Julie Wong’s Proactive Clinic

Unable to stand up straight after a mastectomy with DIEP flap (abdominal) reconstruction, I had the good fortune of being sent to Julie Wong’s Proactive Clinic for physical therapy. Julie herself worked on me during that first visit. After she worked her magic, she asked me to stand up and walk around the room. I couldn’t believe what she was able to accomplish in just one visit. I was nearly 100% upright after being hunched over for 7 weeks! I cried pure tears of joy at turning such a huge corner in my recovery. I’ve been worshiping at the church of Julie Wong ever since.
Both Julie and Natalie (who is also amazing!) have shared their incredible gifts with me in the weeks following. Their multi-​faceted approach and hands-​on practice have accelerated my healing beyond what I thought was possible. Between their very capable care, a warm and welcoming staff (both front and back office), and the generous assistance from the wonderful patient aides, I cannot recommend this clinic highly enough.
My utmost gratitude goes to everyone in the clinic… Julie, Natalie, Rachel, Alex, Annissa, Alvin, Tina, Cara & Charlie. Thank you all for creating such a positive environment for healing and for helping me feel like myself again!

Sadly, Ms. Wong’s practice is one in which money takes precedence over healing. Why deal with Medicare and secondary insurance when you can attract a no-​doubt, younger, more lucrative clientele? I first came to Ms. Wong on the recommendation of my oncologist for truly horrible joint pain related to hormonal therapy and other injuries. Ms. Wong was excellent and after a few months of going to her and rigorously following home exercises, I felt much better. Then, the pain returned and I called again for an appointment. The response? You’ll have to wait for a Medicare opening — even though I still had the same excellent secondary insurance — which is basically the old fashioned fee-​for service. I called back again. Response? You can see someone else in the office. While that person may have been fine, Ms. Wong knew my case history and had experience with cancer. I find it inexplicable that a therapist would not want to treat a returning patient with whom she has many months of experience treating. Alas, welcome to the reality of boomtown SF.

These guys rock. They helped me no end on the road to recovery.

These people are passionate and focused on getting their patients better and back in the game of life and I could sense that the very minute I walked through the door and met them. Julie Wong helped me to heal my painful left shoulder by manipulating it and then devising a series of exercises for me. She gave me sage advice about my swimming schedule and telling me that «motion is lotion» and she was 100% on the money. All of the people at Proactive are very nice and completely professional and they really make you feel at home. In a time when hands-​on customer service is dead, this clinic is a refreshing change.

I’m a very active person and loves cross training. Unfortunately sometimes I get injured. In the last year I hurt my elbow and back lifting weights, my chin running, and my knee playing soccer. Natalie and the staff at PRO active where able to help and guide me to recovered every time! I’m very grateful of being a patient of PRO active clinic!

I have been a patient of Julie’s since January 2015 and initially I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find a new physical therapist or go back to my therapist I have been seeing for the past couple of years. Initially, I was somewhat put off by their fiscal policies because disability is a relatively low fixed income.
Julie is the absolute best… she is very caring and really well versed in orthopedic problems. I have never had a session with Julie where I did not leave feeling 90% better. She explains her techniques, she is patient with all of my questions, and she offers good sound advice about self-​care, pacing yourself for the best possible recovery.
I am very pleased with my choice, and I would recommend Julie to anyone who is in need of a caring, patient, and kind physical therapist who has superior skills. However, if you are low income, insurance coverage is limited, the clinic admin staff are more concerned about getting paid than your health. They cancelled my appointments because they thought my insurance would not pay… but they were wrong, they took money that was to be refunded as soon as they got paid, it took 5 months to get my money refunded after both my insurances paid the clinic. I gave them a chance to fix it, they did nothing.
Julie is EXCELLENT! Their back office and billing practices are unethical.

I have been coming here for over a year. I had knee surgery due to a torn meniscus in both right and left knees. The staff here is very personable and professional. My therapist Natalie Mar is amazing. She got me back walking and light jogging with full confidence. She is experienced and comes with a very impressive background. I feel like owe her so much more than displaying my walk and confidant smile. When I first had surgery and then 5 months later the second one unexpectedly I was mortified. But some how when things came full circle the healing began and I was able to walk again. So if you have concerns with injuries from sports or work or you have some concerns about how your body should operate physically. Check in with Natalie Mar and Julie Wong’s Therapy. This was a life changing experience for me and I’m certain it will be for you as well.

