I'd like to start by saying, I do my best to always give people the benefit of the doubt. People…read moreare busy, people have a million things going on that I will never know about- and for those reasons alone, I try not to judge too harshly. This is my first negative yelp review, and I honestly hate that I feel a need to write it.
I've also had quite a bit experience with PT in my past. I've played soccer since I could walk and ended my career after several injuries while playing D1 soccer in college. I've had 3 knee surgeries, a broken foot, a broken nose, and there are probably other injuries I am forgetting. I have been around the PT block a time or two, and have had many teammates who have as well. I'm writing this review for those who haven't, who are new to PT and don't have anything to compare it to. When considering Shulman and Associates, I think there is better out there.
Today, I arrived at 1:15 for my 1:30 appointment pertaining to TMJ symptoms that have lingered from an old soccer injury. I filled out my paperwork by 1:25, and then was told by the (extremely kind and nice) receptionist that David had just gone into a meeting. I thought this was odd because my appointment was supposed to just be starting, but thought it maybe was a scheduling mix-up. As someone who usually runs 15 minutes late to everything in her life, I understand crazy schedules. I waited for about 20 minutes until David came out and introduced himself. I walked back to the treatment room and sat down, but then waited another 5 minutes because he went somewhere. He came back and asked me several questions about my symptoms, showed me that I have a thrusting tongue, and then disappeared for another 5 minutes while I heard him talking to co-workers about updating computers or buying new software. Then came back to give me a sheet of paper depicting how TMJ symptoms manifest depending on where points of tension are, but then he disappeared again for a few minutes. He eventually came back to massage my jaw muscles and warm them up, and then moved on the setting up ultrasound in which we begin to talk about injuries and sports. He proceeds to tell me that Title IX is the worst thing to ever happen to women, that our bodies are not made for sports and cutting and moving, and that we should "stick to running". He then leaves for another 10 minutes while I sit with an ultrasound pad on my face with almost zero current coming through. Now, if that's your medical opinion about Title IX, fine. I know women are more prone to knee injuries especially due to our wider set hips. I know a lot of women athletes who have endured countless injuries, me being one of them. However, 1) I am not paying you for an unwarranted lecture 2) as a PT is a healthcare professional, I would've hoped for a more professional discourse that also doesn't make me feel extremely uncomfortable 3) you're telling a new patient, who is a woman and has played sports her entire life and is coming to you for a sports-related injury, that women shouldn't play sports? Maybe I have been extremely lucky to have had PTs in the past who work to strengthen women's bodies in order to prevent injuries. But I don't think it's been luck, I think that is the norm (or should be).
Insulting comments aside- Shulman did not offer any insight into how he would help my TMJ symptoms, nor gave me time to ask any questions because he spent very little time with me throughout the appoinment. He did say that my jaw/tongue muscles are tense and I should heat them with a heating pad, and also get a night guard- I don't mean to be rude, but google told me that too.
I must say that the two women who worked at the receptionists' desk were absolutely amazing, they were kind, funny, and accommodating to me only having pictures of insurance cards. I don't want to take away what Shulman and Associates has done for other patients, I am truly happy some people have found relief from their help. However, I hope my experience helps others who are considering spending their time/money on Shulman and Associate to evaluate all of their options.