This review is long overdue - I'm a climber and have seen Natasha about some shoulder issues. Natasha completely rewired how I think about injury: I now recognize that one must engage in an active rehab program and focus on healing AND gaining strength simultaneously to promote recovery. She is an excellent diagnostic, and creates a strength-based rehab program to address root weakness so that you can return to sport recovered and stronger than before. From her I have learned so much about self-treatment and have gained holistic knowledge rather than one-time relief. Natasha is highly responsive to follow up questions regarding protocol and form - I've exchanged dozens of emails with her - and she is clearly invested in the progress and outcomes of those she works with. She is also just an awesome person - confident, compassionate, and she has a great sense of humor. Just the demeanor you need when you're feeling anxious about an injury and prognosis! Her blog is also an informative and well-written resource. I am so grateful to Natasha - we are so lucky to have her in our community. read more

I'm writing this review as a climber and is meant for climbers since I cannot speak for other disciplines. I've had reoccurring shoulder issues for about a year. I begrudgingly decided to see a therapist but I wanted my therapist to fully understand climbing related injuries. My search lead me to Natasha. Natasha is sincere about how she doesn't want to keep seeing you for rehab (something I really appreciated). She showed me how to self-rehab my shoulder injures and to prevent further injuries. After a few weeks, my shoulder was no longer having issues. I've continued her suggested weight training and climbing posture improvement techniques. Its been ~4 months since my first (of only 2) sessions with Natasha. I have not had any shoulder issues since then and I swear her sessions has improved my climbing. Thanks Natasha! read more

I'm a regular surfer and climber (3x's weekly) and 37 years old. Needless to say injuries and body pain are a part of my life. I met Dr. Barnes over 5 years ago and haven't stopped seeing her since my first visit. She's helped me through numerous injury recoveries and also supports me with regular "maintenance" to prevent me from getting to a bad place. - Amazing at explaining what she is doing and why it's important - She's constantly learning the latest recovery science and pushes herself to stay up to date - Has introduced me to cupping and Active Release Therapy - Has taught me exercises along with lacrosse ball rolling and foam rolling - She gets the active/athlete mentality and helps me focus on what's most important when healing or recovering. - She likes Game of Thrones. Bottom line...my pain level has dramatically decreased since I started seeing Dr. Barnes. read more

Natasha is great. My wife and I have both been using her services for more than 6 months and we are huge fans. We are climbers, surfers, and currently continuing a focused powerlifting program and really enjoy working with her. Everything from chiropractic, to rehab and tissue work, she does a great job and I really appreciate her knowledge, point of view, and personal background of high-level achievement in multiple sports. Also important is that she's just really a great person and we enjoy our time with her. She practices in what I consider a pretty straightforward way and doesn't lose you in a sea of complexity. I'm an older athlete and have had many injuries, seen a lot of different people, and learned & read a lot over the years. It's great when you can stick to what works simply and have someone like Natasha, who's keeping up with all of the thoughts & work out there, but you aren't bombarded with too much to think or worry about. Natasha keeps it simple and we've been able to work through some long-lasting injuries by just following a routine and knocking out the issue. Highly recommended! read more

As an avid rock climber, Natasha has shown me the importance of taking care of and preventing injuries - and I'm a better, more healthy climber for it. I first saw her due to a shoulder injury and she has been extremely helpful. Not only does Natasha do a great job as a chiropractor, but she takes the time to help me understand the anatomy and what exactly is happening underneath the skin. Although my shoulder is feeling better and I'm on a regular rehab schedule, I've committed to seeing Natasha to ensure I stay injury-free. She provides a great atmosphere and I owe her a lot! read more

The reviews were so promising. I really thought this would work out better. I tried to express that oftentimes it can be extremely hard for me to get to a gym (and also to PT). However, it was emphasized that I must do that rather than use hand weights and bands at home and the exercises were being doled out a horrifying slow rate- 1 or 2 per pricey session. I'm pretty sure that some kind of PT exercise regime could have been developed to accommodate a busy work schedule. But alas, a lack of understanding that I can't really lose my job made this sort of seem like it wasn't worth my while since clearly my needs weren't being taken into account and the heavy lifting exercises were being doled out at a rate of one or two exercises per $165 session. Kind of disappointing. read more

