I struggled with chronic neck/shoulder pain with headaches for as long as I can remember and felt like I had tried everything to fix it... It wasn't until I started getting treated by Anna Marie at Apex manual therapy, that I finally learned the correct exercises and subtle postural changes needed to eliminate my issues. I finally know how to manage my symptoms and stop the pain if I do something to trigger a flair up. Thank you Anne Marie for giving me the tools to finally live my life again and do physical activities with my son without worrying about it causing pain! read more

I came in for help with the recovery of my torn meniscus and sprained MCL. My knee has made so much progress! Anne is so knowledgeable and helped me integrate movements into my life that helped my knee, back, and hips. I am a very active person (some may even say an athlete), and she took the time to also understand the movements and stressors of my sport that were impacting my body. read more

Let me just say if I could give Alicial from Apex 10 stars I would. In May 2022 I had injured my leg to a point where I could not put any weight on my right leg at all AND I had been told in 2020 that I would probably need a hip replacement in the next 3-5 years. So, I went into doom and loom and the land of waiting for my leg to wear out. I tried PrP and stem cells and that helped to a point where I "could" walk some, but not for very long without pain (meaning like 2500 steps a day.). At the time, I just thought that was my reality, but was willing to try another therapist (my 4th one in 7 years.) Enter Alicia ... I came to her as a last resort as it seemed that my previous PT exercises were actually causing more pain and enhancing my nerve pain. Her ability to diagnosis on a level beyond other therapists was the key. My simple understanding is .... that it wasn't so much that my cartilage was diminished, but that fact that my hip joint was loose in the socket and wiggling around in places that it should be, damaging the cartilage. This is the first time I had heard that and the fact that my whole spine was a little twisted and probably the main cause of the constant pain. After six sessions, I was moving without pain and can now climb steps and walk nearly 10k steps a day. Truth be told, I still have some inflammation after walking distances and a few angles that my hip can't move in, but the nerve pain went from a six to a one in two months time and my mind is blown! I can't recommend Alicia enough! A true miracle worker! read more

I'm in the end stages of my recovery and starting to phase out of Apex, which is bittersweet. I found Alicia at Apex from a simple Google search to find PT places near me. My Ortho gave me a referral to their in-house PT, but I knew having one therapist shared with 3 or 4 other patients was not going to work for me. I lost a lot of time in my recovery phase after surgery and I knew I needed a hands-on approach that provided 1:1 support. Alicia only sees one patient at a time (so you have the full hour with her, alone in her facility) so the entire experience and plans are customized for what I needed. This resulted in having faster recovery and ultimately saved me money from not needing more PT appointments. But to be honest, as someone who has never broken a bone, I would have paid a million dollars to get back to normal. So the idea of having such an incredible experience while working with Alicia, who is so beyond skilled all while saving money long term was a major "win". I went in week one with 28% range of motion in my leg. 6 or 7 appointments later, I'm at 130%+ walking like I never broke my knee!!! Without an ounce of hyperbole, I could not have gotten through this recovery without Alicia. It's not about someone massaging your leg and telling you to stretch, it's sooo much more. It was Alicia's ability to analyze my movements to the smallest degree, and help me correct my day to day habits. It was her ability to provide mental support and encouragement that is almost as important as the physical homework. It was clear from the first appointment that she had years and years of experience and training! I was so thankful for her knowledge and ability to break things down for me in a way that I could understand and tie it to the way my body was feeling. I normally don't write reviews, especially for anything healthcare-related, but the only reason I ended up going to Apex was because of the reviews, so I wanted to make sure I did the same for anyone else looking for a Physical Therapist who was in a similar situation as I was. Massive thanks to Alicia and Apex!!!! read more

I did 6-7 sessions with Dr. Shugart and beyond thankful for her help and expertise. I had shoulder pain for 6 months- in that time, I tried a lot of DIY methods such as stretching and massaging. It got to the point that putting on a shirt was painful and difficult. Within 15 min. of our first session, she was able to break down the issue, which wasn't even the shoulder, but improper scapula movement anytime my hand went overhead(the origin of the injury). She is an expert in seeing those small details I would never think about- such as muscle deactivation, asymmetry, pointing out unhealthy movement/posture habits ect. Our sessions where FULL of constant communication on her behalf- suggestions and expert insights- which have been super helpful in how to properly move! I also really enjoyed her pace- she is a pro at gauging time- we covered quite a bit in our hr session at a very comfortable pace that suited my style. She is intune with the pace of your progression but also knows when to slowing down to explain and answer questions. The body never wants to stop healing- I just needed the prescribed exercises to get it re-aligned and moving correctly(we covered the mental muscle body activation as well). Today the pain is gone and I have the majority of the mobility I previously had. I have transitioned back to my normal kettlebell work and am confident, following her guidance that I will be back to 100% function and ramp to my healing side matching my left(dominant) side. read more

