I'd seen a variety of healers from chiropractic and sports masseuse to medical and orthopedic doctors. They could only tell me that my back or ankles were not aligned, but they couldn't tell me what was causing my pain or how to relieve it. Then I found Jera, and in the first consultation she identified the source of my problems and helped me! After the first appointment, I was amazed, and by the second appointment I was almost totally pain-free. Jera has a very positive, practical approach to healing and explains things in a way that makes sense. She provided me very simple exercises to help maintain my improvements, and I also found that I can use the exercises when my knee gets tweaked and I'm "restored" like magic! I went in to address a gradual decline that over the years started to affect my ability to exercise and finally even walk. I left able to walk, jump, run, and dance! What's more, the improvements have sustained...it's been 1.5 years since my last appointment and I haven't had any issues. However, I'd go back to Alternative Physical Therapy in a heartbeat if I have any problems in the future. I'd recommend Jera to anyone who is suffering or just wants to optimize their performance! She's very knowledgeable and takes the time to get to know you and how your body works. read more

Jera has moved to Rancho Bernardo--- it's a great location, plenty of parking and very accessible. Her new office is spacious and stunning. Love it. Sprained my knee and she worked her magic. Yes, "magic" walked out feeling 60% better. Swelling has gone down. Expect to make a speedy recovery. Highly recommend to Poway and Rancho Bernardo community and all of San Diego. Her physical therapy work is magical and she is a rare talent. Go see Jera! read more

Jera is hands down the best physical therapist I have ever been to. She knows exactly what to do to relieve pain and improve function. I have been going to her on and off as needed over the past few years and I'm never disappointed... in fact, I'm always amazed. I had surgery on my wrist for Kienbock disease and she was so helpful in easing the pain and increasing my mobility and function. Recently I had a bad case of bronchitis that resulted in constant coughing. I pulled all kinds of muscles in my torso and my lungs - Jera was able to make everything feel better in just one session. I don't know what I would do without her! Don't hesitate to make an appointment and give her a try. I guarantee you won't regret it!!! read more

I suffered from Post Concussive Syndrome as a former fighter and was dealing with concussion symptoms for over 4 years when I first met Jera. I was constantly in pain, had headaches, brain fog, difficulty with visual tracking and low energy levels. I had been to 5 different "concussion specialists" and neurologists but the results they produced were minimal with one even saying "it might get better with time but you may always feel like this" after meeting with me for only 15 minutes!!! After working with Jera I immediately started to notice improvements after the first few sessions. I still don't quite know what she does or how she does it but every time I leave I am shocked that she had accomplished so much in 45 minutes. I am now able to do the things I never could and live a normal life again. I am very grateful for everything she has done for me as I never thought I would live a normal life again. read more

I have seen Jera for nearly a year for multiple issues. She provides a holistic approach and explains what she is doing and what you can to enhance her work. Aside from that she is a gentle caring person and makes you feel very comfortable. Kaitlyn is also great, very nice and friendly when you walk in or call! read more

Jera is a very skilled therapist! I'm almost sad to review her because if she gets popular I might not be able to see her so easily! But credit where credit is due right? Jera is the 2nd CFMT fully certified PT that I have had the pleasure of getting treated with. Like any other health field, different practitioner means different philosophies, techniques, and bedside manners. So to keep it simple let's just list out why she's awesome in the following categories. Attention to Care - She's an independent therapist and not with a large group. Plus it seems that CFMTs ( i could be wrong) seem to work one on one AND they do a lot of manual work, meaning they are working on you, palpating you, checking you. You aren't just given exercises. (that's not to down your PT but insurance dictates what some are able to do) Bedside Manner - Encouraging and listens! Who wants to go to a healthcare practitioner who doesn't listen or worse overlooks your symptoms, literally or figuratively. Ever meet someone in the healthcare field who just is so much smarter than you that they absolutely have to be above you and show you that with their unending knowledge and training? Yeah, I didn't go to them again or recommend them. Bottom line: I'm writing this review and I plan on seeing her if I need more work. Treatment - You know the story about how some people go to a massage and the the therapist actually hurts them because they aren't listening to the client? Yeah that's most likely not going to happen with Jera. Her treatment is gentle and you feel cared for so if something hurts she usually asks. Even if she thinks it might be uncomfortable she lets you know. Certified Functional Manual Therapists are hard to find! Plus she knows trigger point therapy and visceral manipulation. She might have more skills up her sleeve but if you look those up you'll see how valuable those techniques truly are. Did she get me better? - YES! I'm pregnant and injured my pubic bone during exercise. Walking was awful on top of being pregnant and I couldn't do very much yoga because of it. I was able to walk, sit and move without pain. As a result of her working on my hips and pelvis the pain from sneezing when you're prego was so much better too. I have come in for tuneups with her. (If you are wondering why, it's mainly because I'm pregnant & hip/pelvic issues don't just go away until baby is here.) But the main issues sheered pubic bone and twisted sacrum have not come back. I can't say enough about really great PTs and healthcare practitioners like Jera. Not only is she great but she has confidence in referring you! If she can't treat you she is more than happy to help refer you. When a a company or a person is confident enough to do that, you have to think, 1. they are doing well enough they aren't afraid to refer out and 2. They must be and feel confident in their own skill to refer to others and 3. They believe in their community of practitioners and must have a friendly network with them. ALL good things to know about anyone caring for you. So please do yourself a favor, if you are injured or just have questions please go see her or call her! read more

