accurately determine which mode of treatment would be most effective in my case, and the exercises and stretches he prescribed were exactly what I needed in order to heal my injury in short time. My surfing is back to 100% and my overall mobility is increased as a result of Coleman's prescribed sport-specific PT routine. As a matter of fact, I've worked components of my PT routine into my standard workout/training. For a friendly, thoughtful, and highly effective PT experience, I absolutely recommend Active Care and Coleman in particular. read more

Am a huge fan of Active Care. Went to Active Care for knee rehab. They are good for people who either are professional athletes or have a mentality of wanting to compete at a serious amateur level. They were knowledgeable and pushed me hard. It's very empowering to have a great physical therapist and know that if I work hard, things will get better faster. I came from Berkeley twice a week in traffic, and it was worth it. Highly recommended. read more

For proof that Active Care's physical therapy with me over July fixed me, watch this video of me running the Machu Picchu marathon! https://youtu.be/4gu6PUt9iog I completed the full marathon with zero pain in my achilles tendon! That's right zero pain, either during the race or afterwards. Given that only six weeks earlier I had sharp pain in my achilles tendon even just walking on modest uphills, this is a real testament to Josh Raskoff (PT) and Jimmy (trainer) work with me. To give some perspective... the Machu Picchu marathon is rated the world's most difficult marathon. The race covers a full 26.2 mile course, running up and down three large mountains, ascending a total of 10,000-feet and descending 12,000-feet, topping out at 14,000-ft altitude with an average oxygen level 50% of what we have at sea level, of and the course includes tens of thousands of large irregularly shaped stone stairs. It was an epic run, and I couldn't have done it without the team at Active Care. Thank you! read more

I never write reviews but i just had to for Active Care and most importantly Lisa and Carolyn! I had my ACL redone in June of 2015 and I was told by doctors and friends w past injuries that it would be a year before i was really "back at it". Having been a professional Ironman distance athlete and ultra runner, that diagnosis was terrifying! Lisa and Carolyn knew better! I have never done so many squats in my life, had non weight bearing exercise make me want to cry or laughed and had so much fun after a "NOT SO FUN" endeavor. Their attention to detail and knowing how to push you to the edge of what your injury can do is beyond unbelievable! I was running after 3 months, did a marathon after 6 months and now I'm fully recovered and back on the trails and ready to do an ultra marathon in March! They are simply the best and Lisa's garage classes on Sundays are so fun and such a great way to know that we have no limits as long as we are smiling and having fun! I cant thank you guys enough! Tyler read more

Probably the best PT place I've ever been. Leada was my PT and Jimmy my trainer and both were awesome. The reason I said this place is well run is that every staff member looks fit and friendly. They care and even if there are not assigned to you they will coach you so that you get the best of your exercises. Thanks Marianne and Daniel for your care. read more

I have come to Active Care for several different rehabs as surgeries and arthritis take a toll. The office staff is always friendly and helpful and I have, without exception, gotten good physical results every time. I worked with Katrina on several programs over multiple years, and am now working with Chance who is so kind and a total pleasure to be around. The therapists have challenging jobs and a pretty heavy patient load but I have always felt an appropriate level of attention and direction in my rehab exercises at Active Care. There is generally a very high level of activity upstairs which personally makes me anxious so I asked for appointments during less busy periods and that makes my workout much more relaxed and efficient--fewer distractions and more peaceful. I highly recommend Active Care. read more

I have suffered from chronic knee pain/ runner's knee for years and have worked with countless physical therapists in hopes of resolving this issue. It wasn't until I found Active Care that I was finally able to see results, build strength and work with a therapist that I truly felt cared about ME and my healing process. Josh Raskoff is hands down the BEST Physical Therapist I've ever worked with. From day 1, Josh was incredibly thorough in determining the source of my knee pain and built a personalized program specific to my needs. He is incredibly knowledgable and gave 100% of his time and effort in each session with me. Josh would even check in with me between sessions to see how I was feeling and was so encouraging of the progress I was making. I am finally at a place where I feel strong and pain free. I owe my recovery to Josh and Active Care! This was by far the best experience I've had with physical therapy. Thank you! read more

