The Apex team are professionals The front desk is efficient and helpful and therapists are knowledgeable A clean well lighted treatment room Thanks to Marie, Robin and Kelsey. Highly recommended read more

Front desk staff was kind of rude not well informed my doctor had faxed over a copy of my order yet they didn't have it. The woman was kind of dismissive when I walked in so I always remind customers you can always find someplace to do what you need to have done find someplace I'd appreciate your business and their clients read more

Without a doubt, Apex Physical Therapy in San Mateo is a 5-star organization! I went there for PT after a full knee replacement. I couldn't have been more satisfied. Dave, the owner, knows his stuff, inside and out, and is very personable. The two trainers that helped me, Robyn and Jose, were great. I'd also like to include the front desk staff, Marie and Sandy...they were always helpful with scheduling and were super nice. I'm all healed now and I miss the place!! I fully recommend Apex Therapy for your recovery needs via physical therapy. read more

APEX PT is EXCELLENT. Dave and his assistant Robyn are dedicated therapists. I was fortunate to have their expertise after my partial knee replacement. My trust is based on their knowledge and skill. All you have to do is listen, and do your exercises, and you might be released early. The office staff is efficient, friendly, and accommodating. Jill Oakes read more

First visit today - Dave was very professional and very personable. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The office is really nice and up to date exercise equipment. Best feature ? It's less then 2 minutes from my house .. looking forward working together to get this knee strengthened! Thanks! read more

Excellent physical therapy by friendly, professional therapists. Very clean and bright studio that is well equipped. No waiting for machines. Front desk staff very pleasant and efficient. read more

The first time experience is good, but after they know you will come back, the service starts getting worse. $90 for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, the therapist will rush you to leave. I asked the front desk what's the appropriate time, she told me it's 1hr to 1hr15min. When I told her my session is only 40 minutes, she showed a "it is what it is" attitude. I want to go somewhere that my therapist is willing to spend time to understand my body pain. I didn't get this feeling AT ALL at Apex, but I know there are many PT places out there can do this. Totally not worth it. Will not go back again. read more

Wonderful place to go--Steven is very patient and WILL NOT hurt you! All the people there are so nice, and you get a good workout, but you leave feeling uplifted and confident, not sad and sore. The office team is unfailingly efficient and accommadating. A large well-lit studio envoirnment, so you don't feel contagion is breathing down your neck. read more

Dave knows his business. Went to him for 3 separate recuperation...reverse shoulder replacement, total knee replacement, IT band syndrome over a period of 20 months. Staff was very professional and attentive. Safe to say all 3 issues were taken care and life is back to normal. read more

Incompetent scheduling ... been here before and was good. however, called more than a week ago to get an appointment, show up, and front office has no record. they claim to have a note saying "I was suppose to call back to reschedule". No matter how good of a service you think you are providing, you need to respect other people's time. Get the fundamentals right. read more

I've held off writing this review for a while, waiting to see what my experiences at other offices were before doing so. Simply put, my experience here wasn't ideal. The staff are friendly, for the most part. What I take issue with is the physical therapists don't spend much time with you (please keep in mind this is my experience). I had an ACL reconstruction done, along with some fiddling on my MCL. I had requested a referral to an office close to my work so I didn't have to take too much time off work. The initial examination was probably the most time I've spent with my PT on a per visit basis. All other visits, after they showed me what exercises to do (which took maybe a week), I was left on my own to complete the exercises. The only time I spent with my PT was the ten minutes he spent massaging my knee, breaking up the scar tissue. That's it. Whenever I asked about a certain nagging pain, I got vague answers. Whenever I asked if I could do something, I got vague answers. After a while, my recovery plateaued, and I asked my doctor to recommend me someone else. This new PT, on the first visit, evaluated my gait, the way I stood, and my sports shoes. Long story short, she told me to get new shoes and gave me a list of recommended footwear. Every visit I had with her, she spent the FULL HOUR right beside me, monitoring how I did my exercises, whether I was strong enough for new exercises or increased resistance. I was pleasantly surprised. Due to scheduling issues, I had to switch to another PT. Again, she spends THE ENTIRE HOUR with me, and only with me. No other patients. Each time I see her, she runs me through a series of tests before either 1) increasing my resistance level or 2) adding new exercises. Most refreshing thing about the last two PTs versus my experience at Apex? Every single time I asked them whether I could do an activity, I got a very clear, very defined answer (usually NO!!!), along with an explanation why. And when I pointed out where my nagging pain was, I was given exercises and stretches to counteract that pain. Like I said, the staff at Apex are for the most part friendly, and their approach to physical therapy may work for some and not others, but based on my personal experience, I wouldn't be comfortable sending any of my friends or family here. read more