I am a competitive powerlifter. My training involves a lot of stress and equal levels of maintenance and recovery. Natasha Barnes is my go-to for helping me maintain my body so that I can safely push it when I need to. Because she has an excellent understanding of athletic demands, not just of powerlifting, she knows exactly what kind of bodywork I need and exactly what to tell me to do so I can do my own body work between sessions. I was experiencing some extreme hip pain last year that was severely limiting my training. Within three weeks she had diagnosed me and I was back to deadlifting pain-free thanks to Natasha. I highly recommend this type of body work if you are engaged in athletics or not. You'll likely never have the diligence or ability to subject yourself to it as much as you really need to. Natasha will take you beyond stretching, foam rolling and lacrosse ball mashing when you need it, but don't want to admit it. read more

Natasha has healing hands! I've been seeing Natasha since Fall 2013, and her care has done a world of difference on my body. I've been to other chiropractors before who only seem to know how to crack your back. Not Natasha. She customizes treatment on your body depending on what you need, spends A LOT of time working on your problem areas, and teaches you where the root causes of your ailments stem from, so you can be more mindful of how your body works. i've had just about every part of my body worked on by Natasha: shoulders, neck, lats, low back, glutes, IT band, knee, pectoral, hips, and more. I'd say my two favorite treatments are cupping, and active release (which is kind of like trigger-point massage therapy). She's also provided me with several self-care tips and exercises to do in between visits, which have been super helpful. Natasha is very intuitive about your body, and knows exactly how to treat it during your visit so you leave feeling healed. It's also incredibly helpful that she has a background in rock climbing and lifting, as that solidifies her understanding of how various sports and athletics stress the body. Regardless of whether or not you're an athlete, I highly recommend Natasha's care. Your body will thank you! read more

Where do I even begin? I found Natasha via Clinical Athlete (thank you Jesus that this network exists) and I will never look back. From my first visit with her to X # visit currently, I have never been disappointed. I always look forward to seeing her (despite being in some type of discomfort) because she always, always thoroughly explains what I need to do on my own to maintain our progress and to improve that even further. She always dedicates 200% of her heart, mind, and soul into each session even after a long and exhausting day. She is extremely prompt with communicating and scheduling and I seriously cannot thank Natasha enough. Without her, I probably wouldn't be back squatting or doing cleans from the floor at all, as I was told by someone else that I should not. AND I wouldn't have found courage within myself to TRUST my body to be able to get back to jerking and snatching. I am so so grateful I came across Dr. Barnes and that I had and have the opportunity to work with her. read more

Here's the TL;DR: If you are a serious competitive athlete, or a weekend warrior with an injury that needs to be managed, or even just a person with a couple kinks that need to be worked out, Natasha Barnes should be on your speed dial. I've been a competitive athlete since I was in school, and I've had a multitude of serious injuries throughout the years. My most recent injury was a torn hamstring, herniated disc and a sprained facet joint in my spine from a botched squat attempt with 500lbs in a powerlifting meet. I thought I was going to be sidelined for months and my career all but over, but at the urging of some friends, I saw Natasha. I went to Natasha twice a week and after 6 weeks, I was able to return to weight training again. A few more weeks after that and I was lifting heavy again with almost NO pain. By far the fastest I had ever recovered from perhaps my most serious spinal injury. She is attentive, warm and fun to talk to. But more than that, she knew almost instantly what kind of injury I had and furthermore, how to deal with it. She gave me great bodywork and adjustments and also helped give me a plan on how to manage and rehab my injury in my spare time. It's not always fun having bodywork or following a rehab plan, but if you do the work, you will get better under her watchful eye. Again, if you're a serious athlete with an injury or just someone who needs some work done, see her. read more

I do a good amount of climbing, running, and yoga, but have always been lax on taking steps to prevent injury. This year this finally caught up to me, and I started developing issues with my shoulder and knee. I came to see Natasha because as a climber and athlete I knew she would understand the movement mechanics that could lead to or aggravate the issues I was experiencing. She uses different techniques to treat injuries, and also prescribes strengthening and mobility work to help with maintenance. The lacrosse ball massage technique she showed me is a life changer! She is also a very nice, funny and interesting person to talk to, I always look forward to our appointments! read more

