This is long, so SUMMARY: I do NOT recommend PT Karlenis, and trying to work with the office manager to correct this has been impossible. The front desk worker, Frida is nice. I cannot speak about the other PTs, though I have heard good things about Jason in West Rox from fellow athletes.
Writing Yelp reviews about poor experiences is typically not my thing, but I think this is important to share. About me: I am an athlete, I was going in for an old shoulder injury that had flared up and wasn't painful at the time but I knew muscles around my injured muscle were overcompensating. My doctor suggested I go to PT and have my shoulder evaluated.
First of all, pros:
- Front desk person is very nice and helpful
- Got me in for an initial appointment quickly; even called back when someone had an opening to get me in at a time that was more convenient to my schedule.
Cons of experience with PT Karlenis:
I had an initial appointment with Karlenis. The appointment started a full 45 minutes late, which was frustrating but I chalked it up to my late afternoon appointment. I was finally brought into the room, and after the first 5 minutes I thought hard about just walking out, and I wish I had. I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt, so maybe it was an off day or a poor fit, but these are just some of the things that added up to my very poor experience:
- PT asked me if I had anything close-fitting under my loose fitting top. I said no, so she said she wouldn't evaluate me today but we'd still move forward (how does that work??) I suggested I didn't mind doing it in my bra if she was comfrotable, at which point she said, "Oh, let me get you a tee shirt" and came back with one specifically for evals. So, if I hadn't spoken up, my $50 copay would have gone toward nothing.
- When I described my injury and said I hadn't worked out that day, PT didn't believe me. I went home and looked up my records and in fact hadn't worked out 2wks prior to injury because I was on vacation.
- When I mentioned I did crossfit, and that my lifts were feeling off which is why I was there, she asked about how much I was lifting. When I told her my strict press weight she said "that's too much" without evaluating me at all prior. As she was evaluating me she said, "oh, you're strong." No duh. When I asked if she was familiar with crossfit, she said "It's what keeps me in business" with a very judgemental voice.
- BIG ISSUE #1: when I told PT my sub scapularis (under shoulder blade) was where I sustained initial injury, she told me my sub scap was the muscle on top of my shoulder (wrong) and that my latissimus dorsi was the muscle under my shoulder blade (very wrong)
- When I asked what sort of limitations I should make on my working out (which my doc suggested I do) she just told me to follow my pain. I'd been having NO pain, things just felt wrong, and I wanted to avoid injury.
- BIG ISSUE #2: she was unable to demonstrate exercises (aka would demonstrate something totally different from what was on the printout of exercises she gave me.) When I asked for clarification, she said she was sensing an attitude from me. I 100% own that yes, I did have an attitude, because I was getting attitude from the get-go and was shocked and upset by her complete incompetence.
- I could go on, but I think that's plenty. My main issue walking out was that I did not have confidence that I was properly evaluated (since she couldn't identify names of muscles and couldn't demo exercises or correctly confirm my understanding)
Cons of experience with office:
- I spoke with my coach and a couple people I work out with who suggested I call and complain, and see if I could get an eval comped with another therapist who was not incompetent. I'm not super confrontational about these things so I figured I'd see if I got better on my own following the exercises.
- NOPE. I injured my latissimus dorsi (the real one, not the one the PT said was my Lat) so I worried my exercises were wrong for me.
- I called to share a few of my complaints and ask if it was possible to have an eval with another PT (my friend recommended Jason very highly). The front desk worker said she'd have to talk to her manager, and would have her call me.
- I called back a week later as I had not heard from you. The front desk person told me her manage was "drafting a letter" to me. (I have a history of customer service management--how can you write a letter to someone, and what are you writing about, if you have only heard from the PT and not from the patient?) I asked for a call and she said she'd have her call me tomorrow. Meanwhile, I still need a competent PT.
- One more week has gone by. I called today and the manager was again not in the office. The front desk person reported she was sending me a letter and then would call me. I can't believe how ridiculous this is.
I will update if/when I hear more. read more