US Athletic Training Center

Definitely not your average treatment. As a former collegiate athlete, I have come to USATC numerous times. First for an intense stretch of therapy recovering from a compound Tib/​FIb fracture and next for rehab on my MCL. Let me be clear, recovery was not easy, and at times, extremely painful. There were times when I felt as though treatments weren’t going well. Probably in part to my lack of diligence when it came to stretching/​etc and in part because everyone’s body heals differently.
Physical Therapy is an extremely personal experience. I was lucky to get along great with my therapist but was told at the beginning of treatment, if I had to change therapists for ANY reason they would be happy to accommodate my needs.
Injuries are always tough, recovery is sometimes even harder. I can say, without any fraction of doubt, that the staff at USATC is willing and more-​than-​capable of getting you back to 100%. After years of ankle/​knee pain, I am now pain-​free, exercising regularly, and living an active lifestyle.
My deepest thank you goes out to Mary, Gary, and the rest of the staff at USATC.

It’s a shame that USATC no longer stands up to its glory days from training pro & semi-​pro athletes in the 90s. I went to them for ~3 months to fix knee issues and did not experience sufficient improvement to be able to run pain free again. I then took a 3 – 4 month break and went to a new place, after I moved apartments. In 2 months, they’d fixed my issues & I’m running again pain free!
Gary & his family are milking the cash cow, versus making USATC best-​in-​class. That’s not too surprising for a place that’s been around for so long. It’s the downside of earlier success, I guess.
My issues are that they have not invested in equipment and they are alienating & constraining a fairly talented, though young, staff due to micromanagement and a desire to maximize insurance billing. The result is fairly high staff churn. I do want to be clear though, within the constraints created by management, I think the staff performed admirably, and were exceedingly cordial and kind.
As someone else mentioned in the comments, they seem to be mainly focused on maximizing the PTs billable hours. Reflecting on that comment & then thinking about my own experience I realized they need to be cookie-​cutter to do that, and so that’s probably why I didn’t see results.
I had a repetitive stress knee injury and went to them for ~3 months. They didn’t have time to focus on my individual rehab needs, so I didn’t get better. The team was well-​intentioned and genuinely very nice, but the owners haven’t set themselves up for success. And, the reason I know that is because I had an amazing experience at a different facility.
I stopped going to USATC because I wasn’t improving, and I had moved from midtown to Tribeca, so it also wasn’t convenient to keep trying with limited results. I was told by them that more sessions would likely fix it and that I was a tough case due to lack of mobility & flexibility (which is definitely a long-​term problem for me to fight against).
So, after my move & spending more time with my orthopedic surgeon, she encouraged me to give PT another shot, but to focus on a place that wanted to tailor their PT to the patient. So, I found Fusion Physical Therapy in Tribeca and started seeing Luke.
First major difference: They immediately gave me targeted, deep stretches to do at home. Over the course of ten sessions, Luke expanded my stretching set and added in strengthening to do at home. USATC gave me a much more limited set of activities, and instead encouraged me to come to them more frequently. Luke explained that he would tailor this progression to my needs and ultimately free me to make faster improvements through a combination of at-​home stretching & strengthening & some of his special magic during our sessions.
Second major difference: My major issue was running. I’d not taken good enough care of my IT bands, hamstrings, etc. It’s an activity I loved and I was genuinely mildly depressed due to not being able to do that. Fusion has invested in a series of low-​impact machines to help runners specifically. Luke focused on improving my form and helping to rebuild my muscles so that they worked with me, versus against me. USATC never did this.
Third major difference: Directness & transparency. The folks at Fusion told me when I was going to be getting diminishing returns from seeing them and instead needed to focus on homework. This was as I was approaching the end of my insurance period for this, but I still had more sessions they could have billed to my insurance company.
In the interest of full disclosure, when I stopped going to USATC, I didn’t think my mediocre experience was worth posting about here. But, a legacy billing issue cropped up with them, so they became top of mind with me. And, when I thought back to the delta between Fusion & USATC, I thought it was worth sharing.
So, what’s the lesson?
To a degree, PT is deeply idiosyncratic about making something work. BUT, certain places invest in making you better and recognize when they can’t help you more or are not the right fit, versus focus on maximizing their insurance dollars. And, it’s the PT facility’s job to make you better. If they can’t do it or are not right for you, they should own up to it.
If Tribeca is convenient to you, I’d highly recommend Fusion PT.

