Athletico Physical Therapy – West Loop – Morgan

Thanks for wasting my time, Athletico. It’s not like I couldn’t have been doing something other than driving to what would turn out to be a useless appointment at 8:00 am on a snowy Saturday.
After spending 30 minutes on the phone making appointments and providing insurance, diagnosis, prescription, and physician contact information — «Oh, we work with him all the time» — I was initially pleased with their service. However, when I arrived this morning for my first appointment, I discovered that, a) they neglected to tell me to bring my prescription, b) they did not request my prescription and medical records from my physician as I was told they would, and c) therefore, I would not be treated today, only evaluated. Let’s hear it for the flawless efficiency of for-​profit medicine, yes?
So much for the 30 minutes I spent on the phone, and another hour of driving to get to and from my useless appointment — I’ll never see that time again. Naturally, I promptly cancelled all of my appointments. If you’re considering using this company, I would advise against it.

I really cannot emphasize how great the staff at this Athletico is, these guys deserve a five star rating — and then some — in my book. I had surgery on my lower back about a month and a half ago, and ended up needing physical therapy. The main physical therapist that worked with me was Elizabeth Pinney, and she is truly amazing at what she does. She was very friendly, genuine and most importantly, knowledgeable. I also should mention that the support staff was also excellent. During my physical therapy we focused on getting rid of scar tissue build-​up, increasing range of motion and strengthening. I have made vast improvements since my first visit in terms of range of motion and strength. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, recommend Pinney as well as the rest of the staff that works at this Athletico location.

I came to this location for therapy following hip surgery, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I always felt better after my sessions and now I’m nearly back to full activity. I worked with RC, and I would recommend him to anyone who needs therapy. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful, and they offered appointments that fit in to my schedule.

I went for my first Physical Therapy Session on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 and I worked with RC. He was thorough, patient, and extremely knowledgeable! As I had never been to a physical therapy session, I was pleasantly surprised with RC’s extensive knowledge and his professionalism. I didn’t feel this was going to help me much, but after that 1 session, I have high hopes that as long as I do my homework and continue working with RC, my knee will heel appropriately and no surgery will be required. Thank you to RC and his staff for their positive energy and the way they make you feel comfortable from minute one.
Sheryl Kutun

I highly recommend this Athletico location. All staff were super friendly and knowledgable. Scheduling appointments to fit with my schedule was a breeze and they even make appointment reminder calls for the forgetful.
My main therapist was Brittany. I saw her for an achilles tendonitis. Not only did she take the time to get to know me, but she was very professional and knowledgable. My goal was to get back to running. She didn’t just focus on my injury, but helped me get stronger in other areas that would improve my overall running.
Phenomenal staff. I would go back in a heartbeat if I needed more PT.

I came to the West Loop Athletico as a referral by my doctor, specifically to work with RC. I had been having some problems in my knees. I was thrilled to be sent here because I live in the building and it was very convenient.
From the start the entire team was polite and professional. They have me time to check with my insurance and then got me in right away. RC did my first evaluation in a private room so I would feel comfortable since it was all new to me.
Just finished my last session and I feel great. Did a total of 7 sessions with RC and each time he was professional, easy to work with, on time, and gave me great advice. He understands that athletic people want to get back to what they love and does his best to get you there with great therapy, a personalized program of home exercises and practical advice about how to manage any future challenges.

