Star Physical Therapy

Amazing team of PT professionals. I’ve had 3 surgeries, and all the other PT places have been sub par compared to STAR PT. The quality of the PT, the attention to detail and the patience they take to rehabilitate you is second to none.

I am so lucky to get there!
A great friendly team of experienced professionals helped me a lot with me knee issue. They brought me back to do all the sports I want in a month. Jason, Michelle, Gale, Howard — thank you so much!!!
P. S. Howard was so nice to check and adjust my new bike so I will not damage me knees and feel comfortable enough on long rides. :)
The facility is always clean and ready for work.
Highly recommend this Physical Therapy place.

Love the team at STAR. Spent almost a year off my feet waiting for my plantar fasciitis to heal (no pun intended) on its own with the stretches and rest prescribed to me by my doctor. Finally came to the conclusion that taking a fresh, active, and dynamic approach was what I needed and the STAR team gave me all that and then some. They had me doing load baring exercises right away, recommended a couple key at home stretching tools (e.g. Medi-​dyne pro stretch and strassburg sock) and just generally made me feel like an athlete again. Highly recommend these folks.

When I started researching Physical Therapy venues near my home, knowing I would need (& want) sessions 2 weeks post total knee replacement, Unilocal was one of my resources. Of the many places I checked out, few (maybe one or two) had nothing but 5-​star reviews. Of those most convenient, all had 4 out of 5 stars. Weighing those reviews and coupled with relatives’, friends’ and acquaintances’ input, I decided on S.T.A.R.
I began my post-​surgical therapy in late January and just wrapped up my sessions. I’ve had a 5-​star experience and wish I could continue going there simply for support, camaraderie and workouts! They do have a convenient post-​therapy support and exercise program offered 2 times a week and it is being considered for just those reasons — continued support, camaraderie and workouts.
I haven’t touched upon the caring and carefully considered approach to meeting my post-​surgical recovery goals. My therapist in tune with me and with the goals of my surgeon, developed a plan to nurse and encourage me to meet those goals. She was flexible and adjusted these goals as the sessions went by, according to my progress.
Along with my therapist, the other professionals at S.T.A.R became familiar with me and with my goals. There were times when I needed to work with these other professionals when my therapist couldn’t be available. They matched her flexibility and quickly put me at ease with their unique approaches and abilities. I looked at this ‘approach by committee’ as a plus! I learned different ways at looking at specific exercises and could adopt what worked best for me.
All staff are open, warm and welcoming. This is a small, close, slightly crowded and not fancy facility. And those are pluses for me! It is quiet at times and at other times, humming with conversations. It was comfortable and homey but definitely and always professional. I feel this and their approach to providing physical therapy lent S.T.A.R. its ‘want to do/​can do’ approach.
S.T.A.R was the right fit for me!
Thank you, Gail (my PT) — thank you, Michelle (other professional) — thank you, Howard (other professional) — thank you, Danielle (other professional) — thank you, Juliet and Stephanie (administrative staff)!

I am honestly a bit shocked to see all of the negative reviews about STAR. While some of the complaints are legitimate (they do work with several patients at once, the facility is not brand new, it is a social atmosphere) I just don’t see them s being that negative. I understand that people especially in this area are used to getting a lot of individual attention, it just really is not needed as much as you think. Once you learn how to do the exercises do you really need someone standing over your shoulder? That would just annoy me. As far as it being social, I mean really people what are we complaining about here? You’re seriously upset because the therapists are not rude and uptight? The friendly atmosphere is one of the reasons I rated it a 5. Everyone knows my name and says hello when I show up. They know how much I love Cal Poly so they always mention it. That is customer service 101!
Besides being friendly and knowledgable what I love most about STAR is how generous they are with their time. I am scheduled for my normal session time but they let me stay as long as I want to get all of my rehab in. In this fast paced day and age where we are all just widgets moved down the assembly line it’s great to find a place that cares about you and not a time frame. If you want to be done in a hurry then you can be, but if you’re like me and like to warm up and ice down and take your time STAR is the right place for you. Just try to get your MD to stay in the room for more than 15 minutes and you’ll see just how valuable this really is.
I almost forgot to mention how great they are with billing and dealing with insurance companies. My insurance seems to fight, delay or refuse just about every claim, but STAR has them billed and funded by weeks end. It is literally the only place my insurance has not fought me on. Not having the insurance headache alone makes STAR great in my book.
Oh and by the way… in addition to being friendly, generous and caring they are also very good at what they do.