Whether you are an injured athlete seeking a specific recovery plan to restore performance or simply an individual looking to restore healthy body function– Gary, Michael, and Ben are well qualified in providing that spectrum of service.
To give context, I would best describe myself as a washed-​up strength athlete trying to become competitive again. Amid my training I ran into an issue with the medial side knee of my knee. It was diagnosed as patellar mal-​tracking and pre-​patellar bursitis. To best describe it, it was constant discomfort with occasional acute/​sharp pain. This hindered confidence in some regular daily activities as well as sports-​related activities.
I was paired with Mike (therapist) and Ben (trainer), to which, I can’t say enough for. Simply put, Mike is knowledgeable and is very adept at applying his anatomical knowledge towards essentially decoding not only what the issue is, but what probably caused it. The latter part is something I found that has been overlooked by therapists in the past. The deep tissue work Mike provided was purposeful and he was very keen at identifying variables that would exacerbate or improve my condition. Ben provided a tailored yet practical plan to restore strength in my knee. He has plenty of knowledge and is able to transfer/​apply it on a very receptive level. One quality Ben possessed that I valued more than other trainer I have come across is that he is very forthright. If you form or technique sucks, he will tell you, politely. Why is this valuable? Because a trainer who simply provides polite reassurance at the expense of honest assessment can be a detriment to improvement in the long run. Though individually valuable in their own respects, the two have a great synergy, which makes the experience of a generally stressed injured patient, less stressful.

One quick note that I can’t refrain from– I had the opportunity to work with Gary recently, though briefly. Gary is probably one of the most qualified therapist/​trainers I have ever come across in my long history of injuries. He not only gave new perspective to my current injury, but was able to deduce prior injuries that had happened simply based on my current symptoms, which is hard to put into words and pretty incredible. His suggestions in a brief visit were very accurate and directly useful in improving my condition.
In summation, I am grateful this staff is available and am confident they can aid in restoring my performance to the level desired. Don’t be intimidated by the immediate vibe of the set-​up– it is a gym and PT office in one. If you are going there for PT, you are obviously injured and therefore seeing very capable athletes training in your presence may be a bit, depressing. Focus on your issue and let the environment be a testament to the good work they produce.

This is a great facility. Compared to other places I’ve been to in the past I’ve definitely recovered the fastest from injuries here. The staff is extremely helpful and welcoming whenever i have a particular question as well. They have treated me multiple times and have also helped me when it comes to preventing those kinds of injuries in the future. The facility is very nice and I expect to be a long term member using this place for therapy and exercising! Thanks USATC!

I have been going to physical therapy at USATC at the recommendation of my orthopedic surgeon since January. Initially for multiple fractures in my shoulder and recently to continue physical therapy as I needed arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder to remove scar tissue. I am continually impressed with Gary’s team — they are knowledgeable and compassionate and know when to push you harder versus take a less aggressive approach. I have worked with multiple physical therapists and athletic trainers at USATC and been very happy with the experience. For me and my injury it has been an excellent fit.

I really like USATC’s environment. Easy to navigate. Bright, clean, and friendly staff. Location is super convenient. I’ve not needed therapy or anything, so just use it as a gym facility, but looks like people are getting some serious help.

I reached out to USATC when I re-​injured my lower back this winter. Within 24 hours of my first session with Gary I went from excruciating pain to being able to walk 13 blocks to work. Over the course of 6 intense sessions Gary, Sasha, and the USATC staff worked with me not only to alleviate the pain but also to strengthen my core. At the end of my course of treatment I was in better shape than I have been for years and was able to resume training for a half marathon I plan to run this fall. The physical therapists, trainers and staff at USATC are knowledgeable and committed to their work and I highly recommend them!

Hands down THE BEST physical therapy in the city… I have broken, sprained and strained just about everything in my body and have been to so many different physical training centers, but this one beats them all, hands down. I live in the West Village and would make the trek twice a week to see these guys (and girls)! They are very knowledgable and good at pushing you to your limit but not too far. Added bonus they are great people to start the day with, friendly and funny!

I am a fan of the facility and the excellent, smart physical therapists there. I have gone many times and with different PT’s, all of whom surprise me with their wealth of expertise and friendliness.