Unfortunately my experience was awful. Friendly is the exact opposite of what I experienced. Even when I first I called to try to set my first appointment, I explained that I needed precert. She said I didn’t and then asked her to re-​read my card, and she said «oh, sorry I can’t remember everyone’s insurance details I deal with a lot of patients». Then comes my first eval with Kacie, which was ok. her manual therapy was very painful and not VERY helpful. Unlike the other very helpful manual therapy I received at React on Madison./ The only reason I wasn’t going there was because they didn’t take my insurance. I tried to arrange my schedule with them and they told me I would be split between her and RC. Kacie was asst manager and worked Part time RC was the manager of the facility and both had limited hours. They have no openings and there is no concern about consistency of care with regard to keeping the same therapist. They are very strict about the amount of time 30 MINUTES! I was doing a little better but then my dog had an emergency where she couldn’t walk — I was carrying her, back and forth to the ER, aggravating my shoulder. Very stressful and little sleep. So I had to schedule an appointment last minute to see Brittney, because I was so flared up! SHE took her time and was the only good thing about this facility. Very nice and very helpful. Then, my last was with RC yesterday– RC being manager should be professional. He started working on me after reading notes — telling me that I shouldn’t be thinking of my arm and I need something positive in my life then maybe it would feel better. I thought this was very unprofessional but let him continue to work. I wasn’t sure what he was doing and feared it wouldn’t help my pain. I wasn’t sure if he was done, because I was still very tight in my neck and under my arm he had me do a few stretches and I asked if he was done. He said yes that’s all I have time for. I asked before we finish «would you help me loosen up my neck here a bit» — he said no he didn’t have time. Then stood there giving all the reasons — 30 minutes, other clients, etc. etc… I was flabbergasted! I said well I’ve watched other therapists w/​patients and the PT asks «is anything tight and how does it feel? you haven’t asked me that? He said I am the clinician and I determine what you need. — and sorry I don’t have time. I said can’t you just do a quick release? He went back and forth with all kinds of explanations and after we went on about 7 minutes. I said to him «with all the time we are debating you could’ve helped me by now». He then told me to sit in a chair. He started putting the stim patches on me. I said are you going to help me? He said I already told you I don’t have time, I’m going to do the stim sorry. I said «That’s not going to help me!!» — meaning wasn’t’ going to help the problem I was asking for help on. you could’ve helped me by now why are you being like this? he said «I AM NOT GOING TO LET YOU MANIPULATE ME INTO DOING WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO». I lost it! I told him I wasn’t his wife and wasn’t manipulating him — reminded him I’m a patient paying him to do a job. Then I honestly told what I thought of him in not so very nice terms … and he ripped the stim patches off me and unplugged the machine said «fine I’ll give you ice and you can leave». I told him I wanted the stim and he said «no, you already said it wasn’t going to work «. I said I am the patient and I am PAYING you to treat me. and I want the STIM. He started running away with the machine, I told him I wanted his manager and wanted to transfer to another facility — he finally said lets go in a private room and I’ll set it up for you. He gave me the stim as I sat there crying. after being antagonized by him. UNBELIEVABLE! He apologized for making me upset and since I didn’t have issues with the other therapists — asked me not to leave Athletic. He recommended a message by Laila that night. The office clerk gave me copy of my prescription offering to cancel my appointments. I wasn’t aware if my insurance would have a prob with me going to another facility so I told her to keep them — so I could go find another facility on my own time). RC then told me he would be happy to treat me again that he doesn’t take personally what happened. at 4pm RC calls me to say he talked to his Regional and they didn’t think I should return due to our altercation. The Regional Manager would NOT CALL ME. He only communicated with me VIA EMAIL. He didn’t even call me to apologize! He said regret your experience. UNPROFESSIONAL AWFUL FACILITY.

I had rehab for my hip. I worked with a therapist who at first did a great job but not to soon into the therapy began basically started double and triple booking me with other patients and used some new therapists in training with me to monitor me doing the exercises 90% of the time (these newbies were not watching closely and really were unqualified to do the job). After I was finished with an exercises many times had to go flag her down and wait for her to give me attention as she worked on someone else and ask for my next exercise (think trying to get a beer from a bartender at a busy bar downtown). After reading about Athletico on other reviews I see they are doing the same thing with everyone (double and triple booking patients). I did not want to make a scene by calling them out on it so I just decided to quit going to that place. I would ask them there policy on this and make them stick to it by staying in touch with the manager of the site. At the end I asked for a home based treatment plan and never got one or heard back from them.
On a positive note, they were nice folks and had good equipment. When the therapist first started she was good and they spend some decent amount of time with me and did not «look at the clock». It did not seem like they had a real solid plan for my therapy and just gave me some random exercises. I’d say about a C+/B– grade overall. I’d recommend looking at other clinics first. I am going to go to Accelerated for my next therapy issue and I hope they are better.