I just finished rehabbing my second post ACL surgery knee at Active Care. . I couldn't recommend a PT place more highly. In fact I paid out of pocket to rehab here because I've got Kaiser whose therapy is for birds who don't want to fly again. It should be noted however that Kaiser ortho surgery was top, top quality. I highly recommend Dr. John Cummins out of Oakland. He's a master! Along with Kaiser I've been to 4 other PT places in the East Bay hoping to avoid driving all the way to SF for therapy. The fact is there no place in the East Bay that I know of that can hold a candle to Active Care. If your serious about your therapy, Active Care is your place whether you're very young or old. What you need to know is that it's a place full of people who are working hard to get better. All of the Active Care therapists have a great reputation, however I've only worked with Coleman who is a master. He's incredible! he actually help me fix bursitis in my shoulder while I was in rehabbing my knee. As far as the complaints I see from some yelpers, yes this place isn't for everyone. It's usually busy....hint.. busy is a good thing - it means that they are successful at getting people healthy. And your appointment will take at least 2 hours...hint.. each exercise takes time - it all adds to time well spent on getting you back to health. Yes, they're is chit chatting between the PT assistants, but the place would be a pretty boring place if the people that worked there didn't socialize with their clients and their co-workers. What you need to know is that most of your time will be spent with one of the Active Care top notch personal trainers / therapist assistants who manage 1-4 patients at a time. The fact is they can help someone else while you're on a stationary bike for 20 min. I don't believe that they would be as successful without the service model they've established. Honestly, I've been to a lot of different PT place and most are ineffectual. Heck..this is where the SF Ballet rehabs as well as a lot of high school, college and other pro athletes. If you want quiet and low effort PT, this is not the place. If you want to get better, let Active Care show you the way to recovery. read more

I was 51 (2 years ago) when I was hit by a car as a pedestrian. I suffered an ORIF (open reduction with internal fixation) on my ankle complete with bone grafting from my knee (I lost 2 inches of bone that just shattered). I literally had an open wound for weeks with stiches and they helped me gain mobility in my ankle. I was non-weight bearing for 8 months, on crutches. I started out downstairs, but my therapist really wanted me upstairs so he helped me to learn how to do stairs on crutches. It took me awhile as I was overweight when I had the accident and had no upper body strength, but I did it, and by the time I was ready to bear weight on the ankle, they helped me learn how to walk again. I returned for a second session about a year later, worked with Keri, and made even more progress. Today I don't walk with a limp even though I have a metal plate in my ankle and probably about 12 screws in there. Thank you, Active Care!! read more

A very expensive place to do exercises! Way too many clients, you don't spend more than a few minutes (if you're lucky) with a PT - most of the time you're handed over to a college-age exercise instructor who instructs you on an exercise and then goes to help one of their other numerous clients. read more

The staff here is definatley world class. I have recovered from 3 out of 4 knee surgeries here. I knew I was in the right place when Coleman was splitting his time between my knee and Jerry Rice's knee. read more

lisa g runs a very impressive operation. It is inspiring to be surrounded see by the athletes who come here.

This review is about 6 months too late, but I went to PT for about 5 months (2x a week for most of it) here to strengthen my leg to help with some knee problems I was having. I had a fantastic experience. The front desk was always super friendly and organized. Josh and Jimmy, my therapist and trainer, were excellent as well. My goal was to run and with their help, I am now starting to do that. It took a lot of hard work, but Josh and Jimmy were super helpful and informative the entire time. I only have positive things to say about Active Care! read more