Total waste of time...not really sure if the PT person who was a bit rude really knew what he was doing. I left quite rejected in about 15 min, with a page of illustrations and $200 lighter. Not happy! read more

If you read the other reviews, the common theme of the complaints have been that the therapist does not spend the whole hour with the client. But if the therapist's assistant is just as competent in leading the therapy session, what is the difference? I was at Apex for a multi-week therapy because of a car accident. My therapist, Mike, and his assistant, Adrienne, were great. They made a great team and I felt that I was well cared for the whole time. Mike prescribed the exercises, and Adrienne showed me how they should be done and made sure I kept the correct form while I was doing the exercises. This team work, worked just as well for me. I have no complaints and my back is MUCH better. read more

Great facilities. I have gone to three other physical therapy offices and none nearly as updated as this one. Also easy to get to location right off 92 and 280. For scheduling I have always been able to get the time I want, even after work. Very helpful staff. They let you pay for a couple of visits together instead of a co-pay twice a week. Cuts down on the monthly bill clean up and that makes my husband happy. I already bring home too many credit card receipts. Hope you don't need it but if you do they do seem the best in the San Mateo area. Like I said I have tried several. read more

I can't say that I'm all that excited about physical therapy itself, but I'm definitely excited about Apex. Unfortunately, I've had occasion to visit a few different PT facilities throughout the years due to an injury suffered in a car accident and subsequent related surgeries. Thank goodness I finally found Apex. Dave, Robyn, and the crew are not only consummate professionals, they're really nice people too! I always felt as if they were happy to see me - even on my grumpy days. Dave is a true expert at what he does and has the perfect mix of compassion for the injury with the right amount of encouragement to push through the challenges. He is realistic about goals and timeframes without being negative, and I always felt fully supported by the whole staff in my recovery efforts. I've seen some other reviewers' comments about inattentiveness from assistants but never experienced anything like that. Yes, I sometimes did exercises without someone hovering right next to me, but that was because I had been previously guided through the exercise, and everyone (Dave, Robyn, assistants, and myself) knew without question that I was safe to perform it. I liked having that independence, but at the same there was no doubt in my mind that someone always had an eye on me. In fact, there were times when I was sure that Dave had eyes in the back of his head! Yes, there were times when the floor was busy, but I just adjusted my routine if equipment was in use and came back to it later. They are busy at times because they provide excellent service! Dave and the staff were also very accommodating and understanding with whatever annoying paperwork I needed for work. Bottom line: if you are shopping for a PT shop, look no further and call Apex. read more

Great therapists and staff who provide personalized attention. Wonderful for rehab or sports training. Now I look forward to walking up and down stairs! Thank you Apex team. read more

My initial reaction to Apex was positive. The location is good and the parking convenient. On my first visit I was met by a therapist who spoke to me for about 10 minutes. My doctor wasn't sure about what was the cause of the pain and so I was looking forward to getting a advice from a good PT. My experience in the past has been that often therapists are excellent at pin pointing the source of pain. Well this therepist quickly decided on the exercises I needed. I was taken to the big room where an aide explained the first exercise and left me on my own with a timer to hold. When I was finished the same thing was repeated with a different exercises. After about 35 minutes the Therepist returned and did some stretching with me for 5 minutes and then I was told to go. I repeated this the next few visits until I realized I could just do this at home! I never had more than 5 to 10 minutes with the Therepist per visit. I am now going for therapy at a place where Therepist stays with me and guides me though the routines. She has given me tons of feedback on improvements I can make and how to lessen the pain. Much better situation. read more

I went to Apex for physical therapy following my hip arthroscopy. They have knowledgeable staff, advanced equipment (including Alter-G and fitted compression cold wraps), and do a great job guiding you through the rehab process. I'm very thankful to Tony and the rest of the staff for their help in my recovery process. read more

Hurt my neck and back. The team was very professional and friendly and got me fixed up in not time. Great place.