I was really put off by the negative reviews on STAR, but I decided to call and ask about their services (and ask about the reviews). Charles was amazing! He is one of the owners, and he spoke to me for 45 minutes about the reviews and the general mission of STAR, etc. He was so gracious and kind, that I decided to go in. I was paired with one of their senior therapists (Gail), as well as Howard (back specialist, and co-​owner). My back has been in very bad shape. They were SO attentive, SOOOO good.
Don’t be put off by the look of the place — it’s older, and standard, like a tank, or an old Pentax camera (dependable, the best, but no huge bells and whistles to distract). They are clean, dependable, and strong. They are not sleek, modern, or snooty. This isn’t really a complaint, because if they were sleek and new, the place would have an obnoxious spa feel. It would lack it’s own character, if it were modernized.
Definitely go here. The therapists are educated, they are fantastic, and they DO treat you right. The owners care about what you think, and they will take the time to talk to you about your concerns. Pay no attention to the negative reviews (or ask the owners about them if you are concerned!). They do such a good job here. It’s old school, and you WILL feel better. My back is much better, and 3 slipped discs are not fun. I recommend them without hesitation.

Star PT is as good as it gets. They are professional and yet you feel like they are a family. They give you so much more than most Physical Therapists. At most places you have a time frame for exercises and that’s it. At Star they warm you up with heat, a tens unit, massage and cool you down with ice and electrical stimulation. I felt that they gave me and others all of the personal attention that was needed. I worked with Howard, Joe, Jason and Danielle and felt that I got the best of all of them. I am sad that my therapy sessions have now ended.

I am thrilled with S.T.A.R center. Jason was excellent and professional. Our daughter needed to have some PT for an achilles strain. Jason and the staff were knowledgable and reassuring to my daughter that she is healing and doing great. This kind of care is immeasurable. Thank you Jason!

This place is like the spa of physical therapy. I’ve tried PT all over the peninsula and this is the best I’ve found.
I am a registered nurse and I have been going to STAR for over 3 years for various issues such as frozen shoulder after shingles, post-​arthroscopy knee and lower back/​hip pain. I have been educated and healed every time. These people are professional healers. I travel 30 minutes in order to get my healing work done there.
The first visit is usually for assessment, making a plan, establishing rapport, (and facing the truth about the problem) as I see it. Dr. Joe has awesome assessment skills and loves to educate. Subsequent visits are based on what you need. If you don’t seem to get along with one person, try someone else. Michelle and Joe are pain experts, and Danielle will get you exercising the right way with cheerful encouragement. They are all creative, so if something isn’t working they take a collaborative attitude, so it is important to tell them. The professionals there each have different backgrounds and strengths. Although they all are hands-​on, they listen if you are in too much pain.
Pain can cause fear and depression. The people here are friendly and try to help you have hope about your issues. I always leave with less pain (usually none) and a better attitude about my «situation». I like that they have a system (moist heat packs, exercise, stretch, massage, ice and stim). Any health professional knows that it is important to warm up on the bike before critical stretches, etc. and I like that they want you to become independent. If something didn’t translate to my club, like leg presses, I got other exercises to do that were equivalent so that I could continue the healing process after the visits were done.
That’s the plan, get back to a fit, fun and healthy life. Go for it!