Been trying to rehab a damaged meniscus for months without success. On the first session with Natasha, she had me squatting with weight and corrected my form. Fast forward to a couple weeks later, my knee feels good and I'm very close to my previous maxes. Natasha also took the time to program for me, check my form on video and give me feedback on every single session. She's available at any time via text. 6 out of 5 stars read more

Truly incredible work and education by Dr. Barnes! I was told by three different MD's after 2 different MRI's that I would need surgery for a traumatic climbing-related knee injury. 5 weeks later I am working up to 1.5x body weighted deadlifts and squats- and feeling mentally and physically revitalized. Natasha's work is ultimately bringing up the overall quality of medicine that we as a community can expect - and rests on a foundation of functional medicine that doesn't require you to sit around and wait for your surgery date. I feel so lucky to have the knowledge that Natasha has passed along about my overall mobility/bio-mechanics. She is attentive, compassionate, and is evidence-based practice focused! Not only is this recovery flying by- but I look forward to doing my PT throughout the week almost as much as I do getting back to training. read more

Dr. Barnes is amazing! At Embrace Health she offers 30 minute appointments, which I've never found before with chiropractors. Prior to your adjustment you discuss your injury and assess progress/regression. She will tailor your appointment to address your needs and teach you various exercises or self massage techniques to help heal/prevent injury. Dr. Barnes also uses various soft tissue techniques, including cupping. Cupping it amazing and has been one of the most beneficial forms of soft tissue work that I've tried. It can sometimes be painful while the cups are on - but I would say it's a similar sensation to a deep tissue massage. I frequently get dark circle bruises from the cups, but they go away within a week and my muscles feel happier and healthier almost instantly, and definitely by the next day I have experiences significant improvement. read more

Natasha is a level above the rest. Her years as a professional athlete and her deep desire to understand functional body mechanics place her right at the cutting edge of the industry. Her approach is decisive, highly effective and educational. She uses numerous techniques including active release and myofacial work along with classic chiropractic adjustments. The combination of soft tissue work and realignment with an appropriate self-mobilization and strengthening plan is a life-changer. **As an athlete (rock and alpine climber) I have been working with Natasha for more than half a decade. In this time she has transformed my posture, corrected a number of functional issue with my climbing and swiftly rehabbed me through numerous injuries including a full rupture of my pectoralis major. ***As a professional coach and trainer I regularly refer my clients directly to Natasha during our initial assessment..... The response is always the same; 'Wow, she really is that good.' read more

Natasha was very welcoming and did an assessment of my lower back injury. More accurately, she was able to rule out a few more serious diagnoses. No adjustments or cupping were needed. Instead, we spent some time lifting weights, specifically doing squats and rack pulls. My injury occurred at the gym, and Natasha gave me the confidence to get back under the bar. She also suggested some new programming (STARR protocol) that has greatly increased the speed of my recovery. Although our appointment was scheduled to be one hour, she spent some extra time with me for no additional charge. I really appreciate the dedication and willingness to go the extra mile! read more

I am a proud chiro-veteran, having seen many in the past 20 years seeking cure for my neck tension and resulting frequent headaches. I work at a startup in SOMA and a lifetime in front of a computer takes its toll. I've always sorta believed in chiros--mostly because there aren't that many alternatives for persistent tension--and results traditionally were mixed: sometimes I'd feel better after for a few days, sometimes longer, sometimes not at all. I found Natasha randomly because she was 2 blocks from my company and went to see her. I chalked her optimism of "I'll fix you up permanently" to her youthful optimism, reminding her many had tried and failed, but I'd settle for a simple feeling better now. After seeing Natasha 1-2 X a week for the past 2-3 months, I can say unequivocally that I have improved! I am not talking a mere subjective observation, like "gee, I feel somewhat better today", but literally the number of pain meds and frequency of headaches has gone down dramatically! I've skipped weeks between seeing her, and still almost no tension headaches, which is something I'd doubted anyone could accomplish with me. I don't believe in magic or fairies, and think she simply has a better technique than many I've been to, and put bluntly, IMHO she is s lot less lazy :). Natasha treats a session like a workout for herself, and she spends as much time as needed massaging every individual muscle. (whereas most other chiros prefer more hands-off therapy like electro stim and hot/cold). An accomplished rock climber herself, she makes the session a lot more athletic and about movement. As added bonuses, the office itself is super efficient so no wait, which is real important if you're escaping meetings at work to drop in and see her. And she has a killer personality, which makes seeing her a joyous experience (how many would associate this choice of words w/ a medical office?) I'd say if you've never tried a chiro before, or if you've almost given up on chiros in general, and if you appreciate athleticsm, run to see her. Gabe. read more

