Smart PT

Liz has an extremely bad attitude. She does know her stuff and is very effective as a therapist, but she’s extremely rude to her patients, is often grumpy and can be quite unprofessional. For instance, she likes to chat up her friends on the phone or flirt with cops or whoever else coming into her clinic. If you’re a patient, you just don’t want to see or hear that crap.
What’s more problematic is that she schedules multiple patients at a given time, so even without these other distractions, you are splitting her attention with several other people. While other PT offices that do this usually have assistants who’ll supervise your exercises, Liz has interns who may or may not be there and who do not watch you closely to make sure you don’t accidentally injure yourself.
On top of it all, it’s unpleasant to deal with her. She is extremely disrespectful. After a while, you just don’t want to put up with her shit anymore.
BTW, this office does not accept credit cards.

Had a great experience at Smart PT with Liz, for help with a hip labral tear. Liz gave clear instructions, pictures of home exercises to supplement my weekly visits, and her methods absolutely worked for my hip. After about 6 weeks of PT, I was stronger and experiencing almost no pain.

Despite any administrative or time annoyances that you may encounter in the healthcare field, I can honestly say that Liz (the owner) knows what she is doing in terms of rehab. She has been a PT for a long time and she is intelligent. I would much rather be treated by her than by some «green» kid who lacks experience.
You are in good hands at this place.

If you want someone to really take an interest in your recovery, someone that does not overbook, thereby ensuring you will not receive adequate attention, go elsewhere — quickly.
The attention I received was atrocious. If I was lucky, I got 15 minutes per visit, 5 – 10 of which were spent doing ultrasound. During the time she was stretching my shoulder, the pain she inflicted was excruciating, and never did she ask pain levels, etc. She just cranks away, irrespective of the pain she inflicts. Further, this is a PT that seems to project that she is all knowing, but it really is just some arrogance that she has developed over the years, and an intense hatred of the insurance providers who cover the patient’s expenses.
My final day, my 5^th visit, was the last straw. She was more concerned with how my Doctor might perceive my progress, and thus somehow reflect on her. She pushed my arm back (I’d had shoulder surgery just 4 weeks before), so far back that I was literally writing in pain and I felt like I was going to pass out for the next 10 minutes. Oh, and this does not mention the continuous gossip about God knows what with the other 3 or 4 patients she treats simultaneously, the telephone which she answers she is stretching you. And yes, she is alone. She has an assistant, but she knows nothing of PT, and is basically a secretary… when she is there.
I moved onto another therapist, Dr. Melinda Gren, in WDC, whom I would rate 5 stars. Her philosophy actually begins with caring about the patient — that is a novel concept —-something Liz at Smart PT does not. Actually, I cannot believe that 4 – 5 weeks since my last appt. with Liz, I am becoming incensed all over again.
Five final words of advise — AVOID HER LIKE THE PLAGUE

I have deemed Liz the «knee whisperer». A month ago my previous ortho was talking about a total knee replacement this fall. Found a new doctor who sent me straight to Liz (and a prescription for ortho visc. still waiting on it and not sure if I still need it) who basically, how do i put this, tortured (in a good way?) me for an hour… it was painful but she managed to get my knee fully extended and we did some taping, exercises, etc and within two weeks I was playing soccer again. I had thought I was done with soccer for good and I am absolutely positively amazed with how talented Liz is. I have had knee surgeries in the past and have gone to other PTs in the area (commonwealth – don’t go there for PT) and it was «ok» but this lady is the real deal. I cannot say enough about what a positive experience this has been.

My wife and I have both used Smart PT and loved it. Liz, the owner, really knows her stuff and is a great «coach» throughout the rehab process. My IT band injuries/​rehab were minor compared to my wife, who had two major knee surgeries (osteotomy, and acl/​pcl/​mcl). After both of her surgeries, Liz went above and beyond to provide a comprehensive rehab plan. A few reviewers complained about the open room set-​up and the social setting; I’d argue the opposite. What other medical appointment have you been to where you look forward to interacting with your therapist and fellow patients? In summary, Liz is a competent and personable therapist who will guide and push you to recovery.

My experience was not very good at Smart PT. I felt there were too many patients at the same time. I only got 15 minutes with my pt each session. I also felt that there was a lack of caring on my therapist. At the end I was tired of the pain and decided to do the work on my own.

Liz really helped me with my knee pain that was lingering from an ACL repair ten years ago. She gave me a great mix of exercises that pushed me hard and strengthened my muscles, making the knee pain go away. I worked with her twice a week for three months. Liz has a variety of creative exercise that other therapists I used in the past did not offer. She knows what she is doing. She may seem distracted at times, but she does care about her patients and will do her best to make sure you get better.