Gary and the staff at USATCENTER have been treating me over the past 10 years for sciatic and back pain as well as for a variety of nagging injuries. I am a 66 year old surfer and SUP surfer and paddler whose career has been extended due to the excellent care given to me by Gary and his staff. They are professional and take a personal interest in helping with my rehab and recovery. Gary is the quintessional health care professional. He tailored my treatments specific to my injuries and taught me how to continue doing my PT at home which I do on a daily basis. He has helped with with purchasing PT equipment that I can incorporate using as part of my home treatment.
The staff is helpful and friendly and they take a interest in your health and well being. I was never rushed out of a session and always given more than enough time during any session. I have always felt like a million dollars after a treatment at the USATCENTER.
It is without reservation that I would recommend anyone from the professional athlete to the weekend warrior to make an appointment with Gary and his staff.
John W. Roberts

This is a great center for Physical Therapy & Athletic Training. My surgeon recommended the place as prior patients had spoken highly of it and I was not disappointed. I was lucky enough to be assigned to Mike Stella as my Athletic Trainer and just based on his skill, experience and demeanor alone I would recommend USATC. Unfortunately he is leaving to run his own business, which is such a shame as he is an awesome asset to this business. The other therapists and trainers are also great, caring, encouraging and v results driven. Totally agree with another reviewer who mentioned the sense of team bonding and friendship, among themselves and with patients. The atmosphere is upbeat and motivating which is v helpful when you are recovering from injury. I really enjoy my time here and am very happy with my progress.

The team at USATC is professional and super knowledgeable. I worked with them prior to the NYC marathon to work out my IT band syndrome. Facilities are clean and staff is friendly and easy to access. The work they did was highly effective. Have recommended to other friends and will continue to do so.

Prior to commencing my clinical classes for my physical therapy assistant program, I had to perform 50 volunteer hours at a physical therapy clinic. I was lucky enough to complete those hours at the USATC. I shadowed several physical therapists during my time there, and let me just say, they were amazing, knowledgeable people to be around. Every action they did, no matter how minor it may seem from the outside perspective, they explained the importance of doing — from the many different exercises, the active and passive stretching, hands-​on manual techniques, and so forth. I was able to watch them treat all sorts of injuries and with all areas of the population — the young, the old, sports related injuries, age related injuries, and everything inbetween. Everything the patient did had a purpose. Everything the patient did was integral to their rehabilitation program. In fact, many of the lessons and exercises I’ve learned I carried with me into the program, which helped me gain an edge in my studies.
The place itself is well maintained and clean. There are treadmills for running, free weights and machines for strengthening, and various other equipment, some random in that I never seen them elsewhere in a gym (as an example, as a former fencer, I noticed the rack of fencing weapons on the side used as part of the rehabilitation for fencer patients).
Not only were the physical therapists and aids knowledgeable, but they were also very nice and pleasant to be around with. There was a sense of team bonding and friendship, and not just between each other, but with the patient as well, perhaps the most important person of the team in rehabilitation.
Anyone who goes here will not be disappointed in their therapy.

I played volleyball at Boston College and I still compete in USA Nationals. I tore my labrum badly (SLAP Tear) and had shoulder surgery in October of 2012. I went to see the owner Gary and he performed a 2 minutes assessment where he told me exactly what was wrong and referred me to one of the best sports shoulder surgeons in the country.
I saw therapist Phil for the majority of my visis. After only 10 months of physical therapy at USATC I was able to play at Nationals that summer. Phil and the rest of the staff at USATC prides themselves on getting their patients better faster and feeling better than ever.
Recovering from shoulder surgery is a grueling procedure — it is very painful and a very slow process. Phil not only worked miracles on my shoulder but he was there to talk me through the slow process.
USATC has a great location in midtown and even better therapists and trainers. The admin staff is great too, especially their insurance coordinator, Ivonne.

The team at USATC is great. Between playing football, basketball, boxing, and jiu-​jitsu, I stay pretty active… and with that has come a bunch of injuries, particularly tearing the ligament in my ankle.
I appreciated the fact that the staff at USATC are either still active or former athletes and knew exactly how to help with their strength and conditioning program and physical therapy. They’re knowledgeable, friendly, and after experiencing some less-​than-​clean gyms in NYC, it was welcoming to find one as well maintained as this one. Whether it’s to work out with a trainer or PT, I highly recommend them.