I had a pretty terrible experience with this office, and it sounds like my concerns echo those of many other reviewers. I was referred over by an orthopedic surgeon at UCSF, and although the staff is friendly, they were certainly less than attentive. I felt like I was being passed off to "assistants" who managed to spend less time with me than the folks at the reception desk. During my first visit, I went through the standard consultation and spent the next half hour by myself while the PT stopped in every 5-10 minutes to see how I was doing. I left with a sheet of exercises, but was not impressed with the PT at all. For my second (and last) session, I was passed to a new PT who barely acknowledged me the whole time, and also tried to assign me exercises for the wrong injury. The whole place feels like a used car dealership, and I left with a bad taste in my mouth. After 2 sessions I cut my losses and chose to rehab on my own - which I was basically doing anyway. Don't waste your time or money. read more

This place is awful! A waste of time AND money in my opinion. They have only 2-3 licensed therapists and the rest of people are "baby sitters"! My physical therapist seemed knowledgeable, serious and competent. BUT instead of working with him I was assigned to his "assistant" who didn't have any experience, knowledge or education in physical therapy, was incredibly lazy who wouldn't bother to get up from her chair to even save her life. She only showed up to work to socialize and hang with the patients!! She was more interested in chatting up with me than guiding me through my exercises. You are probably wondering what her "job" was. Well, she was hired to "count" my repetition. She NEVER made a comment or correction about my form and she wouldn't even bother to tell me what my next exercise was. I had to look it up myself! And if I needed another equipment to work with she'd often threw it at me - or kicked it in my direction so that I can get it myself. Honestly, I don't blame her. Yeah, she could use some guidance to better do her job, but she is not at fault here. Instead I blame APEX for having this stupid (and very lucrative) business model to keep their cost down and still make a ton of money. Maybe things have changed since last time I did PT. But in the last place there was a licensed therapist assigned to a patient at all times. Not to mention other experts who were available to help a patient. This whole baby sitting thing might be specific to APEX but it sucks. I don't need someone to keep counts in PT at $175 an hour. I can stay home and count my own repetitions myself and pocket the $175 - or whatever my insurance doesn't cover. Do yourself a favor and check out other places. Don't waste your time at APEX. read more

Unfortunately for me, I've been to quite a few physical therapists. Fortunately for me, I finally found a great one (well, more than one). Dave, Robin and the rest of the crew couldn't have been better. They listened to my issues and came up with custom programs to match my ever-changing needs. They offered a good mix of encouragement and challenge, and really seemed to care that I didn't stop my treatment until they felt there was nothing more they could do to help me. They worked with me on my schedule from day one and made things work with my insurance. They have tasty candy by the front desk -- a single piece is a great reward for a hard workout. I'm still working my way back to 100%, but when I do "get my game back" I will return to ring the bell and claim my shirt. I think I'm getting close. read more

I spent 2 months at Apex in San Carlos and coudn't have had a better experience. I suffered a knee injury running during an early season duathlon and thought that was it for my season. Thanks to the tough workouts (strength/ flexibility) Apex put me through and advice they gave me I was only out of running for around 2 weeks. I have also improved my fitness and strength overall making running and biking faster than it was before. It was like having a personal trainer for a couple of months and I have now built into my regualr training regime the full Apex workout also. It is a friendly chilled out atmophere that I looked forward to going to. There were people of all ages and fitness levels there who all seemed to be getting as full attention as I was and hopefully also working their way towards recovery. I would definitely recommend this to others and am very surprised at the couple of poor reviews here (although they seem to be from the Foster City Apex, not the San Carlos one I went to). I hope to never see the guys at Apex again (as that would mean I am injured!) but at the same time know exactly where to go next time if I damage another one of my limbs! read more

