Jim Shepherd has been my treating physical therapist since 2011. I give him five stars, two thumbs up, the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, and a standing ovation. How's that for a recommendation? I first met Jim when I was 49 and experiencing some shoulder pain. I had been referred to him by my orthopedic surgeon. I didn't want to go to physical therapy (PT). I had no faith in the process and didn't believe for one second that it was going to help me based upon my past experiences with physical therapy. As insurance required that I attend PT prior to surgical intervention, off I went for my first visit with Jim. During my initial evaluation, Jim conducted an extensive and thorough examination. He spent an incredible amount of time listening to me. He appeared to genuinely care about what I told him. Upon completion of my evaluation, he asked me if I had been treated for any neck problems in the past. Without alarming me, he suggested I see a orthopedist about my neck. I ignored his recommendation - because I "knew" there wasn't anything wrong with my neck. After all, everyone has a stiff neck, right? He was able to provide me with common sense answers to my questions, and validated my concerns while being kind, supportive and knowledgeable. This wasn't what I had been expecting at all - a PT who provided excellent care! I decided to schedule another appointment with him, and have remained his patient ever since. Fast forward four years and five surgeries. Jim has treated me both before and after a rotator cuff repair, adhesive capsulitis, following ACDF surgery related to cervical spondylosis and myelopathy (refer to my comment above about not having a neck problem), another bout of adhesive capsulitis in the other shoulder, lower back degenerative joint disease (DJD), hypermobility joint syndrome, SI joint DJD, knee osteoarthritis.......... As an aside, I had been athletic and in great shape prior to the early onset of all of these degenerative conditions. To say that the last few years have been a challenge to me both physically and emotionally would be an understatement. The treatment and support I received from Jim helped me and my husband immensely throughout this ordeal. Even through the times and tears of frustration, discouragement and pain, laughter and comfort always seemed to find their way into our PT sessions. He was an invaluable part of my treatment team, and with his help and guidance, I made it through the very difficult rehabilitation and recovery process. Am I 100%? No. Am I pain free? No. Can I walk unassisted, use both arms, legs and hands? Yes. Did my quality of life improve? Yes. Was I able to return to work after 20 months off? Yes, I did. My medical conditions will require on-going care and treatment. Jim will continue to be my "Go To PT". I cannot say enough about how truly fantastic Jim is as a physical therapist, medical professional and as a person. His advanced training, certifications, diagnostic assessment skills and experience make him an excellent choice for both athletes and the 50+ crowd alike. He is truly special. read more

I started seeing Elisa in September of 2014 for lingering pain from an auto accident in 2012. I live in Mill Creek and had been to a local PT provider in 2012 after the accident. I spent 3 months in PT at the Donaldson Clinic in 2012 and was really disappointed with the results. My visits at the Donaldson Clinic were always the same, just going through a list of set exercises and then doing some massage. I quit going because I wasn't seeing results and I really felt like I'd hit a plateau I couldn't get past. When I started seeing Elisa I was skeptical because I'd not seen results in the past. Elisa's approach was completely different. I've been seeing her now for about 3 months and for starters, every visit is unique. We do some review of the exercises she assigns me, but much of our time is spent trying new exercises and techniques to get better results. She makes things progressively more challenging to continue to help me build strength where I need it. She really challenges me to push myself (within reason of course) to get my body to react to the treatment. She's identified some issues with things like how I walk and stand that none of my other PT providers ever mentioned. She's very hands on and I can tell she's really, genuinely concerned about my well being and seeing me get better. She's very empathetic and understanding of my limitations and pain and works with that. Not to mention she's just a very nice and kind person. I do feel like I'm making progress. I started seeing a sport and spine specialist around the same time, and that combined with an effective PT approach has helped. I still have good days and bad days, but I feel like I'm moving in the right direction. I would highly recommend Union PT to anyone that needs the help. If you've ever tried PT and weren't happy with the results, I would definitely suggest giving Union a try. Their treatment isn't cookie cutter and they're definitely interested in you and your treatment as an individual. The atmosphere is quiet and intimate too; they're very focused on one on one treatment. So while it's a bit of a drive for me, I'm definitely glad I started going. read more