I had one initial consult here with «Joey» a few weeks ago. I was trying to avoid surgery after a fall in December that injured both knees and my left shoulder. I used to work in the medical field so I arrived organized and ready to go. Paperwork filled out and note pad to write any notes and/​or exercise recommendations.
I have had knee surgery before and had done P/​T at Bay Sport in Redwood Shores (Elsie is great!) and the P/​T Clinic at the RWC Stanford Sports Medicine Clinic. I chose Star Physical Therapy honestly as they are very close to home and getting around with two bum knees is not easy.
NOT impressed and my feelings are that your initial visits are kind of like dating — people should be putting their best foot forward and attentive etc. I have no problem with being one of several patients the therapist is working on, that’s reality in today’s managed care environment.
I was not happy I felt not listened to and very little to no hands on care was given. I was examined briefly, told to ride the recumbent bike to check my range of motion and then sent off to an assistant for a TENS treatment and ice. And my insurance charged $ 175.
I asked for exercise instructions (hey I was taking Vicodin and middle aged, I need notes people!) and left with nothing. I asked that when I was there that I do things I cannot do at home — therapist working on my knee, ultrasound etc. I belong to the Redwood City YMCA and don’t want to pay to go ride Star’s bikes. Therapist talked around my comment but did not agree to put together a plan with my wishes in place.
At several points in the hour I was there (as a brand new patient) I was left sitting on the exam table just waiting for someone to come do something. No organized system seemed to be in place. My time is as valuable as everyone else so didn’t appreciate being ignored.
I ended up needing surgery and had it done a week ago by Dr. Bradley Graw at SOAR, great doctor and staff there! I moved my care to Shoenstein Physical Therapy in Redwood City on Veteran’s Blvd. Went there Monday and what a different experience! My therapist Kevin spent the hour WITH me checking my knees, showing me stretches, making sure I had copies of exercises to do at home. Needless to say I will be moving forward at Shoenstein now.

A physical therapy friend of mine gave me a description for STAR – «shake and bake.» They put a warming pad on you, do a little massage, send you off to do your exercises, then ice you with electrical stimulation. Each therapist seems to have several patients going at once, not really working with any one patient for any length of time.
My therapist paid very little attention to me. I actually had to ask her many times whether I was doing a particular exercise correctly, whereupon she would come over to me and show me some kind of adjustment. (This was while she was standing at a counter/​console, supposedly practicing physical therapy.)
It is a friendly place, with lots of talking and interaction. However, paying them for physical therapy was a waste of my (and my insurance company’s) money.
I have since been to Adient Sports in Palo Alto twice, post surgery. They are true professionals, and work with you to achieve results, including hands-​on therapy. No comparison!

STAR Physical Therapy is an interesting place.
The therapist I worked with was highly skilled, patient, and well, not with me that much. The therapists have to balance two, and sometimes three people at the same time. This might work for you. Not for me. I can do exercises by myself at home. I come in to PT to have a therapist work with me.
Huge screen tv, turned up loud with football. Everyone that works there is friendly, and gregarious, shouting hello and how are you across the room at each other.
Normally I would appreciate this environment, but I was in a lot of pain, and well, not in a jovial spirit.
Facility has a lot of equipment, and lots of room to move around.

3^rd time at star and have been happy with the experience and results every time. Worked with rick, Howard, and Michelle all of which are very good. Staff is very nice and make you feel at home. Absolutely loved being here on rock day!