I would be an injury filled mess if it wasn't for Natasha Barnes. A little background..I'm a strength coach and athlete who has experienced several broken bones, concussions, and who knows what else. I grew up in Texas and played football from the ages of 10-17, ran track & field from 12-17, and wrestled from 14-17. During the course of those years, I accumulated more injuries than I can count, most of which I would just bull myself through. I had a thought in my head; if you can make yourself do an action, then you're not injured. I even believed this after visiting the E.R. 8 times one particularly difficult football season. Fast forward 8 years to when I met Natasha. I was going for a max squat of 450lbs. I wasn't mobile enough to support the weight in the position I was trying for and failed catastrophically. I came out from under the bar and my right elbow felt like it was vibrating. It was one of the most intense experiences of my life and I nearly passed out from the pain. It was then that I knew I needed help. Our first session was amazing. I hadn't been able to fully straighten either elbow since I was a kid (years of wrestling with bent arms). She used a tool called a graston, and performed A.R.T. on the surrounding tissue around my elbow. Within that first session, I was able to FULLY straighten my elbow. I know that might sound inane, but it was such a relief! I didn't fully realize how much pain and tension I had been in up to that point. After that I was on a mission; I wanted to find and fix all my other issues that I had been living with all those years. I knew I couldn't do it by myself, as history had proven already, so that was when Natasha started working on me regularly. Our sessions at first were centered around my elbow, but through her analysis she discovered other issues that had contributed to my injury. We worked through my tight lats, upper and mid-back, pecs, and scalenes. After every session, Natasha had homework for me. She showed me how to use a lacrosse ball on the areas that we were working on and took me through stretches and mobility work I could do on my own. I would leave every session and work diligently on what she had shown me previously and the progress was insane. Since then, we've covered about every square inch of my body and I'm a better athlete for it. I'm more aware of issues before they arise, and now I know how to deal with them. If I don't, Natasha does. I still have a hard time imagining how far I've progressed in the 2 years since we've been working together but what's even harder to imagine is how terrible my body would be feeling RIGHT now if it wasn't for Natasha. I'll never be able to fully express my gratitude for what she has done for me. On top of how much she's helped me, I've sent numerous clients of mine to see her when they develop issues that are out of my expertise. Every client that I've sent has had positive reactions and have come back to me with a more serious attitude about their mobility and posture. If you are experiencing an injury, any pain, or would like to become a better athlete you NEED to go see Natasha. Dr. Natasha Barnes is hands down the best chiropractor and physiotherapist I have ever encountered. read more

I started seeing Dr. Barnes two years ago for climbing related injuries to my shoulders. She was excellent at explaining how climbers get injured and what exercises I could do on my own to strengthen my shoulders to prevent further injury. After following her instructions, my shoulder issues have been resolved. Dr. Barnes is also excellent at treating accident related injuries. A year ago, I was in a serious car accident where we were rear-ended. I suffered from intense neck and back pain that was made worse by my daily job of working at a computer. I've been seeing Dr. Barnes for these injuries this past year and she has made it possible for me to continue with work and my daily life. Other things that I really appreciate about Dr. Barnes and her services: -Appointments include in depth discussion of the cause of your pain followed by detailed strategies to prevent future pain -She has vast knowledge of sports injuries and work-related injuries and is on top of the latest research in sports and chiropractic medicine -Expertise in cupping therapy and active release -She is very genuine and dedicated to your recovery. Her goal is not just to make you feel better, but to find a permanent solution to your problem. read more