I feel ambivalent about the USATC because, though the facility delivers excellent physical therapy, aspects related to how they bill insurance made me feel uncomfortable.
Each session is about two hours long, and consists of:
10 minutes individual warmup
10 minutes individual stretching
10 minutes trainer assisted stretching
20 minutes manual work from the therapist
30 minutes strength training assisted by the trainer/​individual
10 minutes ice/​stim
30 minutes waiting
Physical therapists at the USATC see 3 patients per hour. Each physical therapist is paired with a trainer. By extension, on average, every two hours each therapist/​trainer pairing will see six patients. I’ll be generous and assume the schedule is not completely booked: five patients every two hours. The result is four hours (therapist + trainer time) divided by five patients — about fifty minutes of individual attention per patient, per visit.
This would be fine, if they billed accordingly. But reviewing my insurance explanation of benefits document showed two hour sessions were typically billed as 4×30 minute «individual medical services», never billed as group services or just one hour of individual services.
I wouldn’t normally comment on an issue like this, if not for the fact that I was seeing an excellent therapist at the USATC for nearly a year — and he left the center due to stress caused by management. Towards the end of our time together, it was easy to tell that management had made net profit the only goal.
The USATC has a lot of potential. If management sits down, and refocuses on improving the overall patient experience — it could be a truly great physical therapy center. For now, it’s like many entities in New York: truly great on occasion, but permeated with questionable aspects.

USAT is a well organized & professional organization. I’m being treated for herniated neck discs & a «slap» tare of my rotator cuff. I don’t feel rushed & feel like I’m in good hangs. Gary & his staff are very knowledgeable & are always available to answer questions and address concerns. The good thing about USAT is that they don’t just use a boiler plate approach… everyone gets their own dynamic tailored program fit to pain tolerance & symptoms.

I recently finished about 8 weeks of PT for a hamstring injury sustained while over-​training for a half marathon. My doctor highly recommended this facility because they specialize in athletic related injuries, most of the PTs are athletes themselves and understand the world of sports therapy. After the preliminary visit, I determined right away that it would be worth the 45 minute commute from lower Manhattan – even though there is a different PT facility literally within a five minutes walk from my office.
I worked with Todd, who is incredible. In the past I have worked with physical therapists who don’t know or remember me from Adam, even after weeks of working with them. Todd develops relationships with his clients; he always remembered exactly what was going on with me, asked several times a session how I was feeling, listened and took everything I was saying into consideration as he treated me. He is good with people in general, was always engaged and had a lot of energy for me even though I know he works long days and sees a ton of clients. He partners with Rich, who is a stickler for form and worked with me to make sure I doing all the exercises correctly – which made all the difference. At first I was frustrated because the recovery wasn’t happening as quickly as I wanted it to, but as I got farther along I realized their «slow and steady and safe» philosophy was actually the key to long term success. I truly felt like I had complete personal attention from not one, but two very qualified professionals – who also happen to be really fun and cool guys who I would totally grab beers with.
The facility is smallish, but very clean, equipment is great, and all the other therapists seemed friendly and qualified as well. All in all, I am so glad I found this place. Every week I felt like I was both getting better and completely getting my money’s worth. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I’m currently in the middle of my PT program at USATC. In October 2011 I tore my posterior tibial tendon while running the Staten Island Half, and have been dealing with it ever since. I initially went to a podiatrist that, while he fixed my tear w/​o invasive surgery via shockwave therapy, was not proactive in pushing me to start PT after the procedure. I had never been injured before, so I clearly had no idea what I was doing and didn’t think much of it.
Cut to June 2012, when I started feeling pain and soreness again in my tendon. MRIs revealed that it was tendonitis, but the biggest problem was that I had zero strength in my tendon and the rest of my body was out of whack as a result. Even still, my podiatrist didn’t push me to go to PT unti September — holy $ht I wish he had made me go earlier.
Everyone that I’ve worked with at USATC has been personable, knowledgable, and professional. The stim machines are scary, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve learned the difference between pain and discomfort — «aggressive sports therapy» indeed. It’s been incredibly hard work so far (nearly cried once), but I in no way dread these sessions because I’ve already started to feel the benefits 3 weeks later. I don’t anticipate it getting any easier, but I feel more motivated than ever to recover. I even plan on booking a few sessions after I’m declared «OK to go» to re-​learn how to run just to make sure that this never happens again.
One of the best parts about the therapy is you get plenty of personalized attention. Sometimes I’m told to go and do a few exercises on my own, but I always get checked on, and then can usually hear the physical therapists discussing my progress/​struggles while I’m still working. It’s clear that they really care about their clients, and you NEVER have to re-​explain your symptoms or wonder if anyone knows what they are doing, because they’re on top of it!
It’s also worth noting that the facility is spotless, and there are TONS of machines and massage tables. It’s usually pretty busy but never over-​crowded. I would recommend USATC to absolutely anyone.

USATC has entirely changed my standards for physical therapy. My shoulder surgery left my arm immobilized for four weeks. Gaining my range of motion and strength back was no small challenge. I had the pleasure oI found all the staff at USATC extremely knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated to their work. I had the pleasure of working with Dan and Tiffany