The Office Staff is definitely a 5 Star group. Sondra is a wonderful, compassionate, friendly and personable member of the Organization. My PT was always friendly and helpful in all ways, understanding my physical as well as mental/emotional turmoil as I proceeded with my therapy. The Assistants were always watching and assisting in my recovery, never pushing me to do when I could not complete a portion of the therapy. Everyone was helpful in meeting the "no pain" and goal of normalcy in my movements. Thank you to all who worked with me throughout the therapy. read more

I send almost all my patients here because they are th best period. They make me look good as an orhtopaedic surgeon because they get my patients up and going and in the end isn't that what we all want. Dr. Hughes. read more

I have been a patient of Michael Chin's for the past year after an accident where I broke my humerus and shoulder. The care that I have received is wonderful. Both Michael and the aides are helpful and do an amazing job at helping me to understand the pain and how to regain mobility and strength. Apex is a wonderful facility, it is clean and has state of the art equipment, all of the staff are polite and knowledgeable. I recommend if you need physical therapy that you give this place a chance. read more

1) Did not get any result from their treatment 2) More so, please ask how much you are paying from your pocket. For me they said you will pay 90 + 80 + 80 for the first 3 visits. Instead I ended up paying over $400. read more

Apex is a great place to do your physical therapy. I told my doctor I needed a therapist close to my work and Apex was his first suggestion. After doing my therapy here, I can see why. Dave, Tony, Rob, and the whole crew have done a great job in helping me recover, get stronger, and get me back to normal from my ACL surgery. They not only have the knowledge, but they genuinely care about you the patient. The facility is excellent, the staff is knowledgeable and professional, and you will be treated like family. read more

These guys are great. The owner Dave explains things well and very personable. One doctor recommended surgery on my shoulder and got a second opinion to try PT. The PT worked to my surprise and never needed surgery. Amazing what lifting small weights with PT can do. read more

I broke/fractured my wrist this winter. The doctor had to put a (Volar locking) plate in my wrist to keep all of the parts together. Dave and his team were able to get most of my mobility back in a relatively short time period. (Way more than my doctor expected. When I showed him my flexibility, he could not believe it.) The place and people were great, but that was a side benefit. For me, it was all about my recovery. They cared about my recovery goals, and their program seemed right on the money. read more

I hesitated to leave a negative review for Apex even though I was very unhappy because I liked Tony (co-owner and my therapist) on a personal level. Shortly after my surgery I was depressed and in a great deal of pain and Tony answered questions and gave me some perspective and put my mind at ease in a way that my surgeon could not or would not do. However the majority of my time at Apex was with assistants/students who spent their time divided among other patients or mostly chatting amongst themselves. Little or no attention was paid to my form or whether I was properly doing the exercises. Unless Tony or another Senior person wandered by noticed and commented. I spent 5 minutes with Tony for massage and stretching only at the end. I paid out of pocket to meet my deductible $500 plus another $438 for the sessions and the insurance checks I signed over on my last day. As far as I was concerned I was all square. I decided not to come back and get another prescription to continue as I felt I was basically paying Apex thousands of dollars to work out by myself, something I could do and have done on my own at my home gym with excellent results. Six months later I receive a ambush bill in the mail for another $600 as they explained to me they did not receive more check from Blue Cross. And then I was told I have to now six months later do a forensic accounting with Blue Anthem and have checks reissued. The greed lack of courtesy communication and level of professionalism from the assistants to the billing department is shameful and I will be contacting my surgeon and writing letters to PALO Alto orthopedics and the BBB. I strongly suggest if you are looking for physical therapy you look elsewhere. In response to Tony's response and apparent inability to take responsibility or implement changes that might improve his business here are the facts: Tony is great. But 90% of your care management is in the hands of inattentive interns and PT students. You only see Tony at the end for 10 minutes or massage and stretching. I stayed for 15 sessions because that is where I was set up with my surgeon and insurance and I wasn't going to start over. I was told I would pay $500 for 4 sessions until my deductible was covered, period. Which is $125 a session. But I was in fact charged another $38 per visit so paid $900 out of my own pocket which is $60 per visit to me plus the $120 per visit my insurance paid them which is $180 for one hour of working out basically on your own. 6 months after my last visit I am sent a bill for $600 because they/we never received checks from Antnem. What took so long? I don't file claims they do so obviously they did something wrong because no checks ever came. But did they call me and ask me what happened or work with me in any courteous or professional way. No they assumed I kept their money. Withheld it from them something Tony himself accused me of in a private yelp message I have screen captured and saved. As I said Tony is a great guy but he needs to change his business model. His statement about a social atmosphere is laughable. I'm coming for professional medical treatment not to socialize read more