I rarely write reviews — it takes time to write proper feedback that is of value — but I feel compelled to make the effort here.
Situation:
I have been coming to Proactive for ~3 months for post breast cancer surgery care. One month after a unilateral mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction, I started coming to proactive twice a week. Although my oncology and reconstructive surgery were a success, it was a huge surgery, even for a fit, active, 40+ year old. A month after surgery, I was unable to stand up straight due to tight abdominal stitches, was walking/​shuffling very bent over, had an uneven gait, and had only about 20% rotation on my right arm. I was starting to worry that this state of physical limitation might be permanent! With a commitment to daily exercise and twice weekly physical therapy appointments, within 6 weeks I was walking normally upright and had near full rotation in my arms. No doubt, the body is able to heal naturally with rest, but it is with certainty that the speed of my recovery was expedited in the fastest and safest healing way with Proactive physical therapy. Both Julie and Natalie are outstanding in what they do.
Approach:
From a breast cancer care perspective Natalie and Julie know clinical disease well — they know the body from outside in and inside out anatomically! They are up to date with the multitude of different treatment regimes and provide a professional care provider and patient perspective (Julie is a survivor).I have been able to discuss expectations from appointment to appointment as well as the big picture– as I moved through my cancer journey. They continuously give me hope and reassurance along the way.
Benefits:
Most importantly I’d like to emphasize Proactive holistic treatment. Mobility of the surgical area is one thing. Getting full functionality of your body for maximum heading and general wellness is another. I have always felt that Proactive has given me a number of practical tools to use to get through the cancer journey. Eg I have learnt how to do manual lymphatic massage on myself. This has been invaluable to learn– to help move one’s bowels, reduce tummy ache due to chemo drugs and to help clear the toxic feeling after each chemo cycle. I have also learnt to improve my flexibility. I was not able to touch my toes prior to surgery — by the time I finish with Proactive– I am confident that I will not only be able to touch my toes but improve flexibility through out my whole body. Natalie and Julie also helped to increase blood flow to surgical areas and reduce scarring post surgically — this reduced tightness and helped with rapid healing. There is always some part of the body to improve.
With any treatment type through out a cancer journey it helps to have a partnership. In general, I do my homework. I read, I research. I consider all information that is provided to me and determine if and when it is best for me and when I am not sure, I ask.
At times when I have needed to ask questions to Natalie and Julie and they have provided me answers. Other times– they have been my guide– quickening the process for healing and giving heads up on what to expect along the cancer journey way– from how to prepare for side effects from chemo to when to increase exercise and reinstate a gym membership and how to listen to one’s body.
I hope other people will benefit:
Thorough out the cancer journey– as a patient we have so much to learn, endure and go through. Without doubt– my physical therapy appointments have been an activity that have been a main stay to getting through cancer treatment.
All the Proactive staff are professional, honest, knowledgeable, humble, genuine, compassionate and approachable. One only has to ask. Julie, Natalie, Alex, Stephen, Tina… do their best to make you comfortable — thank you.
I am so grateful that I was referred to Proactive and I came to this clinic from day one. I did not have to shop around. I did not have to doubt the service or care. My surgeons did a great job referring me to Proactive. I have always had phenomenal care. I hope others will be able to receive the same outstanding care that I have.
With much gratitude and I look forward to more continuing care until the end of this current journey.

Julie Wong’s Proactive clinic is a terrific place for physical therapy. After I had ACL surgery in April, Natalie helped me get back to speed & provided me with lots of helpful exercises & information on rehabilitating my knee. The practice is both very professional & also welcoming and friendly. Everyone here is happy to see you & remembers you (even though I only have been going once a month or so). I highly recommend Julie Wong’s — Natalie, Alex, and the whole team here are great.

More than two years after I first started seeing Julie Wong for treatment of my lymphedema after breast surgery, I am still making appointments once a month for «maintenance» treatments. What is important here is that my former health insurance paid for the treatments. Now, I pay for the treatments, and am happy to do so because Julie Wong has kept me out of that hated stretchy, tight, hot, horrid lymphedema sleeve!

I had a snowboarding injury to my shoulder that lingered on and on. I was finally convinced to go to PT by my doctor. While originally dreading the experience, Natalie made each appointment a step in my full recovery (i’m back climbing regularly with no pain!). I cannot rave enough about Natalie’s professional demeanor, bedside manner and overall badassedness. She continually pushed me and provide advice to maintain healthy. In addition to Natalie the staff and all the aides were fantastic. No one wants to get hurt but if you do these amazing people will help you get better.