My first visit with Mitch was more than three years ago. From the very first visit, I was very impressed with his knowledge of the body and how it works. He took the time to explain and demonstrate to me why I was having the pain in my neck area and what was causing it. At that time, the pain was so severe that I could not sleep through the night. I would find myself getting out of bed and sitting up in a chair to get through the night. My doctor and I had begun discussions that included cortisone shots and surgery as potential next steps. He recommended a visit to Mitch as a last effort before taking either of those steps. I am sooooo happy that I made that visit. After his assessment and evaluation process, he had a very comforting comment for me. " Let's not talk about shots and surgery but instead let's talk space." He would proceed to explain to me how his treatments would be focused on creating space in order to relieved the tension that was causing the pain. After the first treatment, I was able to sleep through the night without waking up and with no pain. At that time, Mitch was practicing his PT out of another organization. During my visits with him, he would often talk about having his own practice someday. It was always a goal of his. On one visit I recall him saying that he was going to take a year to travel and learn more about Pt and return to Seattle to began his practice. While he was away I had an opportunity to visit another PT but the experience was not comparable. Mitch had spoiled me with his treatments and all the good conversations we had. Well he is back and I am very happy about that. I am in need of some more space so that I can sleep through the night and get back to riding my bike without neck pain. I am also very proud of Mitch for his continued pursuit of knowledge and excellence in order to Change his Dream to a Reality. He now has his own practice. And a very good one. I highly recommend Mitch and the staff at Union Physical Therapy. They are highly trained and all around Great People. read more

I broke my ankle last summer (August 13) and due to some bad luck with surgeons on my end walked around on it broken and swollen for 5 months - this instilled some serious muscle stiffness and patterns into my gate and muscles of my foot and leg and hip. I had surgery in December of 13 and after 8 weeks was able to start physical therapy. My formerly broken ankle was still very stiff, and I had very little movement in it whatsoever, affecting my ability to walk for any length of time, do yoga, and go up and down stairs without difficulty. As an avid travelor A friend referred me to Union Physical Therapy and Mitch. Within just two weeks of work with Mitch (both his and my attention to doing my "homework") flexibility began to return to my stiff ankle allowing me to go on vacation and walk along side my friends up and down the length of the Las Vegas strip (in practical shoes) and in three weeks walk on the beach in Florida (see my blog for details on my adventures paprikaange.typepad.com). Something that I would not have been able to do without the assistance of Mitch loosening up some seriously stiff and muscles and encouraging me to take small but persistent steps with the correct form to stretch and strengthen the areas of leg and foot that were affected by the brake. I am now six weeks out and stairs feel almost normal again, and I am close to restarting an unhindered yoga practice. I've walked to work five days in a row and am able to reclaim the mobility that I was afraid I may never regain after six months of not having any and feeling stuck. I thought the process would take months, not weeks, my surgeon and other care providers have all remarked at the speed and positive direction of my progress. Mitch's approach and encouragement have allowed me to take the patient, persistent steps in the right direction to get back on my feet. I highly recommend him and union physical therapy practice to anyone seeking to engage in recovery from an injury. read more

I have been seeing Sarah H at Union PT for a labral tear in my hip. I was really disappointed to find out that I had a labral tear and very much did not want to have surgery. My sports medicine physician told me that Sarah was "the person" to see for labral tear PT and my best chance at avoiding surgery- I have definitely not been disappointed! Sarah is awesome-she always listens to me and takes my symptoms seriously. She explains what she is doing and why she is doing it. Sarah always gives me handouts or notes on my exercises, which is super helpful, and she also demonstrates the exercises so I can make sure I am doing them correctly. Every week we talk about how my exercises are going-Sarah is always willing to and adept at revising my exercises if certain things are not working. She also will watch me do some to make sure that I am doing them correctly. I have been very impressed with her ability to approach my injuries and treatment plan in a variety of ways. Sarah is also a wonderful person-she really cares about me as a person, not just a hip injury, and has a holistic approach to my care. For instance, she understood from the start that it was really important to me to be able to exercise in some capacity (I had been running prior to the labral tear) and worked with me on my first visit to figure out an aerobic exercise regimen that would work for me and not aggravate my hip (and was very respectful of my resistance to swimming!). I have definitely had improvement in my pain-I have done everything Sarah has instructed me to do, and really could not be happier with the outcome. I still have a little pain from time to time, but things are much better and I believe this is the best possible outcome I could have with a labral tear. I would recommend Sarah to anyone and I would definitely never see anyone else but Sarah if I have another injury in the future. I would give Sarah 6 stars if I could! read more