I had 8 or 9 appointments with Dr. Anne-Marie Garza over a three month period and the results speak for themselves: 10/10 would recommend! I had back and neck pain and a terrible, never-ending headache after getting rear-ended on I-35. I hoped it would go away on its own, but after two weeks it was clear that wasn't happening, so I made an appointment and it was the best decision I could have made. Dr. Garza was quickly able to identify the sources of my pain, work on them during the sessions, and prescribe exercises that actually helped. She worked with me to get me back in the gym, lifting weights, which was a big priority, in addition to just being pain free in daily life. My headaches were gone after about a month and my back and neck are in even better shape than they were before the accident. Not only was Dr. Garza's treatment effective, she also made me feel at ease. I usually dislike being touched, but Dr. Garza was kind and welcoming, and my usual anxiety was absent. TLDR: You can't go wrong with Dr. Garza and Apex Manual Therapy. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect from "hands on" physical therapy, but after sessions with Dr. Shugart I found that it is quite different from regular physical therapy. My normal experience with regular PT was 5-10 minutes of warm-up time followed by exercises assigned by multiple technicians, then ending with approximately 10 minutes with your licensed therapist. You are then given an assignment of home exercises. (Wash, rinse, repeat). Conversely, Dr. Shugart uses manual contact with your body to analyze and determine the underlying source of your impairment and/or pain. She then uses hands-on techniques to correct the problem, and then assigns a correlated home exercise routine. In my opinion, her high-level "FAAOMPT" training enables her to accurately identify your exact problem, and also to correct it. You can expect: * An initial detailed evaluation of your problem and discussion about what to expect * Only one-on-one personal and caring therapy sessions * A discussion of the current status of your problem and any related issues on all follow-up appointments * Repeated manual measurements of progress * Different physical manipulations to assist you in correctly moving the affected body part including active and passive range of motion * Different physical manipulations to strengthen the muscles in the problem area * First class electronic appointment reminders * Precise instructions about home exercises * Additions and/or removal of home exercises depending on progress * Positive feedback on all your progress Note: Dr. Shugart doesn't accept Medicare, but I found the cost more than worth it. read more

Dr. Shugart helped me immensely! I struggled with chronic and sometimes debilitating pain in my sacroiliac joint and after only a few sessions my pain was almost completely gone. She helped me see imbalances in my posture and taught me simple exercises that I could do on my own, which truly changed how I feel in my body. I'd seen many physical therapists before, but she has an eagle eye and quickly saw what was going on in my body and knew how to help. I'm grateful, and can't recommend her highly enough. read more

Alicia has been my son's PT last a couple of months. He broke his humerus last September and took long time to heal the bone. Then we thought that would be it, but he could not move his shoulder normal way any more since he was using different muscle to compensate his painful affected muscle for more than 10 weeks. We tried two different PT, but she saved his shoulder movement and taught him very patiently. read more

I had a great experience with Dr. Anne Marie Garza with the treatment of tendinitis in my knee. She has a Fellowship, which requires a great amount of additional studying and training, so I knew she had the most up to date training and knowledge. She thoroughly explained my diagnosis and the reasons which caused it and answered all my questions to understand my ailment. This was important to me, so I knew there was a reason for each exercise, treatment, and follow-up. Each follow-up with her was instructional and worth the time to check on the progress of my knee and make a exercise regimen based on my status. The symptoms in my knee have decreased substantially since the beginning, and I would definitely recommend Dr. Garza to anyone who needs physical therapy! read more

Apex and Alicia Shugart are a Godsend! Much more in-depth and personal attentionthan standard PT. My previous PT experience was one where I spent 10 mins of the appt 'warming up' and then had to share the therapist with at least one other patient. Not so here, I get Alicia's personal attention for the full appt. My issues are lower back pain and arthritis in one shoulder and my pain has improved by leaps and bounds. When I do have pain, I now know what to do to improve myself! read more