Over the last 15+ years of low back problems, I've been to approximately seven physical therapy practices in Southern California & now in SF. I was treated here for about 2 months earlier in 2015. I didn't achieve any physical benefits, although I would not entirely blame that on Active Care. My back is just a complex tough case. That being said, Active Care in my opinion, is well below average, a waste of time and money. If at all possible, I'd recommend trying a different practice. I've also been to G Sports Therapy, and received pretty good care. PROS: -relatively quick appointment availability (rarity in SF) -clean facility -relatively easy parking (another rarity in SF) -never had a billing problem -the people are generally nice CONS: - Very high volume of patients, feels like you're being churned through a factory. Let me be clear, I'm not the type of patient that needs, nor expects, to have my hand held through every exercise. However, the business model they have running absolutely necessitates the actual physical therapist to spend NO MORE than 5 minutes with you out of a ~90 minute appointment. There isn't a whole lot of assessment going on, physical or otherwise. In my previous experiences at literally EVERY other PT practice I've been to, you work with the physical therapist for at least half of the appointment; assessed, hands on resistance exercises, manual therapy, etc. Here the therapist looks at your file, asks how you're feeling and then passes you off to a "trainer". -Lack of hands on manual treatment or massage. I'm not expecting a full on massage, this isn't a day spa. Out of appointments that spanned 2 months or so, I think I received ONE massage that lasted for about 3 minutes. Every other PT practice I've been to, massage and manual therapy was a core part of each and every visit and I believe important to my recovery. -The "Trainers" Sometimes the trainer watches for form, other times not. No one is readily available if you're in pain, struggling or have a question. And even if the trainer is there, these people are not properly trained or certified to do anything other than check a box next to the exercise you've completed. I also understand that these trainers are working excessively long hours & forced into split shifts, so no wonder by the time patients arrive in the evening they're burned out. Again, in every other PT practice I've been to, of course assistants are used, but all were in school and training to become physical therapists themselves. -In general, this place is unprofessional. Often times the trainers and therapists stand around and chit chat (which I wouldn't care if they were providing adequate care), become enthralled with whatever major sporting event is on the TVs, and worst of all even talking/complaining about other patients. What are they saying about me in front of other patients? HIPAA anyone? - I feel care is dependent upon who you are. Active Care prides themselves on treating athletes and dancers. And maybe if you're paying cash or you're "important" you'll get better care. But apparently a PPO isn't enough to get a high level of care. read more

I left Active Care after several weeks because: 1. You spend almost the entire time with trainers, who barely pay attention to you. They are there mainly to socialize with each other. They are not professional, and you get the sense they are doing this job because they are former high school or college athletes who have few marketable skills. They do little more than count down your sets, and sometimes not even that (instead, they'll ask you to count them down yourself). Often, when they talk to you, they are looking at someone else, whatever is passing by, or checking their phones. You can't trust what little feedback they give you about the way you are doing your exercises, because they aren't focused on you. While the name "trainer" sounds nice (there is such a thing as a certified athletic trainer, for example), the ones at Active Care aren't really trainers; they're just aides. 2. You spend almost no time with the only people in the room who are truly skilled--the physical therapists. My therapist, whom I won't name, is very nice and knowledgeable. But that cannot compensate for the lack of time she devotes to you individually. On top of that, she never once saw me on time. Instead, every time she asked me to warm up on a stationary bike until she was ready for me. While I understand warming up is useful, pedaling on a stationary bike for twenty minutes seems like a convenient way for the physical therapist to buy time. As a busy person who makes it a point to be punctual, and schedules the early morning PT appointments so I don't have to miss too much work for PT, this is very frustrating. 3. The atmosphere is not professional. The people who staff the reception desk are bored and uninterested. They act like poorly paid temporary labor, which they probably are. Apparently, Active Care has no dress code, or a lax dress code. Some of the trainers wear little heels or gauzy blouses, which is fine if you're working in an office, but seems unsuitable for a trainer in a physical therapy clinic. 4. This is obviously a volume business. Get as many people in as possible. It is the worst kind of business model for patient care. Sadly, this business model has worked for them, because they continue to be overbooked, and have little incentive to change. I hope this and similar reviews will cause people to seek better value physical therapy elsewhere, so that Active Care reconsiders its business model. Redeeming qualities: You always get through to a receptionist. You're rarely put on hold. Unlike some other reviewers, I had no billing problems. read more

me likey. when I like a place i want to hug it, and pet it, and kiss it, and BITE it! ARGHH!!! oops, just kidding, you don't talk about a physical therapy place like that?!. . . eh hhhem. Keri is awesome - the facility is awesome. All the physical therapists there really make you feel like you are their own patient. Physical therapy is not fun, it's painful most of the time and sometimes embarrassing when you do the exercises until you can't physically do them anymore and then you feel like you look like a big wuss. Or is this a feeling I get because I'm an insanely competitive person? Anywho, this place makes you feel as comfy as possible. it's cool. i like it. if you have a choice, go here! read more

Best physical therapy I have ever received! As a world renowned contortionist for the circus industry, I definitely had my share of rehabilitation needs. The staff at Active Care brought me back to professional level after what was thought to be a career ending injury. Thank you Active Care!!! read more