I just finished my third full course of therapy at APEX, and have nothing but good things to say about the staff, the facility, and the entire P/T experience. Odd that I keep ending up there, but it's been over the span of several years, and it's always for something different. This time, it was for rehab of a partial knee replacement. I was thrilled when my surgeon wrote the Rx for APEX, since it meant a return to a familiar facility. It had been almost two years since my prior treatment, but when I walked in the door it was as if I'd never left! Most of the therapists and assistants were the same, and I was able to book appointments with my regular P/T. Something that totally impressed me? At my first appointment back my assistant noticed right off that I'd cut my hair -- plus she remembered trivial stuff we'd talked about during my previous therapy. Talk about a personalized experience! The staff at APEX is friendly, helpful, and attentive. When I felt like I wanted to push myself, my therapist was right there with suggestions on what to add and how to increase my efforts in any given exercise. When I felt like I'd overdone something, he was quick with changes to my routine to accommodated my needs. I've read a few of the other reviews -- specifically the one that referred to the assistants as "babysitters." I didn't feel as though that was the case at all. The assistants I worked with (and I got to know them all) were always watching what I did and making adjustments and suggestions when needed. They've all been there for years and are extremely knowledgeable. In short, I felt like part of a family of care at APEX. I've gone to one-on-one therapists in the past, and I can say the experience is very different. It could be a bit of a personality thing, but I really enjoy the larger, group environment at a place like APEX. For me, it there was a definite social component that made therapy fun! I looked forward to my appointments and was always happy to be there - even when it was sweat and hard work. I couldn't be more positive about my experience at APEX Physical Therapy. read more

I hurt my knee. Husband had shoulder surgery. Tony is excellent.

It is weird to read some of the negative reviews about this place when all I have to say are positive things. After 3 months of shitty physical therapy at another place, my doctor recommended APEX. From my first visit, Tony was able to assess my situation beyond what my MRI showed (labral tear). Instead of just giving me generic band exercises, he learned how I use my body and tailored a workout regiment just for me. I went twice a week for 6 weeks, and I noticed a great improvement between each visit. The work out did more than repair me, it pushed me back to full strength. I see people complaining about not having a full hour just with their PT and I do not see an issue with that. They have an office full of capable therapists that work together. When I did the exercises on my own, my main PT would critique my form along with the other knowledgeable people there. At the last place I went to, I had my PT with me the whole hour and I did not see results. Just because they are standing next to you, does not make you get better. It's the knowledge and understanding of the body and how different people work that does it. Typically, it was only the last 15 minutes that I would spend with Tony when he massaged my shoulder, and I am okay with that. In that time we would discuss how my shoulder was doing outside the clinic, what I was able to do again, and what was still bothering me. He had a great way of pinpointing what I needed to focus on to get better. In conclusion, I give this place a 5 out of 5. Tony was my PT and did an amazing job in understanding my body, my pain, and how to best rehabilitate me. The rest of the staff was polite, knowledgeable and created a comforting atmosphere that made me feel that I was getting my money's worth. read more

I fractured my shoulder three months ago, and since this was the first time I'd ever broken a bone, I was pretty worried about it. How long would it take to heal? Would it ever be "normal" again? My questions were endless, but Tony (my physical therapist and the co-owner of Apex) was always there to respond. He actually encouraged the questions, and because he's very knowledgeable and supportive, I never felt as if my questions were a burden to him. I graduated from the program today, and my shoulder is in excellent shape. I owe most of that to Tony and to Janie and Taylor and Lee and everyone else who helped me through the exercises because without them, I honestly don't think I would be where I am today. Starting at the front desk with Sandra and Sandy and moving back onto the exercise floor, Apex is a very well-oiled machine. Everyone is extraordinarily attentive and responsive; and Apex kind of reminds me of "Cheers" -- minus, of course, the alcohol : ) -- where "everybody knows your name." On the one hand, I hope I'm never in another position to need physical therapy, but on the other, I wouldn't mind being a patient again at Apex, where Tony, Dave, and all of the staff truly are the best! read more