I had ankle stabilization surgery about three months ago. I chose Julie Wong’s because it was close to me, had good Unilocal reviews and had availability. I have been working with Natalie almost bi-​weekly since then and couldn’t be more pleased. She is incredibly thorough, professional and caring. This is my third time in rehab therapy and I can say that the whole process of making appointments, PARKING (free and close by) going to treatment could not have been better. And, I’m getting sdtronger and much more flexible-​so much so that I will probably have to stope soon and I will miss these people from Cara at the front desk to the wonderful aides Steven, Alex and Leah. Thank you!

[ ADDENDUM 4÷1÷14 — As far as I can tell I was NOT injured further as a result of the exercise in question, and Dr. Dye today provided me a further clarification: Since the exercise didn’t cause immediate pain while I was doing it, he thinks it probably did not injure me further. ]
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I had a downright chilling experience here. In short: They led me through exercises, and sent me home with instructions to repeat them religiously every single day, that SLOWED my recovery and could have INJURED me further, according to my doctor. More importantly: When informed of this, they didn’t offer a refund or even apologize. Instead they acted as if this were completely the norm, and business as usual.
Thanks to a knee injury I was referred to Dr. Dye, an orthopedic surgeon whom a half-​hour of Google research indicated to be one of the nation’s top knee experts. And he really does seem to know his stuff. But Dr. Dye ended up sending me to Julie Wong’s clinic for physical therapy and guidance as to how to physically take care of my knee and the surrounding tissue, and engage in day-​to-​day activity during recovery (how to climb stairs most safely, etc.) Wong’s employees get straight As for friendliness and encouragement, and I went home after that first visit feeling like they really knew what they were doing. (Incidentally: They really do come across as nice, caring people, so it’s no fun writing this, but I feel the responsibility to do it so other patients can avoid injury.)
Spring arrived and I REALLY wanted my knee to heal so I can get out there. So I followed the instructions and carefully did the exercises every single day.
Weeks later when I returned to Dr. Dye for a check-​up, he told me to be careful to avoid flexing the knee very far, for instance to avoid yoga poses like the half lotus, that involve flexing the knee almost all the way. Little did he know that one of the exercises the clinic had me doing every single day was to flex the knee ALL the way and hold it that way for 30 seconds twice a day. When I informed Dr. Dye of that, he seemed flabbergasted and he told me to completely stop doing that exercise, because it could hurt my knee and certainly slow the recovery process!
I returned to Wong’s clinic for a physical therapy appointment the next day, and that’s when the truly CHILLING part of the story went down — the part when I told them about Dr. Dye’s reaction and instructions. This news didn’t seem to faze them at all — it was as if I said «The weather report says it might rain tonight,» rather than, essentially, «What you taught me to do, what you prescribed, and the service you’re charging me for, is not only the wrong thing, it’s counterproductive — it’s hurting, not helping.» Business as usual. «OK, let’s do this other exercise instead.» It felt as if this sort of thing happened every day! Mistakes happen, even the best experts in the world make them and I expect them. How they’re dealt with is what matters, and that’s the really scary part of this experience.
I warn everyone reading this: Avoid this clinic. And be aware of how easy it is to pay for fake rave reviews on Unilocal.
Above and beyond that — I’ve been lucky enough to be a pretty healthy guy so far, but this was a wakeup call about the state of our health care system overall, the clear lack of communication between doctors and other caregivers, and the bottom line that you REALLY are responsible for your own health and safety. It’s only you. Caveat emptor.
So before you go to any doctor, physical therapist or caregiver, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. And push very hard to avoid any drugs or services that aren’t absolutely necessary. I trust my body to heal itself a lot more than I trust the healthcare system that I pay so much for.

Julie Wong is god-​sent!
On Sunday, I woke up around 3 am and found myself in pain around the thoracic spine area. The next morning, right when I was thinking about checking myself into ER, my husband suggested to give Julie Wong a call. It was Julie’s day off; however, she was so nice and decided to help me.
Julie is friendly and exceptionally experienced. She identified the problem areas with a quick diagnose and went straight to tackle those problem-​causing vertebrae, muscles, tendons, and joints. During the session, she explained each and every one of her movements, quite educational. It was a miracle! I went in with a stiff body afraid of pain caused by any minute movement. Within an hour, I was as good as new.
I am calling my orthopedic surgeon to have my physical therapy prescription transferred to Julie Wong’s Proactive Clinic, definitely going back to her!