Physical therapy doesn't get any better. I am in the construction business remodeling homes. Throughout the years, my body has been beaten up in various ways and I have, occasionally, found it necessary to seek out the help of physical therapists for various back strains and random muscular injuries. Of all the physical therapy clinics I have been to, I have been most impressed by Union Physical Therapy. I was referred to Mitch at Union PT by another therapist. I was having problems with my neck and weakness in my right arm and hand after a car accident. I was told that Mitch has expertise in the thoracic area of the back. Mitch was excellent at explaining the mechanics of what was going on in my neck and upper spine, and explaining how the various exercises he was recommending would help and they did. The clinic has a good working relationship with the Seattle Spine Clinic and Mitch worked closely with Dr Singh to get the best outcome possible for my neck and arm. Although my neck still has some minor problems (the kind that would require a surgical procedure to repair not Union PT's fault) the care I got at Union PT was excellent and my neck is markedly better than it was before. I have since been back for a lower back problem which was promptly fixed and I am back in action again at 100%. The clinic is clean , feels comfortable and has a nice relaxed atmosphere they are very friendly, and the online appointment system works well. If you need to get in sooner you can call and they will put you on a waiting list. The amazing thing is that they will actually call if they have earlier availability. I have recommended this clinic to friends, who have been, used other therapists in the clinic, and they have had the same excellent experience. I give Union PT my highest recommendation. read more

Union Physical Therapy is by far the best place to get your rehab on! Just like the user below me (Max B), I first began seeing Mitch at Union PT to help rehabilitate my left knee. Initially when i saw Mitch I was having a lot of pain, & wearing an awful, robotic-looking knee brace that covered my entire left leg from thigh to ankle...which I hated wearing, of course. Within the first few sessions with Mitch, I was able to walk without the support of the brace. Right away I knew that his various healing techniques were working. My body was getting stronger and stronger... during, and between every visit. Mitch is VERY knowledgeable, and will introduce you to healing methods that perhaps you've never seen or heard of before. HE KNOWS HOW THE BODY REALLY WORKS! Let's not forget to mention how amazing the location of Union PT is! Less than 1 mile off the 1-5...you'll find the Good Shepherd Center inside the historical Meridian School in Wallingford. The building is so charming, and I especially enjoy spending time wandering around the building before & after sessions. Also, the Union PT space is by far the best space my eyes have seen in the building. It's a huge, open, bright space with private session rooms. This creates a calm atmosphere with positive, welcoming energy. Essentially, there is nowhere better to be treated in the Seattle area. I HIGHLY recommend Union Physical Therapy to anyone i know personally, and now I recommend the yelp world to see for yourselves! I am a very happy & satisfied patient. Thank you Mitch & Union PT. Keep up the amazing work! :) read more

Therapist Sarah Haran treated me for a labral tear in my hip last year when I decided to try PT as an alternative to the major surgery my doctor recommended. This was one of the best decision's I've ever made regarding my health and well-being. I walked in to her office in pain that woke me up at night and prevented me from doing the active hobbies that keep me sane. Then I spent 13 weeks working with Sarah on re-patterning my lower body movements and refining my jogging stride, plus deep tissue work at the injury site. Six months later I'm back to full-tilt on running, yoga, dancing, snowboarding, and martial arts. My leg musculature is more balanced and I have new awareness of how to stay inside a healthy range of motion in my hip socket. I haven't had hip pain since we finished treatment. Beyond her life-changing results, Sarah is a super smart, supportive therapist with a great bedside manner. She treated me as an intellectual peer and a partner in my rehab. She was patient with my "why" questions and always made sure I had clear instructions to take home after each appointment. I highly recommend Sarah Haran to anyone dealing with a stubborn or mysterious injury, and anyone who wants to learn to walk, run, or compete in sports with better bio mechanics. read more

Exceptional care at Union Physical Therapy! As a climber dealing with a finger injury, I was specifically referred here due to their extensive knowledge of climbing-related injuries, and they absolutely lived up to their reputation. From the very first session, I knew I was in good hands. The physical therapist conducted a thorough examination, including an ultrasound to confirm my doctor's initial diagnosis. What truly set them apart was their ability to listen - they paid careful attention as I explained how the injury occurred and took the time to provide detailed explanations about the internal mechanics of my injury, its causes, and prevention strategies for the future. What I appreciated most was how they made me feel like a true partner in my recovery journey. They answered all my questions thoroughly, treated me with respect, and ensured I understood every aspect of my treatment plan. Their professional expertise combined with their patient-centered approach made the entire experience exceptional. I wouldn't hesitate to return to Union Physical Therapy for any future injuries. Their comprehensive understanding of sports-specific injuries and commitment to patient care makes them stand out in their field. read more