This location is fantastic. Staff is suuuuuuper friendly.
Loved everything about the place.

I went to AthletiCo following a recommendation from Rush Hospital for a neck injury I had a few months ago. Initially it seemed nice – clean, bright, full of trainers, but I quickly realized that all of the trainers were dividing their attention between two people at once, so neither was getting enough care.
The trainer I was assigned to was named Angela. The first session, she mostly just evaluated my injury and how to go about helping me get better. She gave me a series of neck exercises to try and sent me home.
I came back a few days later for my second appointment, my first «real» appointment. Angela started me out with some heating pads that got way too hot. Then she gave me a neck «massage» to loosen things up. I put that in quotes because I’ve had many massages from professional masseuses, and this didn’t even come close being legitimate. She lightly rubbed my shoulders and neck for about twenty minutes, but every 30 seconds or so she would stop rubbing, shout some directions at the other girl she was also working on who was doing exercises, and then start rubbing again. Often, she would walk over to the other girl, show her an exercise, then come back, leaving me laying on the table for minutes at a time. So basically the twenty minute massage was actually about a five minute light rub, and as anyone with back or neck pain will tell you, it did nothing to help me loosen up.
Then she had me do my exercises, except she had forgotten which ones I was assigned to do, so I had to remind her as I went along. She also gave me my instructions on how to perfect the exercises while giving someone else a «massage,» so I would get almost all the way through doing one set and then she would look over and realize I hadn’t been doing it quite right and correct me then, after I had already practiced doing it wrong.
I ended with ten minutes on the traction machine, which was nice. No complaints there.
Ultimately, this place is expensive, and you don’t get the individual attention you deserve while you’re there. I was highly disappointed, and will not go back.

This place is wonderful. I came here for a free injury screening about a year after I received two climbing injuries (I had thought they would get better with time, but they didn’t). Like another reviewer, Erin C was my screener (and my eventual therapist). Long story short, she suggested a doctor, I went and got a script and came back.
Everyone here is super friendly (even the other patients!) and the atmosphere is super relaxed. Because of work, I scheduled my sessions to be around 7am in the morning and even though I was grumpy and half asleep most of the time, they did a great job in motivating me. Highly recommended!

After my Hip surgery, I have to learn how to use my hip and this is where AthletiCo West Loop comes in. When I had knee problems a year ago, the athletic trainer at Chicago Sports and Social recommend me to come to this location. I worked with Kasey and my knee was stronger and ready to run again. Flash forward a year and I am back, but now I am here for my hip. When I asked my orthopedic surgeon Dr. Shane Nho, who he recommends, without hesitation he said Phil at the West Loop Location. I am so happy with Phil because he takes the time to work with me and make sure I am not in pain. We have worked on different programs to nail down where my pain is coming from. He listens and makes sure the areas around my hip aka my butt and pelvis are not overcompensating because I am weak elsewhere. I am now walking with less pain and hopefully I will be able to run in early 2011. I love the Physical therapists here because they are hands on. I also love that they have both early and late hours. There is parking in the lot, but the Madison bus stop is right in front. I am a big fan!

I know that AthletiCo has an excellent reputation, however this location really sets the bar. Everyone that works at this location is wonderful. I have had several issues that I have gone here for and I have gotten solid results every time. The nice thing is that the physical therapists actually care about you as a person, not just a revenue creating client.
They offer several services for rehab and massage therapy. I have had some of the massage therapy in addition to some of my injury rehabilitation. The two massage therapists on staff are excellent.
As for the physical therapy aspect, I have only really worked with Erin C. and she is phenomenal. She has helped me through so many of my struggles. She is very caring and thorough. She determines exactly what
is best for your rehab and demonstrates how each exercise should be done properly. I cannot think of going anywhere else in the city for PT. Again, everyone there is terrific and if you find yourself needing some PT, get over to the west loop location.