Nathalie is an angel sent from heaven. I’m not kidding.
I have suffered with a rotator cuff impingement for over a year now, and it seriously affected my ability to exercise, drive, sleep, and pretty much do anything else that involves my shoulder.
She is patient, very knowledgeable, intelligent and explains everything with the upmost care. I’ve been seeing her for almost 2 months now, and I’ve come a LONG way since then. She’s very friendly, always creating small talk and making our session worthwhile. I always look forward to coming to the clinic because of the great and positive energy that surrounds me when I’m there! I consider Nathalie and the rest of the staff my friends, not just my therapists. I can confidentially say that I’m 95% healed (I still have a few more sessions left). I have absolutely no pain or discomfort anymore, all because of Nathalie!
Cara, is super funny and friendly. She makes it very easy to make appointments, and is always on top of everything. She reminds me of when I need to come in, and always makes sure that my appointment requests are accommodated.
Stephanie, the aide, is SUPER CUTE! She’s so much fun to talk to, and is very helpful and clear about the home exercises. She takes care of you in the end by making sure that you’re comfortable while laying down with the ice pack and the massager machine.
Tina, the accounts manager, is also very accommodating and helpful. My insurance plan was a little messy, but she was super understanding and did her best to help me.
Unfortunately I didn’t really get the chance to meet or speak to Julie Wong much because she’s always busy with other patients, but I can tell that she’s a well respected and very knowledgeable lady from what I’ve read and heard about her.
Overall, this place deserves 100 stars. JWPC, you guys are AWESOME! I love every one of you! Thank you so much for everything.

Julie Wong’s Proactive Clinic is AWESOME!
After extensive surgery for breast cancer I was assigned to a Physical Therapist near my home in Contra Costa County. Then I saw my Plastic Surgeon and was referred to Julie Wong’s Proactive Clinic for the most advanced care possible.
I called even though I was leaving on a trip in 2 days. «No, we need to get you in before you fly!» said Charlie and I was scheduled for the next morning. I met Julie and was introduced to an entirely new level of PT. After one hour I felt immediately better and had exercises to do while I was on my trip.
When I returned from travel i was back at the Proactive Clinic. Again, immediate improvement. The staff is exceptional. The Physical Therapists are well trained and very positive. The administrative staff is beyond helpful in scheduling and keeping me informed of new ideas. The facility is clean and fun and the parking is free.
The most important thing for me is to feel better, improve my flexibility and regain my strength. All this is happening and at warp speed! Thank you, Julie and team Proactive.
Judy B.

I tore my ACL and Julie and her staff are working to get me back in the game without having to have surgery. Julie takes the time to explain everything and everyone is very friendly and helpful. I am very glad I found this clinic.

Julie and her staff create an atmosphere of healing, education, encouragement, nurturing — exactly what I needed after my injury.
I cannot recommend this clinic highly enough!

This clinic was recommended to me by a very reputable and highly-​respected orthopedic surgeon in the East Bay.
My shoulder had been sore for months, and was only getting worse. I had limited range of motion, and it was pretty painful to work out.
I had never experienced physical therapy before, and was very skeptical that it would help.
Parking here is really easy (Safeway parking lot), the front office staff is professional, and booking appointments in easy.
After only 6 visits with Carrie, I was back to 100%.
Carrie is a miracle worker. It is obvious she is very experienced, and apparently people come to see her from as far away as the central valley.
She explained to me exactly what was wrong with my shoulder, and was very good about answering questions and letting me know what type of progress I may expect.
When you have someone working on your shoulder for 20 minutes at a time, it is helpful that you actually like the person. Carrie has a great personality, is laid back, and really fun to talk to. Thanks!

Julie Wong’s Proactive Therapy was recommended to me by my general practitioner for lower back problems that had been ailing me for the past year or so — thank goodness I actually went and followed through because over time, therapy, exercises and being more aware of my posture and core has helped me immensely!
Over about a 3-​month period, physical therapist Carrie Cameron saw me twice a week during the first 7 weeks and then we changed it to once a week as I improved. Carrie is wonderful to work with — very approachable and open, easy to talk to, good sense of humor, and is supremely skilled & patient with the time that it takes to help you through. And the clinic assistant, Ernest, was reliably there to help with teaching me exercises and administering electro-​treatment.
Appointments are easily made with Joanne (can be made in 3-​week blocks if needed) and the management and staff are all so friendly. Over the 3 months coming into Proactive, I got into my routine of seeing them all and will miss them!
My lower back feels much, much better from where I started, and I now know exercises and stretches to take with me to help strengthen my core to keep my back healthy. I would definitely recommend this clinic for your physical therapy needs and especially recommend the PT experience of Carrie Cameron (Thank you, Carrie!).
The clinic is clean and well-​lit. They provide lockers for your personal belongings and comfortable change of clothes if needed. And as an aside, they have the best background music! :) As a child of the 70s and 80s, their music is so fun and will bring back happy memories — I’ll miss that too! Thank you, All!