My entire experience with Union Physical Therapy has been excellent. I went to Union PT because I felt a pain in my knee whenever I went running. This pain started to occur during my training for a backpacking trip that required quite a bit of weight on my back and substantial elevation gain. I am a runner and I used to run 3-5 times a week, so the knee pain was an issue for me and threw me off my routine. During my first session, Dustin Steffan (DPT ) asked me detailed questions about the pain, my workout regimen and performed an initial assessment of the muscle groups that might cause the knee pain. He quickly figured out that my pain was coming from a weak hip flexer muscle and gave me a few easy exercises to do every other day. I complied diligently to my workout plan and was back to running without any pain after a few weeks of improving the hip muscle strength. He kept monitoring my progress for a few weeks and then graduated me from coming in. However, he kept checking in to make sure I was still pain-free by email. Dustin has been amazing to work with. He is very professional, clearly extremely knowledgable, and was simply a pleasure to interact with. I can highly recommend working with Dustin and UPT. read more

I'm an avid long-distance runner and last year I ruptured my L-4 /L-5 disc. Once I was well enough to see a PT, I made an appointment to see someone recommended to me, not at Union PT. There was a long wait to see this person so I made an appointment with Elisa, also recommended to me. I liked her demeanor and competence right off the bat. I'm a medical professional so I'm very picky to make sure whoever I see makes me feel comfortable and knows what they're doing. When it was time for my appointment with the other PT, I decided to see him. He spent 45 minutes teaching me how to sit up from a lying down position. I left his office feeling defeated and depressed and cried the whole way home. I went back to see Elisa. I kept pushing the limits of what I could do and she helped me to really make a change in my life in order to heal my injury; not easy for an addicted runner. I saw her one to two times a week for 4 months. I can't say enough good things about her. Thanks to her expertise and my hard work, I'm running again. I plan on checking in with her periodically to make sure I'm not making my injury worse. I absolutely trusted her assessment at every visit and I still do. read more

I made my way to Mitch after a car accident. I had consistent headaches, as well as jaw, neck and shoulder pain for about 4 months before I started seeing him. He did a fantastic job from the beginning to the end of my recovery in listening to where I was at and observing my body & motion carefully. He provided an excellent program that extended from in-person assessment & adjustments to at-home exercises that solidified the recovery. Not only would he lead me through the at-home exercises, but he would check in following appointments that I was doing them properly and has a set of youtube videos giving careful guidance. My process of healing was a bit complicated in that the pain in my neck was related to my posture and positioning of my upper torso & shoulders, but Mitch worked with all the individual sections of tightness and pain in a comprehensive way. My headaches went away, my neck pain decreased slowly and surely, and I came out of the process with much better posture than when I started. Mitch is very knowledgable in the PT literature & research and is great at answering a range of questions, as well. I would highly recommend him to anyone. read more

Mitch Owens is fabulous!! I have been in multiple car accidents over my life time (none my fault!! im well beyond the statistical average and therefore apparently saving other people the trouble) and so my muscular skeletal system is, to put it mildly, a bit wacked. Unlike many of the other PT's I have been to, Mitch looks at my entire frame, how I move, what parts move, and what parts do not that should. Just because I have pain on one place does not mean that is the only place he is going to assess and address. Mitch treats my body like one interconnected system, which it is, and he is the most effective practitioner I've seen so far. He gives great homework and explains what it is each exercise is doing in a way i can easily understand. This allows me, as I titrate out of therapy, to continue supporting myself and my functioning as issues come up. I also appreciate that he supports my over all health issues, asks how certain things are going, and remembered me after years away!! I highly recommend him to anyone that has never had quality, effective PT. He'll change your mind if you think PT is useless. I'm a believer, thanks to Mitch. read more

Union Physical Therapy in Seattle is truly special. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the positive vibe--everyone on staff seems genuinely happy to be there, creating an energy that's both welcoming and uplifting. After years of bouncing between clinics, this is the first place where I felt comfortable, cared for, and supported every step of the way. Kristen Argiros (DPT, COMT) is a rare find. She's not just knowledgeable and skilled in advanced manual therapy--she's also incredibly attentive, down-to-earth, and invested in her patients' success. Kristen takes the time to explain what's going on with your body, tailors every exercise to your needs, and keeps you motivated with her encouragement and kindness. Thanks to her guidance, I was able to reach my goal of summitting Mount Rainier. The whole team is warm, upbeat, and clearly works well together. The front desk staff are quick, responsive, and always greet you with a smile. If you're looking for a place where the care is top-notch and the atmosphere is uplifting, Union PT is the one. Thank you, Kristen and Mitch, for helping me not just recover, but thrive. read more