As a powerlifter, I have had my fair share of injuries and have seen many medical specialists in the past. I was referred to Dr. Natasha Barnes recently to revisit an old shoulder issue. I can definitely attest to her high level of care and empathy. She took the time to dive into my health history and absorbed every small detail. In a short amount of time she has helped improved the range of motion in my shoulder and taught me simple maintenance exercises that I can do on my own. In short: - Takes the time to explain the injury and how it is affecting you. - Talks you through the different techniques she is using to treat the injury. - Teaches you simple mobility exercises to keep you going. - Always continuing her research and learning - A fun, genuine person to talk to while the not so fun injury is being treated. I can't recommend anyone better to help me on the road to recovery. read more

I'm 34 and have been CrossFitting for about 3.5 years. As someone who demands a lot of my body, recovery and maintenance are essential. I've seen Dr. Natasha over the past couple of years for work on my shoulder, hip, back, and general body maintenance. Her practice goes far beyond the traditional adjustments of Chiropractic work. She is an expert in her field, and is constantly learning new techniques from cupping to Graston and A.R.T., taking her skills to the next level. As a competitive climber and powerlifter, Natasha understands movement, training at an intense level and working through injury. Natasha is proficient in diagnosing the cause of an issue, explaining what's going on and why, then prescribing "homework," involving the patient/athlete in their recovery process. I trust Natasha implicitly and have referred numerous clients and friends to her. I truly cannot say enough good things about this woman, and believe that she has the skills to fix most anything. read more

I'm a big time rock climber, mostly sport climbing and bouldering. When I'm not climbing I'm training for it. I also travel a lot so its hard to keep my body balanced all the time, and lets face it maintenance is just required when you are extremely active and in your thirties. I've known Dr. Barnes aka Natasha for some years now. She is not only a skilled chiropractor but also a fellow climber, a true master in the discipline of bouldering. Of all the disciplines of climbing I would say that bouldering is the hardest on the body. Bouldering is extremely powerful and explosive dynamic movement. So I am so happy to know that we have someone like Natasha here in the Bay Area. Someone that truly understand the physics of the climber body. Whenever I come across a huge issue in my body Dr. Barnes has found a way to fix it. When I had a demon knot deep behind my shoulder blade Dr. Barnes released it. Now, my most recent body malfunction is a nasty case of tendonosis in my left elbow. I see her nearly once a week, not only has it been progressively getting better but Barnes made me a pt plan to attack it at home too. She doesn't just treat me for injuries and build up, she also educates me with her extensive knowledge of the body and how to prevent future set backs. Learning how to roll your body out with a lacrosse ball and understand the intricate map of the internal muscles and tendons is huge part of what I take away from my visits with Natasha. These days I understand that seeing her regularly for bodywork "maintenance" is mandatory. Without her adjustments, words of wisdom and cupping (cupping is hugely beneficial!!!) I would still be sitting on the bench like a rubber band ball! read more

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I went in for my first appointment with dr. barnes 2 weeks before a 50K trail race with a nasty IT band issue. Through 3 sessions of work, strength training and taping - she had me back up and running at near full strength for me event. Totally saved my race and got me way smarter about how I need to approach those in the future. She is knowledgeable, friendly, strict/patient at all the right times. She and her staff were helpful through every step of the process. I've never had PT before (always been a little skeptical about it and had a little bit of a "ill do it myself" attitude") but her help proved invaluable, and surpassed my expectations. A great person to have on your short list next time a sports injury comes knocking. read more

Natasha Rocks! My shoulder had been bugging me for about four months and Dr. Barnes got be climbing again with just a few sessions and some exercises. I can't recommend her enough. Since she is a climber and athlete herself she brings knowledge and expertise that most PTs and Chiropractors don't. Go see her! read more

I worked with Natasha through a 12 week climbing training remote program. I was not super experienced with lifting, but her resources and personalized feedback gave me the confidence to push myself in this area. I am super busy with work travel, and the structure of the program was easy to adapt to my schedule. I enjoyed the structure of the climbing sessions and saw a lot of improvement. I would 110% recommend working with Natasha! My only wish was that I lived closer to the Bay area so we could work together in person too! read more