First time I’ve had PT that actually did what they were suppose to do.
Danielle is awesome! I have been working with her for my lower back since Feb. and thanks to her helpful hands, advice and guidance, I am finally able to get back to the gym and start working out again.
Once I was ready (with a helpful little push), they got me back into their gym working out little by little. Because of that, today, I am able to walk back into my gym and workout.
A great group of people to work with proving that PT really does work and it not just there to massage.
Big THANK YOU to the crew and especially to Danielle! :0)

I gave a rating of 1 star because this place is not a good fit for me. It might be good for some people, though.
I have some doctor approved goals that I am working toward (getting back on the bike and skis) after an ACL reconstruction. The physical therapists at Star appear to be philosophically opposed to goals. They have a cookie cutter pipeline they put you through. If you happen to make enough progress to achieve a goal, it is a nice coincidence, but not by design.
I came to them with doctor approved goals and was looking for 2 things:
* help meeting those goals
* help to create a program with intermediate goals so that I stay on track
In my case, more than one physical therapist there explicitly refused to help me with those 2 things. My guess is that creating individual programs for each patient interferes with their cookie cutter pipeline method, which is probably very profitable for them.
If you are not an athlete, not goal-​oriented, and are just looking for a relaxing and social place to recover from an injury or surgery, I’m sure Star would be happy to collect your insurance money with a smile. On the other hand, if making progress is important to you, I recommend looking elsewhere.

The worst service I have ever experienced. I worked with Sara. I had ACL Reconstruction Surgery, and was recommended to do physical therapy. I was excited to be on my way to recovery, and the first appointment went great. I enjoyed the fact that she gave me papers of exercises that I can do to speed up my recovery.
After we got our acquaintances out of the way, she started acting very cold. She would work on my knee for 20 minutes and would make me do the exact exercises that I did at home. Not only that, she wouldn’t watch me to see if I did them correctly. Next, a 10 minute ride on the bike (Lady, don’t you know I go to Stanford? That’s all we ever do to get around…) After a 10 minute icing of my knee (Did I mention I could do this at home?), she’d send me off on my way.
Then she has the guts to tell me to come more often. Are you joking me? I’m not retarded.
If you’re looking to have a chat with a PT, then sure this is your place to go. It just seems like a yuppy hang out place for those that have aches from aging… but if you’ve got things to do, this is DEFINITELY not the place for you.

I don’t generally review a business unless I feel it rates a 5 star. I can say I’m receiving the most knowledgeable, personal attention available. I went to other establishments before Star Physical Therapy — just to check them out. No contest. The others fell short. From Charlie in the office to Kathleen as receptionist.. .everyone takes pride in offering the best in service. Howard has over 20 years experience working personally with each patience’s doctor. He keeps a close eye on your progress and knows how and when to push you to obtain the best results. After an injury it is encouraging to be able to feel progress each week.

Knowledgeable staff, variety of rehabilitative equipment (and multiples of most equipment so you’re not waiting to use things).
As noted in some of the other reviews, there’s definitely a level of sociability, but I wouldn’t call it reminiscent 80s aerobics instruction or anything (there’s no one yelling ‘woo!’ or ‘feel that burn!’ or such things). When I’m getting my therapy, I’m not social, personally (not standoffish, but I have nothing to say about the sports they’re talking about or what their kids did and the like).
There is, as noted in other reviews, some patient overlap, but I’ve never felt abandoned by my therapist. If you need someone standing next to you to critique your every move, maybe this would bug you. I specifically *don’t* want that, so I like that I’m left to do my exercises in whatever order I choose. If I have a question I ask it. If my therapist wants to change something (such as «I want you on there for 15 minutes, now»), she’ll chime in.

Leslie Rocks!\
She has treated my back, ankle and also my husbands ankle.
Always with a smile and a gentle push. The perfect balance.

I’ve had a few injuries in the past year, and have been to several physical therapy places. Star was not for me.
The physical therapists at Star are expected to treat several patients at once. This means they throw some ice on your injury, run off to treat some other patient, and run back 10 minutes later. Or… if they are busy, run back 15 minutes later. Maybe 20.
The only thing about Star that might be good, is that the atmosphere is social and upbeat. I mean ‘upbeat’ in the sense of an 80’s aerobics video or high school cheer squad (which drove me nuts) but I could see the atmosphere did make some people happy. Remember though, that social therapy is not physical therapy — if you’re looking for a good time, this might be the place, but with such a large number of people around, don’t expect to get much medical attention.