I was thankfully referred to Sarah Haran at Union PT by my Sports Medicine Doctor for hip pain. The diagnosis was soft tissue tears in the hip joint. It took me a while to act on the pain that I was experiencing in daily movement and exercise. I am so glad to have found Union PT, and especially Sarah. She was super supportive and inspiring. She also had hip issues that led her to the work that she does. I never wanted to take the surgical route when many of my issues could be addressed by changing the way I move. I went in looking to fix pain and became inspired to look at my mobility from the ground up, and to become a better athlete. Soon after my therapy started, I tore a gluteous medius muscle. I was so unhappy to have such a setback. Sarah helped me rehabilitate the muscle and get back on track with so much compassion and enthusiasm. Sarah helped me to see how my core and gluteus muscles were weak and how that was connected to my hip pain. I followed her recommendations to the letter and got so much better. I looked forward to our session and she is honestly one of my favourite people. read more

I first saw Mitch in 2007, when he worked at another practice, for a shoulder injury. He struck me as very thorough, detail oriented and holistic in his approach. He assessed and treated me head-to-toe, rather than keeping a narrow focus on my shoulder. Together, we worked to treat the poor body mechanics that were driving my shoulder issue. It was the first time I ever felt PT was actually effective, so when I injured my neck and back in 2012 I sought him out. He and Elisa were in the budding stages of opening Union PT! I've been coming back on-and-off since then. Most recently, I've been treating my ankle and I've learned that tape is magic. Mitch's client list has grown, so I also saw Elisa for my neck injury in 2012-2013. It was a lovely surprise to learn that Elisa was just as thorough and effective as Mitch. It's reassuring to know that I'll always be in highly capable hands, no matter which practitioner I see at Union PT. I highly recommend this office for people with chronic injury and for very active people want to be supported in maintaining an active lifestyle! read more

Andrew Eisen is a life saver. Almost a year ago I tore my ACL and had to have a total repair to my ACL as well as some work done to my menicus. I worked with Andrew before and after my surgery. His no nonsense rehab was perfect for me and I always felt like it was built for me with my strengths and weaknesses in mind. He always made time to listen to me and my fears, pushed me when I needed to stop being lazy, encouraged me when I was feeling low, he was patience and gave me a large number exercises to work with. His knowledge base is extensive but he is great about putting it into words and examples I can understand. I really felt like he cared about me and my recovery, I was not just another patient coming through the door or another ACL. I hope to never need his acute services again but would use him again in a heartbeat. I am excited about the one on one care he and other PTs are about to give at Union Pysical Therapy. I would highly recommend Andrew, and becuase he stands by them, the res of Union Physcial Therapy practitioners & staff. read more

I started seeing Elisa in 2013 on the recommendation of my trainer for a repetitive strain injury to my forearm associated with computer use. I appreciated the way she approached determining exactly what was causing the problem and that she was an excellent listener and that she sought ways to mitigate further injury. I always get the impression that Elisa is committed to my improvement and recovery. Recently, I again started seeing Elisa for some pain and stiffness associated with an imperfectly healed ankle sprain. She has worked with me to improve my strength and mobility and also addressed some related issues that had arisen because of the sprain. The office has a nice atmosphere and is very clean and calm. Having observed the other therapists there working with their clients, it seems that they are all conscientious and committed to their clients' improvement. I appreciate the individualized treatment I've received at Union PT and would recommend them to anyone in need of physical therapy. read more

After diving into reviews for physical therapy offices, I landed on Union Physical Therapy. One because of the location, two because they accepted my insurance and three because of the great reviews! I have been more than happy with Sarah Wyant, the physical therapist I was paired with based on availability. She was able to diagnose my problem and has worked with me to increase strength so that I can begin to run pain free again. She is very detailed in her explanations during my appointments to my sessions and always follows through at the end of my appointments with an email. Sarah has a fantastic personality and is very personable so I find it very easy to relate to her. She understands me and has provided me with new exercises each week so that I can continue to improve strength, balance and flexibility. The website is super easy to use and you can schedule your own appointments which I find to be fantastic! I would highly recommend Union Physical Therapy! read more