Jera is amazing!!! Her office is in a great location and is easy to find plus her space in huge! She is the only physical therapist that helped and healed me after a serious car accident. She is very comforting and well knownlwgable about the body and you can tell that with her work. I call her my "magician" therapist because she truly is a miracle worker and if I hadn't found her I'm not sure how i would have recovered. read more

After receiving a friendly call from Jera apologizing for my experience, she encouraged me to book an initial visit. I had my first appointment with Jera today and I'm really glad I decided to give it another try. She is an amazingly knowledgeable practitioner. And she's a genuinely nice person. I came in with 5/10 hip pain and left with a 1/10. Pretty good for my first treatment. We talked extensively at the beginning regarding my health history and I left the office with tips, recommendations and exercises until my next visit. Her technique is skilled and delicate but very effective. I would highly recommend her. Thanks so much Jera. read more

Customer satisfaction comes first! Everything about this operation exemplifies their commitment to make sure the patient has a stress free, one on one, pain relief visit. The office manager, Kaitlin, makes every person feel welcomed and informs of any time management changes so you aren't left wondering when you'll be seen. I've started my RedCord sessions with Cathie who is very personable and encouraging. The 2 sessions so far have been a wealth of knowledge as far as what my body strengths and weaknesses at my old age. I've seen some improvements and have been notified on what behaviors to change to target what needs to get stronger. So far a very positive experience and I've already bought 5 more sessions in advance. I don't feel like I'm just a patient they are trying to get out the door; we are journeying together instead to help find the right fix. read more

Gerra Ratliff is very experienced and intuitive therapist. I came after whiplash injury and felt much better only after 2 visits. The office is very clean and spacious. The stuff if friendly and professional. read more

Jera is an amazing and knowledgeable therapist.. she is caring and listens well to my issues. She is a wonderful partner in my recovery and I would highly recommend her! read more

I've been seeing Jera Ratliff for physical therapy for several years. Jera is very involved with her patients; very thorough documenting your medical history. She has helped me through very serious neck pain, balance, constipation, you name it! I've been to other practitioners but they used a little heat, a little massage and sent me on my way. Not Jera! Alternative PT is right. She doesn't stop her approach to healing until she has success. I'm 75 and will be with her until I'm 95! Her personal involvement includes not only a call & email about your appointment but a personal email to follow up, even calls. She doesn't seem to be bound to a 1 hour appointment but takes the time needed. Jera is constantly learning with her guru and classes with advanced techniques. She's a true professional wth a very big heart. You will not be disappointed. You've nothing to lose if you have tried other methods to relieve chronic pain without success. Make an appointment today! read more

Abdominal adhesion pain is GONE. Jera is magical. No kidding. For 27 years I had the same very specific pains in my gut following complications after a cesarean. Jera has eliminated the pain in just TWO visits! And she's so gentle, too! My gratitude is enormous. read more

Jera is great. Compassionate and effective! She thinks outside the box and customizes everything. Not at all like the stanard pt where they just hand you sheets of paper and measure your mobility. She actually works her magic and last session I gain 10° more in shoulder mobility. I live in Carlsbad and worth the drive! read more

As a person who loves to exercise and play sports I have had to utilize physical therapy from time to for almost 40. I was referred to Jera by another therapist from orange county 2 years ago. Since then Jera has been very helpful in resolving a 40+ year lower back issue and more recently a neck issue, in only 1-2 visits!! Last year my lower back issue began to effect my hip (same side). Jera recommended i try "red chord" therapy. I must admit i was initially very skeptical but after doing some research i decided to give it a try. After about 10 sessions, both issues resolved (no more back pain or hip pain) and I remained that way for about 9 months. This was by far the longest I've lived completely without any low back pain! Cathie, the therapist, was amazing in implementing the red chord therapy as well as recommending exercises to support the treatments. As mentioned, i have utilized physical therapy for almost 40 years and the care I've received by Jera and Cathie has been outstanding. I highly recommend Alternative Physical Therapy. read more