Greetings Folks. This will be a long one :) I read all of the reviews on Active Care here on yelp because I think it's important to honor and respect the views of others. Not only that, but I wanted to make sure that I was not overlooking things that others might have experienced. That said... This is BAR NONE the best PT center I've ever had the good fortune to be treated in. Background; Cancer patient from 2000-2007, Paralysis for six months in 2000 [bedridden], Unable to walk for 2.5 years. Since mid 2002, I have had multiple PT sessions at CPMC with a really good PT for gait training, and pain as I have only 17% range of motion in my right foot. I also suffer from permanent lymphedema as a result of the cancer. The process of learning to walk again, and never really doing it correctly has led to a pretty seriously damaged left hip as well as tendon and ligament issues. I volunteer with cancer patients here in SF as a patient advocate and peer educator; helping patients manage their care and navigate through the healthcare system, which for many can be a daunting task indeed. I have a great deal of experience in dealing with all that encompasses healthcare programs, offices, facilities. etc. Yes, like many here I am a former elite athlete. But I'm 44 years old. My athletic career ended a long while back. I work part-time as a coach now. I will be undergoing arthroscopic surgery for my hip at S.O.A.R. in Redwood City, CA. My surgeon wanted me to get therapy before the surgery so that I could get stronger [perhaps even improve on some level before the surgery takes place], so he recommended Active Care. Wow !! What an AMAZING GROUP of people ! Let's begin with the front desk staff; Friendly, articulate, concise and ATTENTIVE. These ladies all practice the art of treating you like you have been there for years. When I got there [initially] there was a problem [or a question] with my insurance and whether or not I would be covered. I was a little afraid that I would have to micro-manage the process of dealing with billing issues, etc. But they handled it RAPIDLY and before I knew it, I was on my way upstairs to be treated. Ok so, I'm keeping it real here... Active Care is not about the facility. Active Care is about the CARE, period. When I was a competitive athlete, I trained at US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs [on and off for 11 years]. As a coach, I have worked with the USOTC's trainers and PT staff since 1990. I can tell you this [and this is NO JOKE]; the staff at Active Care makes the US Olympic Training Center staff look like a bunch of amateurs....Seriously, these folks know their S&%#! Yes, they DO work with multiple patients at once, and you know what? They do it beautifully. CPMC, St. Francis, St. Mary's hospitals will work with you one on one, yes....but you will get NOTHING out of their staff like you will at Active Care. I DO receive one on one training at Active Care. But I also recognize that sometimes I might have to wait a few minutes in between exercise sets so that they can help another patient/client. Frankly, I'm happy to rest for a 'couple'. Why? Because they kick my butt into shape that's why. I've gone to four sessions so far, and in four sessions I've progressed more than I did in years with the hospitals listed above. The background and qualifications of those on their staff make ANY PT organization pale in comparison... and NO, this is not just a place for athletes or former athletes. Tuesday of this week, I was on the therapy table being treated. and was side by side with a wonderful patient who was [I found out] 89 years old [or so]. She was being treated for her knee, and she was being given EVERY consideration that everyone else in the room was. Last Friday I sat next to two women who were not athletes in any way, they were just good ordinary folks there to receive therapy and they were having an amazing experience. We chatted about their injuries, etc. and they told me that they would not go anywhere else for their care. I could not agree more. One gentlemen here on Yelp said the he was hesitant to write a good review for fear that the place would get too crowded. I totally get that, but you know what? They'll figure out how to make it work if that ever happens. The synergy of this staff is amazing. These folks WORK THEIR TAIL OFF for their patients. I've never seen such dedication [but above all INCREDIBLE knowledge and willingness to share it with those that they are caring for]. I would encourage patients; First, to absolutely consider Active Care as the first place that they look to for physical therapy. Second, when you are there, ASK QUESTIONS of the staff. Make the most out of the knowledge that the staff has. Make them work for you. They're more than happy to push you, or not. My current "go to" guys on staff are Colman O'Leary and Jason Williams. These guys ROCK ! 5 Stars? No, I give them 10. Peace read more

Thank you for wasting my time, Active Care! Had a 3:30pm appointment, and upon arrival, was advised that the appointment was canceled by their computer system. Moreover, I had given them a call 20 mins prior to my appointment to let them know I was running 5 mins late, but was not advised at that point that my appointment was deleted by their computer. read more