I highly recommend Apex. I've been working on a shoulder rehab for six months with them. It may not sound like a good thing, but my shoulder is particularly slow to improve (I went thru this with my other shoulder too) and Tony and Janie have been super-patient and persistent in helping me. I have plenty of experience at Apex and always enjoy coming here for help. The entire staff is knowledgable and they correct my form. They encourage me to help myself, as in do my exercises at home wiith proper equipment, and cheer me on as I make progress. They give me extra care on my bad days and high fives on my good days. Tony is attentive even if he's not working directly with me. I've observed him and the other PTs notice what each patient is doing and step in if anyone needs extra instruction, a change in exercise, special coaching or posiitive reinforcement. I like that the patients here are all ages and everyone is friendly. We all enjoy seeing one another's progress. The atmosphere is positive and uplifting. I definitely think Tony has made a big difference in my rehab. He pushes me beyond what i think I can do, and it's paid off. I trust his judgment after having him for a PT several times. I also believe much of my progress is my responsibility, and I appreciate being given the tools and training to make that happen. I will be happy to leave Apex, because that means I'm healed, but I'll miss the people here. Ring that bell! read more

Apex is a great place for physical therapy. I had ACL replacement surgery. They got me back to speed in 15 weeks. My surgeon checked my knee and said I was doing phenomenally. Dave and Robin are great. They are encouraging and push you at the right pace - not too fast and not too slow, just right. read more

Can't speak more highly of Apex PT. They were beyond accommodating from Day 1 and I felt extremely well taken care of. Most importantly, my knee feels better than ever. Their facility is top notch, and they had the best equipment, plus an Alter-G treadmill that got me back running safely. Thanks SO much, Apex! read more

Dave Matoso and crew are the best in the business. Whether you are a seasoned athlete that wants to get back on the pitch asap or a weekend warrior itching to be reunited with your fellow weekend warriors or you just want to recover from whatever it is that is hampering you so you can get on with your normal routine, APEX is a great place to start the recovery process. I have seen them for multiple injuries including an ACL tear, miniscal tear, MCL tear and plantar fasciitis. They have tremendous knowledge and experience and know how and when to push you. Best of all, they make it fun. Thanks, Sunita P.S. I have never had to see them for the same injury!! read more

Background: I completed six sessions of PT at Apex in November-December 2012 for low back pain, the cause of which was later revealed by MRI to be a herniated disc at L3-L4. I am an extremely active person and work as a personal trainer at a local gym. Experience: My first session with the PT was great but my overall experience at Apex rapidly deteriorated soon thereafter. The PT spent the entirety of the first session with me, doing manual therapy on my back, performing some light massage and taking me through some corrective exercises. I was really encouraged and looked forward to future sessions. However, after that first session, I spent the majority of my time at Apex alone doing exercises that I could have been doing at home. The prescribed exercises seemed random and arbitrary, and the staff only gave me vague reasons for their benefits. I did the same exercises each session, and no one really cared if I was progressing or not. The place seemed more like a PT factory and less like a patient-centered office. Assistants (non-PTs) occasionally would come by and offer glib "good jobs." I couldn't help feeling like it was a complete waste of my $100 co-pay. In fact, by my last session, the Apex staff paired an inexperienced intern with me so that I could "show" him the correct way to do the exercises they assigned me. So I was paying $100 to train their staff?!?! I felt unbelievably ripped off. The PT only spent 5 minutes with me at the end of every appointment. He acted rushed, aloof, and seemed bothered by questions about my back. Also, I would often have to wait up to 20 minutes after I had completed my prescribed exercises to see the PT because there were so many patients in the office. I've read other reviews that noted Apex is great for knee and shoulder injuries, but in my experience, their knowledge and expertise in treating the back is woefully inadequate. Since my time at Apex, I've found much better advice on back injuries and rehab via the internet and through a doctor specializing in the back. There are some great books and resources out there for back injuries that are much more effective than paying over $100 to do some TRX rows at Apex. read more