I had my first chiropractic session last week with Dr. Natasha Barnes at ChiroMedical. It's a personal thing -- what's more personal than your body? -- but I've never much been into massage or having someone's hands on me. And with me luckily being healthy and fit, I assumed chiropractic care was only to treat injuries. I stand corrected. Natasha identified and relieved tight spots (chest/shoulders and upper glutes) I wasn't totally aware of. And she did so in a manner that wasn't aggressive or harsh; just enough force to realign things and relieve tension. She has a new patient/client. Simply fabulous. read more

Dr. Natasha Barnes is God sent, seriously! I began my weightlifting journey 2 years ago and although I became stronger than I ever imagined, my body was having a hard time recovering and adapting to changes. Enter Natasha, she has saved me from so much pain in my shoulders, back, quads, you name it!! Also, I have always had the worse posture and always felt like I carried most of my tension in my back. After becoming her patient, my posture is way better than it was before and my back doesn't feel so tired anymore! She takes her time with her patients and athletes, she learns as much as she can about them and it definitely helps that she is an athlete herself! She can tell where I ache by just looking at me and knows why I ache and always finds a solution. Not only does she help you, she also educates you so that you can prevent future pain or injury! I always look forward to and enjoy my appointments with Dr. Barnes because I know I will come out of her room feeling 100 times better than when I entered. Thank you for all your help Dr. Barnes, I'd still be in a lot of pain if it wasn't for you! read more

I had gone to Natasha because of chronic shoulder pain that she fixed completely with some exercises and active release this past Spring! Exercises I still do till this day. I've been feeling a lot stronger and climbing a lot harder since then. Best part was she was the only person I went to that told me I could keep climbing! She also has an Interview on training beta podcast where she talks about her practice. SOLID! read more

Apparently Natasha can perform miracles on sport injuries. I went from feeling semi-hopeless about my rate of recovery from neck/shoulder injury (three weeks in) to climbing again within a few days. read more

Dr. Barnes has helped me immensely in the past month. Body mechanics are not my area of specialty so I'd rather not give Yelp readers an inaccurate description of what happened with/to my knee but I can say this: Dr. Barnes has taken an impressive multi faceted approach with me that has involved adjustments, soft tissue work, cupping, etc. She's taught me useful techniques that I can do at home with a foam roller as well as a lacrosse ball. She also encouraged me to get underneath some weight (start lifting again). As a woman, I needed to hear this message from another woman and I really appreciate that advice/encouragement. As a professional in the world of health and wellness, I have also recommended her to my clients (the highest recommendation I can give). If you're reading this and considering working with Dr. Natasha, I cannot say enough good about this woman and the way she's made me feel. So grateful for chiropractics and especially grateful to have Dr. Barnes on my side of town. read more

Do you think chiropractors only want to crack your back? Not true when you visit Dr. Natasha Barnes! I first visited Nastaha as part of my recovery for barbell training, after being referred by a friend. She is currently practicing out of Embrace Health in Cow Hollow, and it is definitely worth the trip. It does not matter what the complaint is, I always leave feeling rejuvinated. Natasha is an experienced professional and is incredibly through. Natasha is an athlete herself, and is able to appreciate sports related complaints, identify, and work on areas that are/or can be potentially problematic. She is conscientious about pressure and your comfort, without sacrificing the optimal work needed. Seriously people, Natasha is an incredible practitioner, go see her, you will be sold. If you are a person looking to alleviate any musculoskeletal pain or discomfort, whether you are an athlete or not, Natasha is your gal. She will work with you to discover a potential cause for your discomfort and provide you with the tools to continue feeling awesome after you leave. To top it all off, the crew at Embrace Health are delightful, and are happy to work with you to schedule an appointment that works best with your tight schedule. Additionally, there location and amenities are top notch. read more

I started seeing Natasha initially for a nagging shoulder injury that was preventing me from climbing. I'd seen multiple doctors at that point and was diligently doing physical therapy but nothing seemed to help. Someone recommended Natasha and after a few sessions with her, I was back to climbing as hard as ever. I've since seen her for other climbing injuries and she never fails to give solid treatment and more importantly, show me exercises that I can do at home to recover and stay healthy. Go see her! read more