I have been going to ActiveCare for 14 weeks. I am seeing Colman for physical therapy and Ian is my "warmer upper". I have to admit that I don't feel that Active Care could be as good as it can be. Don't misunderstand me, they have helped me greatly to recover. However, I do find that they do no run themselves like a business. It is quite casual -- in that many a times, I find them checking their email while I am sitting there waiting. Also, having been there so many times, I am now able to do my own exercises and am getting used to being ignored. The problem with Active Care is that they have too many clients to take care of and some of their clients they treat better than others. I often find them chit chatting with their customers while I wait. While I am extremely grateful to them for my being where I am currently in my physical rehab, I have to say, if the business were run more like a business, I would be happier. They are nice and great people, but they spend a lot of time "fooling around" while I wait around. read more

Colman and his team at ActiveCare are top-notch. In my opinion they are as good as it gets in the world of physical therapy. I was referred to ActiveCare by Dr. Mike Dillingham (the doctor/surgeon who takes care of many of the Forty Niners and Giants). Before visiting ActiveCare, I had pain running down the left side of my body including my lower back, hip and knee. I consider myself to be a good athlete and It was essentially keep me from doing much at all, other than very short bike rides. Once I arrived at ActiveCare, Colman read Dr. Dillingham's diagnosis and designed a personalized program for me. I worked with several of the trainers on Colman's team that are all great, but Chaz and Julianne were particularly helpful and supportive. I started feeling better within a month and after 3-4 months I was doing things I hadn't done for a few years. I am now pretty much back to full strength...taking long bike rides, hikes and getting my body back into great shape. I credit Colman for being a great listener who fully understood the nature of my injury, which allowed him to customize a therapy program for me. Equally important, I also credit them with helping me avoid what would have been a costly and unnecessary surgery. Thank you to Colman, Chaz, Julianne and the great team at ActiveCare. read more

Lisa Giannone is amazing! I have been working out with Lisa for over 2yrs and after her workouts every muscle in my body is spent. Her knowledge of the body and her positive energy is beyond limits. If you want to go to a PT that can get you back to being active, and rehabilitated fully, don't look any further. This is the stop. She is a healer and she understands how important it is for people to get back to their lives. She will work with you and your body will transform!! read more

I have been going to active care after two surgeries from an ACL tear from skateboarding, They are a bit lack luster in their service but their staff is first rate, I always feel confident I will get back into my game, Coleman is the guy to talk to. read more

Here is my thank you letter to the PT, Coleman O'Leary and trainer Heather Dane at Active Care. Need I say more? Get back to it. Dear Coleman and Heather Dane, Over the last several months I have thought about the motto of Active Care and what "it" means to me. Prior to walking in the door to Active Care, the medical care I received seemed to define "it" as a low level of functioning. One where I was literally gritting my teeth through debilitating pain, trying to be a first time-mom, nurse, wife, and at the same time letting go of any athleticism I took pride in in the past. Yet, after starting a course of treatment at Active Care, my "it" has emerged to a totally different and delightful picture. First I would like to thank you, Coleman for being the first one to redefine "it" for me. Not only did you have a vision for me, you also had (and have) a plan for me to get back to it. You also sincerely had the "If I were you talk...." that I really needed to hear. And for that I am eternally grateful. Now my "it" includes being physically stronger than I have EVER been in my life, enjoying being able to meet the needs of my daughter and allowing me to get back to the sport that is at the core of my being. I really mean it when I say that you are brilliant. I see every time I am at Active Care how you are with each of your patients and how you change all of our lives. Without your vision, I no doubt would have been on the surgery track with the fear of questionable outcome always hanging over my head. Thank you, Coleman, thank you, thank you, thank you. Second I would like to thank the phenomenal Heather Dane. My Miss Heather, your "picky-ness" as you call it has transformed my body in a matter of months. You have been the monitor of my progress and have made sure that I don't repeat old patterns. You have changed my posture, how I move, how I think about my body, my endurance, my confidence in my abilities and knowledge of my limitations. I will be saying for the remainder of my days "fish hook, abs on, shoulder blades down and back, etc, etc." You knew exactly what I needed at each moment of my rehabilitation, when to push, and when to give me space to back off. I am so proud of the work we have done together, and seriously it is your expertise that has brought me to this new level of functioning. You are truly gifted at what you do. Please remember that always. Lastly, I would like to thank the entire Active Care staff. Thank you Nicole and Anne for being my back up. Thank you to everyone's smiling faces and greetings. During my disability leave, being at Active Care has given my life structure. The culture created there by everyone was so important to my progress and ultimately getting me back to it. read more