Dr. Shugart is a true professional, after just one visit she was able figure out what was causing my 15 year old highly athletic daughter pain on a daily basis. Dr. Shugart takes an in depth look at the problem and develops a treatment plan immediately. Within hours of our first visit my child's pain had lessened tremendously. We enjoy the small business feel of Apex, we had tried other clinics and it just felt like they were rushing us through to get to the next appointment, not so with Apex. Dr. Shugart spends quality time with her patients and follows up on a regular basis to make sure that the plan is working. I would highly recommend Dr. Shugart and Apex for any rehabilitation that is necessary to get you back on your feet without pain. read more

The therapist here are great. They really know their stuff. Dr Shugart helped me identify where the issues causing my pain were coming from, and what to do to correct them. read more

We began seeing Alicia years ago at ARC when my daughter was dealing with gymnastics injuries. When she recently began having back pain, the orthopedist recommended physical therapy. I looked up Alicia immediately. She is a caring practitioner, very knowledgeable, and thorough. Alicia takes her time with patients, and there is visible improvement in my daughter's posture by the end of each appointment. read more

Dr. Alicia Shugart was personally referred to me by my primary care physician initially for leg cramps that began a few months after I was involved in a very serious car accident. (He had previously seen her for a back injury.) I visited a couple other physical therapists that took my insurance, and they said there was nothing wrong with me. Alicia, however, was very thorough and found nerve damage and muscle misuse. I pay out of pocket to see her, and she has been worth every single cent, working with me in various phases to diagnose, treat, and re-teach my body how to work in sync. She is kind, personable, patient, honest, and very professional. I would only recommend her to anyone needing PT. read more

Alicia has really helped me over the past few weeks with my back and hip pain. She came highly recommended by my primary care physician, and she was definitely right! I've improved so much since I've started seeing Alicia. Thank you!! read more

I suffered from sciatica symptoms for almost 5 years. I have seen several other PT before and given up on them because they never got to real root cause. Dr Alicia Shugart spends entire appointment time ( usually 50 minutes) with 100% attention. After two months with Dr Alicia I am beginning to have my hopes on becoming strong enough to be runner again after 5 years. read more

I injured my knee on a skiing trip and Dr. Shugart discovered that I have a minor tear in my MCL. She made me feel very comfortable and taken care of during the initial meeting. Dr. Shugart took the time to get to know me, asked me thorough questions - I felt attended to. I was extremely impressed with her knowledge and couldn't wait to go home and do the exercises on my own. I would definitely recommend Dr. Shugart for any PT related needs! read more

I started going to Alicia for back pain. I have been working with her for about a month now and have seen significant improvement! She is even helping correct my daily walking (how I walk, which affects everything else in your body) and shoulder (which I had surgery on 9 years ago and had a terrible PT for). Everything is coming back into place and am feeling so much better. She even explains in detail why she has you work on certain movements in a particular way, and why/how that is helping you. Couldn't imagine seeing anyone else for my injury. read more

Alicia has done a lot to alleviate my fibromyalgia symptoms. She helped me discover that my condition was being exacerbated by underlying orthopedic problems. Through manual therapy and physical exercises, I was able to reduce my my daily pain and stiffness and the frequency of the more intense, crippling pain that comes periodically. I had been dealing with this for 10 years. She's amazing. I highly recommend her for anyone dealing with chronic pain. She listens and works with you. Her approach to physical therapy is completely unique and is focused on the patient. She is so committed that she decided to reject offers from other corporate hospital complexes that would not let her spend an FULL HOUR with her patients. She is in this to help people, not for money, even though she could make more working with a hospital. Her credentials are the highest - she has a doctorate in physical therapy. On a personal note, I have found that she celebrates your successes and milestones with you. Being involved in the chronic pain community, I hear so many bad stories about health care providers from people like me. Doctors sometimes don't listen. They assume all of your pain is due to your disease, and nothing can be done. So many health care professionals make you feel like you're doing something wrong. She zeroes in on the problem, and she makes you work, but she advocates for you. This is one of the good ones! I am writing the review not to just suggest a health care provider that I think is great, but to help other people in a hopeless position. Help yourself and go see her. read more

Bedside manner is key, and Alicia has it! My hip has been bothering me since I had my daughter 7 months ago, and after spending time with Alicia this pain has significantly decreased. read more

Alicia gets to know her patients, their current symptoms, limitations, and goals from physical therapy. She provides a treatment plan and encourages her patients to get well again by working with them in her facility and giving them exercises to do on their own. She teaches them good form in everyday movements like getting into and out of bed with the least amount of strain. She respects her patients by meeting them at the respective appointment times and cancelling appointments when the patient shows up more than 10 minutes late. I can feel the progress in my recovery everytime that I see her. She keeps her facility clean and well organized. read more