I am now post op and still giving props to Liz @ SMART PT. I had accepted 10 – 12 weeks off from running after surgery. Following my surgeon’s and Liz’s instructions, I have been clear to give running a try at just 4 weeks post op.

I agree with almost all of the posters here. Liz is the best at what she does. I have gone to so many PTs across the years for different surgeries and Liz was the only one who not only fixed my problem, but gave me exercises that matched my level of athletic ability.
Background: I had three knee surgeries (lateral release, microfracture and osteotomy). I was also sick after the surgery and couldn’t start PT until almost 4 weeks later. I had done years of PT before this, but they always gave me the same exercises they’d give the 80 year old man next to me. Not Liz.
She does a great combination of stretching, strength exercises and treatment (ice/​heat/​massage). She makes you work – which to be honest is really what I needed, not some exercises my grandpa would do – that makes PT go much longer than it should.
She’s also really well educated, explains things directly and helped with other areas I wasn’t even in for. I had made a side comment about my back once and she had me stay so she could check my alignment and then isolated the problem and fixed it long beyond the time I was supposed to be there (and had paid for). I so appreciated that.
Now, if you’ve been to PT you know that some of them treat all patients like their grandma. They’re soft spoken and move slower than molasses. Liz is also really honest with her patients so if you don’t want the real truth or someone who’s going to be honest with you when you don’t do your exercises at home, or treat PT as a «maybe I should do it», this isn’t the place for you.
Liz does treat multiple patients at once, but she’s a hard worker. No one multi-​tasks better. I was never bored or without something to do. There’s no need for her to stand around and watch you warm up on the bike for ten minutes or watch you ice.
My experience with any healthcare provider is that you want the best, and you want someone you gel with. I always look for both.

To everyone considering going to SmartPT: highly recommended!!!
I had a meniscus and carticel transplant. Super tough surgery. I went to another therapist and honestly no improvement. I then go to see Liz Fryer at SmartPT and wow! What a difference! I truly feel that she knows her stuff. She actually found a way to hold down my patella to prevent it from rubbing against my scar tissue. A very difficult call for the untrained eye, but Liz picked up on it and was right!
I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to go to a knowledgeable PT.
Liz is friendly and a positive person with a great personality. She has athlethes to armed forces to other doctors who see her from what I saw while getting treatment from her. Anyhow gotta run. Hope this review helps. If needed for a reference, please let me know.

I’ve been to Smart PT for two rounds of physical therapy. This is not the place to go if you need individual care or attention. The PT (owner) will talk on the phone, flirt with the police officers and gossip with others while working on you. She was always talking about people behind their backs, something that turned me off. The most individual time you’ll get with her is 15 minutes. She does know her stuff however. I’ve switched physical therapists and found one nearby who spends the ENTIRE hour with you, one-​on-​one, in a private room. Much more conducive to recovery.

I tore my ACL back in Jan and had surgery in March. I was going to another place in Alexandria after my surgery and was still very sore and swollen and they never massaged my scar tissue or anything. When I moved to Arlington I started seeing Liz and within the 3 times I went, my knee felt drastically better. I was no longer as sore as I was and she took the time to massage the scare tissue and I think that really helped. She helped me regain confidence to run. Highly highly recommended.

I went to SMART PT after suffering from my IT Band tendonitis for about 8 months. After working with Elizabeth (Liz) for two months received the okay from my othropedic to start running again. She can mulit-​task with the best of them, and has about 2 – 3 patients at various tasks and steps of their appointments at any given time, but it works well. What was welcomed was that she also has a lot of strength for massage and isn’t worried about using it.
I only wish I wasn’t recommended so late and that I had received a comprehensive plan for after I finished PT, so that’s why I’d give this place 4.5 stars.

I’ve been suffering from ITBS for over 4 years now, and the hardest part was finding an orthopedist and pt combination that I could trust.
Elizabeth (Liz) at Smart PT helped me where no others could. She taught me a combination of stretches that really did the trick. Liz is great at identifying sports related injuries and coming up with a combination of core strengthening exercises and stretches to get the job done.
In my experience, you need to find the PT/​Ortho combination that works for your particular requirement. The others that I went to weren’t familiar with ITBS and they kept suggesting things that I could just Feel weren’t getting the job done. When I came here, she looked at my stance and without me saying a word, she immediately identified where and how I was hurting. I instantly knew I was going to get the results I wanted, so long as I worked at it.
Smart PT is also a very relaxed environment with convenient hours. There’s a parking garage around the corner, plenty of street parking if you arrive early enough, and its Very metro accessible.
I was recommended here by two co-​workers and I’d Highly recommend them to any others.
As for my ortho — that’s a separate review. Look for Dr. Evans at Georgetown University Medical Center (separate review).