I'm an Active Care patient working with Colman and Carolyn. The results from this physio program are astonishing - and fast. I highly recommend the Active Care team. My husband was referred to Active Care by Dr. Dillingham after a shoulder surgery a decade ago. He had such a good experience working with Colman that I decided to give Active Care a try for my own shoulder injury of adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") compounded by a labrum tear and frayed bicep tendon. As background, I'm a runner (a few marathons) and I ride a horse 5 times a week. During a particularly hard fall from a galloping horse, I wrenched my shoulder. Three months later, the pain was still agonizing, and I was having trouble with things like putting on a jacket, lifting my arm, waving to someone... I was, however, still running and riding! But I finally sought medical attention, got an MRI, and prescription for PT. The Active Care system works really well. Each workout takes 60-90 minutes. If I'm in a hurry, I let Carolyn know so that she speeds me through the stretching and strength exercises before Colman stretches out my shoulder (in various directions, not painless, but the stretching is effective!). Otherwise, I'm happy to add to my workout with bikes & the running machine before seeing Colman. I've been going twice a week (as prescribed by the doctor) for only one month and I am no longer in pain and I have recovered a large amount of shoulder mobility. Just a few more degrees to go and I'll be good as new. And as a side benefit from the Active Care workouts, I have lost 5lb's - despite Thanksgiving! The last thing I would say is that there are A LOT of well known athletes who work with Active Care on their rehab. But the entire Active Care team - from the front desk to the gym - remember EVERY patient's name and treat everyone with the same dedication (even if we regular humans will never beat world records with our athletic efforts!). Colman has a mind like a steel trap for his patients, their MRI's, their progress... The entire process is not just effective - it's motivating. If you're reading this because of injury, go to Active Care, and best of luck! read more

Colman is a wonderful communicator and knows his stuff. He knew what my injury was when my general practicioner didn't, and the MRI confirmed it a couple of weeks later. He even wrote me out a list of hip specialists. The exercises are helping, and the admin staff is responsive, quick, and knowledgable. I've had no trouble getting appointments, and they run pretty much on time. I love this place. Only thing is, beware the atmosphere is more like going to the gym than to a doctor's office. It's busy and noisy and there are lots of people of every age group there (more young than old, I'd say), all in one big open room. I didn't love that at first, but have found it worth the effort due to the very attentive staff at all levels. read more

Active Care are without a doubt the best PT I have ever worked with. They are amazing and I can only highly recommend them! I have had patellofemoral syndrome (runner's knee) and patellar tendinitis (from years of running and biking) for as long as I can remember, and I have seen countless physiotherapists, orthopedic surgeons, had x-rays, and been checked out and measured in all kinds of ways, and nothing helped. Most physiotherapists would just make me stretch, do yoga, massage out my ITB with a foam roller or do light exercises using elastic bands - all of which are good things to do, but they never solved the underlying cause of my knee pain. When I started at Active Care my knee pain had progressed to the point where I couldn't run, bike or even tumble-turn (and kick off the wall) in the pool. And now, after just four months at Active Care, I'm running and biking more than I have ever been able to do before, and my knees feel really strong! In the beginning, I had 3 two-hour sessions at Active Care each week. Each two-hour session was very demanding and I was pushed to my limits every single time, which is the reason why I saw such quick progress in what my knees were able to do. Active Care have a way of pushing you beyond your limits in a really encouraging and positive way. I worked very closely with Keri and Carolyn, who were really knowledgeable, professional and amazing to work with (my impression is that all the physiotherapists and trainers at Active Care are great). Keri and Carolyn were really positive and supportive about getting me back to running and biking again as quickly as possible (unlike other PTs who would always tell me to just cut down on my training indefinitely, which is really frustrating). As soon as I was ready for it, they had me on the treadmill, and they also encouraged me to go back to doing long 50+ mile bike-rides in the weekend. I was a little wary at first but amazed by how much my knees were capable of. Each week Active Care would increase the load I was putting on my knees, and I kept getting better and stronger. One thing I noticed that people have complained a lot about on Yelp is having to wait around at Active Care, which I totally disagree with! The way it works is that each trainer works several people at once, which is fine because I don't need someone holding my hand while I do every single exercise. And if my trainer isn't back by the end of a set, there is ALWAYS some other exercise to do that you know is coming later on, that you can do on your own while waiting. People also forget that very few of us would be able to afford coming to Active Care if we had to pay for a 1-on-1 session with a personal trainer. This way, you get the benefits of a personal trainer for much less! There really is no excuse for complaining about having to wait, because there's always another exercise to do in-between sets. Active Care were also very flexible with scheduling the sessions (I had most of my sessions at 7am), which was great. I highly recommend Active Care to anybody who is serious about wanting to get over their injury. Don't come here for a quick-fix solution, but if you are willing to work at it, you will not be disappointed! Thank you so much Active Care, for getting me back to doing the sports I love!! read more

