Step Ahead Physical Therapy

This place is more massage parlor turned PT then anything else. Not that professional and kinda all over… keep looking.

In 2010 – 2011, I worked with Andy Ciarletta and then Rebecca Wheatland. Each of them is incredibly knowledgeable — in fact, it struck me that they knew far more about muscles and joints, and about how the whole body is connected, than most MDs — who all seem to have devolved into left-​pinky-​specialists and right-​pinky-​specialists. Becky told me that she thought I probably needed a hip replacement and urged me to get an x-​ray. Turned out she was right and that I had no cartilage left. Now I’m having lower back issues AND am about to get a second bionic hip. I desperately wish I could go back to Step Ahead, but sadly they don’t take the insurance that we switched to. In the interim, I have experienced two factory practices (Sports and Physical Therapy Associates in Kendall Square and Harvard Vanguard in Davis Square), both of which I attended only briefly because they were so awful by comparison that there seemed to be no point in continuing. Step Ahead gives you personalized service, they don’t hand you off to 12-​year-​olds, and they really seem to know what they’re doing. I’m almost tempted to pay out of my own pocket for post-​surgical rehab at Step Ahead, that’s how highly I think of them. Alas, I’m not sure it’s worth courting bankruptcy for that…

Andy is a life saver, the PT you dream of having. I have suffered with L5S1 slipped disc related back pain for years until I found Andy. He understood my disc issue, but worked to diagnose it better than any doctor I’d seen. His knowledge of anatomy enabled him to discover how issues related to my psoas and piriformis strains were keeping me in chronic pain. He has worked tirelessly at each session – e-​stim therapy with heat followed by deep (DEEP) tissue massage and then ice to cool it all down. He’s given me the most intense massage (more like body work) than I’ve ever had, taught me about self-​care, encouraged me to get a TENS unit for home use, and a foam roller. And it’s all paying off royally. Thanks to this man, I have a new lease on life! I’m going backpacking next year, something other doctors had told me I could never do again. I’m thrilled, and owe so much of my recovery to this genius of a PT.

Not much different from any regular physical therapy. I feel like i spent a lot of money there and in the end what helped is massage therapy. The stretch they had me do was really useless. My massage therapist showed me a stretch that worked awesome. In the end this place also refused to give me my leftover medication back that i paid for myself.

I don’t review stuff much, but I’ve had such a great experience working with Andy that I felt I needed to chime in.
Went to Step Ahead PT due to a shoulder injury. I had never been to a PT place before and really wanted to avoid surgery and decrease my shoulder pain.
Long story short, Andy was super professional, available, and really gave me one-​on-​one attention. Like any PT you have to continue to do things at home but I left every session feeling great.
I’m training in the medical profession and am really interested in musculoskeletal health. Andy was a great resource as I made sure to pick his brain and he seemed to really enjoy teaching. He also spoke about several publications and resources he keeps up with to stay abreast of the most current research and science in Physical Therapy.
Wish I could give Andy and Step Ahead 6 stars!

I went here after rotator cuff surgery and was amazed by the results of Karen Deane’s therapy treatments. Every treatment gave me more relief. I asked my doctor to check my hips and he recommended physical therapy again. And again I received
immediate relief from her treatments. I thought I needed hip surgery but was pleasantly surprised. It was also pleasant with Andy close by adding to the friendly atmosphere. I have already recommended a friend who intends to start treatments soon. Definitely 5 stars…

I have been to physical therapy at two other supposedly professional establishments and in college. Mass General and Northeast Rehab and both places were hands-​off, impersonal and lacked serious knowledge to help rehabilitate me. Owner, Andy is the most dedicated and results oriented P.T. I have ever seen.
As a ex-​collegiate athlete with several past injuries (torn ACLU and rotator cuff) and now a back injury. Andy works directly with you AND provides direct hands-​on assistance. Andy rocks and has helped me improve greatly. I am always re-​injuring the problem area but Andy has a scheduled methodical plan of action for you. He does not just expect you to do everything and invests a lot of time working with you.
One thing worth noting! He is located in the gym facility in his own office. I was reluctant at first because I really thought the place was not legit but I can sincerely say he is better than the P.T.‘s I used at UMass, Mass General and Northeast Rehab by far! Andy is truly an expert and you can tell immediately he loves what he does and cares for each patient’s own injury.
Thank you Andy!