Excellent physical therapy practice. I choose to go to Alternative Physical Therapy (based on its excellent evaluations), while awaiting an orthopedic appointment that was 2 months away. I needed immediately help due to severe knee pain. My physical therapist, Cathie Gillespie, was brilliant. With massage, manipulation and strength/flexibility exercises, I had less pain while awaiting my orthopedic appointment. Most importantly, she believed I had a damaged medial meniscus which I relayed to my orthopedic surgeon who requested an MRI before I met with him. It turns out I had a severely damaged medial meniscus which required surgery. I continued to see Cathie after my surgery - she definitely helped me recover more quickly. I highly recommend Alternative Physical Therapy. read more

Jera has helped me successfully return to running after being side-lined for over 2 years with an overuse injury & history of related injuries. I had seen multiple other PTs, acupuncturists, massage therapists, & sports med physicians before finding Jera. She has been the one who most comprehensively evaluated my situation, customizing a treatment plan that allowed me to progress safely & steadily. She understands & honors the importance of a holistic approach to optimal healing and well-being. read more

I came to see Jera after experiencing whiplash from a car accident. She takes a holistic approach to treatments, looking at the whole body to ensure the source of pain is addressed and corrected. Its amazing to see how pain in one part of the body can be caused by a problem elsewhere that I would not have recognized. Jera was able to trace problems to the source and provide relief. I had a variety of symptoms from subtle dizziness to acute lower back pain and she was able to address and provide relief for all of them. I came in one day walking with a limp unable to cross my ankle over my knee and was able to walk out completely normally with my normal range of motion restored. On top of that she is a very warm, friendly, genuine person and is wonderful to work with! I highly recommend Jera and will be returning to see her for any future physical therapy needs! Thank you Jera! read more

My daughter had been suffering from chronic migraines and stomach pain for two years before our first appointment with Jera. Due to medical doctors not knowing how to help her, we turned to neurologists, homeopathic doctors, acupuncturists, as well as other physical therapists, without any success. In just ONE visit with Jera, she was able to help us uncover several hidden issues and possible causes for her chronic pain. She asked questions no one had ever thought to ask before! Jera's intuitiveness and ability to truly listen to what my daughter described, helped reveal things that remained mysteries to every other doctor who attempted to treat her over the years! After only a handful of treatments, there was a significant difference in my daughter's overall physical, mental and emotional health. It has been almost a year since her last treatment and she is still doing wonderfully. I am forever grateful to Jera for knowing exactly how to treat the root cause of my daughter's health issues, and for being the only person who has ever truly been able to help her. read more

I have been to many, many health practitioners, PTs, acupuncturists, chiros, etc., seeking help and relief for back pain and other issues -- almost none of them have helped. Then there was Jera, who is exceptional in so many ways. She is that perfect mix of hyper-experienced, yet always learning and listening. Other practitioners think they know how to "fix" you and may think they "know best," (read: better than you) despite you reporting increased pain after their treatments. Jera listens, adjusts, and humbly manages to relieve your pain in what may seem like mysterious ways. It's difficult to understand just exactly how it happens, precisely because much of it feels very gentle. I recommend Jera to everyone, but especially to those who have chronic issues that have been resistant to other treatments. You can feel better! Jera will help you, just like she has helped me. read more

I have been treated by Jera at Alternative Physical Therapy for several injuries over the years. She's worked on my shoulders, back, and neck. She's a very experienced practitioner and has been able to quickly assess and treat my injuries. Thanks to her, I'm able to function and live without pain. If you have aches and pains that are keeping you from the activities you enjoy, make an appointment. I highly recommend Jera and Alternative Physical Therapy. read more

I have suffered from TMJ disorder and its associated pain symptoms for many years.  I was told by several doctors there wasn't much to do, expect to take pain medication.  I decided to look for alternative solutions for pain relief.  After hearing many positive reviews about Jera at Alternative Medicine I decided to give it a shot.  The thought of reducing or eliminating my discomfort in a more organic/natural method was very hopeful and appealing to me, so i set up an appointment with Jera.  During my treatment Jera noticed some issues with my right shoulder.  I had some shoulder pain about a month before and had gone to physical therapy, but it had felt better since then.  Well turns out Jera found that my shoulder was pulling on a nerve that was associated with my TMJ leading to my pain.  After my treatment I felt so relaxed that I just wanted to go to sleep.  I went home and did something I never do during the day... sleep for three hours straight.  The following day my pain was gone.  I am so glad and thankful that I decided to go with Jera.  Her methods and treatment are truly amazing!!! read more

Jera is an amazing and talented Physical Therapist. She definately knows her anatomy and neurology. She has helped me with my lower back and my ankles. I get treated by a lot of different people and she is the best PT person in the business. Give it a go and you won't regret it!! read more