This is my first review. I haven't bothered before because yelp usually has it right. But not for active care. My mom referred me to Lisa Giannone (Lisa G in the previous review, who rated the competitor "Presidio Sports Medicine a zero for a very good reason"), who is the big boss lady of active care. She consulted with me about my knee, and passed me off to a trainer. I said that the doctor also wanted my elbow worked on. A program was designed for my knee and my elbow issue was totally lost in the shuffle. I saw Lisa for a couple more minutes on one other occasion but that was it. Yassir, my trainer, clearly knew his shit. The one thing about this place that was really positive is that to the untrained eye my trainer seemed pretty knowledgeable. The main issue with my training was that there was a decided lack of individual attention. There are at least two clients per trainer at all times. You are pretty much expected to do your whole routine by yourself with supervision on a couple of exercises. Maybe it works okay. But I've had PT before and this is not how other places do business. Others give you one on one. Why get less when more is available and since your insurance is paying for it anyway, why not go to the best place? The other major issue with this place besides substandard training is the appointment staff. I've had to wait for 40 minutes. Waiting has never been a problem at other places. I was told that I couldn't schedule a firm appointment, only one that was penciled in and that they would call and confirm, because there was a Christmas party the night before. After implying that her boss would be hungover and not come in, the receptionist never called me, and then later claimed I had no showed an appointment. The final straw was that after waiting I was told that my trainer wasn't there. It was 10am but don't worry you can come back at 3. Five minutes after I left I got a call saying good news! one of the trainers will see you now. When I told the receptionist I was not going to be returning, she immediately said that I'd be receiving a call from Lisa. Clearly it's not the first time. Looks like its time to take my insurance money elsewhere. My knee did not get any better with the training, and my elbow did not get any better from the lack of training. I'm not saying it was bad training for the knee; it could have been my fault or nobodys fault. But I'd be willing to put up with a lot more if I saw some results. Other reviewers have said the place is geared towards athletes and dancers. Maybe true, but this is a bit misleading. Don't expect to be rubbing elbows with Randy Moss and Michael Phelps. There are a ton of signed pictures of athletes on the wall but I'm guessing this is a thing of the past. The usual clientele is a bunch of high school kids, a couple of female and male ballerinas, and then a smattering of normal people you'd expect to see anywhere else. read more

I am a 40-yr old active Mom of two with an absolutely bum knee (ACL, MCL, multiple meniscectomies, debridements, micro-fracture, fractures of kneecap etc etc...) and Active Care has been a life saver! I have had 4 surgeries so far on the same knee and the only way I am able to keep up with my super energizer bunny kids is thanks to Active Care. I have been going to AC for over 4 yrs now - on and off. (Immediately after surgery and to "maintain" the knee ). Is it hard? Yes! Can it be frustrating? oh yes! Does it take a long time?Yes! Yes - one spend a lot of time with trainers but only AFTER the more than over qualified PT prescribes a specific training program for you and your problems. And all the trainers are not "fresh out of college, out of options people". They all have their multiple degrees as well. I love that the trainers as well as the PT are very honest and realistic in their assessments. They do not over-promise. They make it very clear that if "you" want to get better "you " have to do the work. They expect you to be invested in your own health and take it seriously. And I agree there are moments of frustration. You think and you feel so much better and "BAM!" something happens and you feel 3 weeks back - again! Another thing I love about AC is the fact that you see patients in various stages of recovery of all walks of life. Young (as young as 6-8yrs) and old (75+). You see the hyper-flexible dancers from the SF Ballet and other dance companies, athletes ( football , cycling,Baseball, tennis, golf...) and the "regular" crowd - all with the same goal in mind - getting better and getting back to what we love doing. The methods and philosophy of AC might not work for everyone - but they most certainly know what they are doing. read more