Hands On Physical Therapy

After 8 years of using mostly good sense to keep my shoulder healthy, I am returning to Hands-​on and Tim Waters again. I can’t say enough good things about Hands-​on but here are a few that should matter to any of us who want better health, and some control over guiding that healthy direction. First, Hands-​on is just that… hands on… no fancy gizmos/​machines. You walk away having learned the proper exercise to help heal. Second, your therapist is dedicated to you… not passing you on to the exercise room, the machine technician, etc. Third, even though I have only known Tim, the office is quite a pleasant (you lose the chaos of Ala Moana). Last, I returned to Hands-​on after spending 3 sessions at a well-​known physical therapy office that was recommended by my doctor (because it was located in Kailua). The Kailua group made me feel like I was on a ‘conveyer belt.’ It was very little about me… of the 1hr charged/​spent at this office, over 30 miinutes was in an exercise room, doing the same exercises as just about everyone else. At Hands-​on, it is about me and it is about my injury… and I believe every bit of the payment is well used.

This is a long overdue review. A few years ago, I hurt my left shoulder and I called Hands On but my go to guy Wessel was unavailable so I was assigned Tim Waters. It turns out it wasn’t a shoulder injury but a neck injury. Same experience as with Wessel: one on one therapy and lots of easy exercises I can do at home. Pain was greatly diminished almost immediately and what I really like is because the exercises don’t require equipment, I can do them at home when I re-​injure my neck when I do stupid moves at the gym.
Flash forward to this year: I have had two surgeries on my right knee and one on my left for meniscus tears. I have osteoarthritis in both knees but have been mostly pain free because of regular gym exercise. The left knee is the worst: the bones are grinding together and I will need knee replacement at some point and I acquired a bone bruise on the shin.
A few weeks after acquiring the bone bruise, I sprained my right knee. I didn’t go to the gym for a week but realized that this was much more than a «take it easy at the gym» injury. I had to take the stairs one step at a time. I don’t have a car and walking wasn’t the problem. It was the bus riding: getting on and disembarking, and sitting and getting up from a seat were almost daily challenges. That and depending on a badly injured left leg to support my right leg would probably accelerate my acquiring that knee replacement.
So I called Hands On and was assigned Tim Waters again. He gave me exercises/​stretches to do at home and was amazed by my progress at my second visit. He asked what I was doing. I was doing the exercises he had assigned! Again, I recovered quickly and even my personal trainer commented that she’s impressed by how quickly I recovered and how much my range of motion has improved.
So thanks Tim Waters! I love the work and the staff at Hands On But I hope I don’t have to go there for a really long time.

Who likes to admit that they are anything less than youthful, strong, beautiful, and smarter than the next guy? Every now and then we are faced with the frailties of our humaness and must allow ourselves to be confronted with that cold bitter truth.
After a minor injury recently I was sent for physical therapy. Asked by my doctor if I had a preference in companies I didn’t hesitate. Hands On Therapy had helped me before and they were the best I had ever experienced. The name says it all, these PTs specialize in manual therapy… unlike many who put you on a machine and just walk away.
Joleen, one of two Therapists specializing in my type of injury, was assigned to my case. And I couldn’t have asked for a better Therapist; strict as a drill sergeant, knowledgeable as a wise sage, yet kind enough to laugh at all my jokes as well as my occasional whining… she didn’t even remind me how unyouthful I was anymore. Just as mean, funny, and witty was other Physical Therapist Chantelle who took great care of me when there were schedule conflicts. Seriously, my team @ Hands On Therapy… THE BEST. It’s obvious these women and men are passionate about their work. They get a big thumbs up from this greatful client!
And thank you to Physical Therapist, Martin, who also took excellent care of me prior when I had injured my hip while mountain climbing… well, more like hill walking; Even if he did seem to insinuate my older age might have played a factor in my injury. I refuse to get old! The good people at Hands On Therapy will help you to get over your delusions… and physical limitations ! They might not make you any more beautiful or any less clumsy, tho they can make you a little smarter and stronger… Can’t recommend them enough !!

I live in L.A. but found this place through web search and sent my mother for hip pain she was experiencing after a fall. She could only walk a block or two whereas previously she could go down the entire length of Kapiolani with no problems. From her description of the exercises it sounds like they were trying to help her holistically as they seem to have been focusing on her increasing scoliosis, which I’m sure would hinder any rehab efforts. They gave her some really good exercises to do at home, which is fortunate because she no longer goes there due to changing her insurance to Kaiser. I’m really glad and impressed that they would focus beyond the knee specifically and tackle issues that could be the root of her pain.
It’s difficult to see a parent who had been enjoying retirement in paradise become sidelined all of the sudden. And I think many in the medical field kind of slap on the tag of old age/​arthritis and give lukewarm effort on trying to get them active again. I’m grateful to have found a place that didn’t do that.

What a pleasure it is to recommend-​without reservation – this place. It’s a little small, but the extremely talented staff make up for it. Very pleased.