The care from the PT's is excellent and compassionate. Have gone for 3 years for 3 big spine surgeries and a couple years prior for shoulder surgery. What I am disappointed with is a change in business practice and most major insurance companies (I have Aetna) and Medicare are no longer billed. Patients are expected to pay up front (my recent bill was $250) and submit to insurance for reimbursement. My care plan had graduated to every other week. I can't afford that and they are not willing to work out payment arrangements. (So much for loyalty). Insurance can take months to reimburse an individual. I can appreciate the impact to a business when insurance is slow to pay them but there has to be a middle ground for the patient. I was politely invited to seek care elsewhere if I couldn't pay. Wow! Just be aware the bills are steep and up front payment expected. The therapists are great but billing practice not so good. Also if you expect to speak with a live person it's rare. You usually play phone tag or send a text and hope to hear back. I really wanted to continue here but I'm afraid I probably can't afford it.... read more

Tried to set up PT for hip pain. Had to wait 6 weeks to get in. Before I went I called to question the costs. Was told it was a small co-pay. I questioned that it was more than that and they asserted that it was not. I went to my first appointment, which was just evaluation with no actual recommendations made. 2 weeks later I get a bill for the full amount as it was not covered by insurance (after I asked twice for an estimation of costs). So, now instead of a $33 payment I'm stuck with $200 cost for absolutely no recommendation of ways to alleviate pain. Do not trust what the front desk tells you regarding cost! If I had known that this would only apply towards deductible and I decided to still move forward. I would have at least set up my first appointment in January and not do one appointment in December and basically flush that $$ away. Very frustrating! read more

My name is Nathan and this is my story. In 2022 I hurt my back with an annular tear between l-4 and l-5 while carrying 80 lbs. of batteries. This was signaled only with a pinch and some heat but within minutes it moved into debilitating pain, and I had to excuse myself from work. I then spent the next 5 weeks at home unable to do most anything, even needing help to dress myself at times. After the 5 weeks I'd completely exhausted all of my resources, time off, vacation pay, and savings so I needed to do something. At this time my insurance would only cover 12 PT visits, so I did those with little to no gain. But it's all I had at the time. I went to my work and appealed my situation to them and they thankfully allowed me to work on light duty in a different position. I was still barely able to perform my tasks and certainly unable to do so without a back brace assisting me while also taking large amounts of over-the-counter medication in an attempt to quiet the pain I lived in 24 hours a day. However, even this situation was barely feasible and I had considered trying to find different forms of employment. I had even gone as far as to consider taking the offered prescription of (addictive) - narcotic pain medication for my chronic pain. And so I decided ..... (at my wife's insistence) PT was at least worth one more shot. So, after living in this condition for more than 18 months I found my way to Pain Science where I met Dr. Abby Hendryx. Over the course of 6 months totaling some 18 visits, I learned how to incrementally increase my range of motion while at the same time gaining strength. This was very necessary to reduce my pain.... The strength part. After being pretty much on your back for more than a year you'll lose some strength. I would like to point out the during these visits I had received different forms of therapy; some intended to reduce my stress and pain while others were intended to help me gain strength and resilience. I still wanted to know what was wrong with me. I was sure if I understood the mechanical failure that would illuminate a way out of my painful situation. To my relief Dr. Abby has on hand a large amount of information. The information she provided me helped to finally understand what was going on with my body. I'm very sad to report that there is no "off button" for pain listed anywhere in the educational material I viewed. No short list of simple actions will do this is something you have to work at. It's very hard to see any progress when looking at it in the short term. However, stepping back and looking at something after a month's work at it and you can see progress. Today I am mostly pain-free. I still have a lot of aches and pains and there are limits to what I can do, but I don't feel irredeemably broken! I know that I still can do things in life. I can still achieve my goals if only I reach them. There's hope for you yet. Good luck. -Nathan read more

Fabulous! At age 82, I decided to take a 4 1/2 foot jump onto concrete. I did not fall, nor am I susceptible to falls (I have never fallen) and I wear wear high-heels). As I was in excellent pain-free physical condition before my jump, all the specialists seen after the jump for severe pain in the hand, knee, leg and back, concluded my pain was not due to my jump, but as normal aging for someone age 82. It has been a year now and I am nearly pain free, thanks to the physical therapists at Pain and Science. They accessed my constant 24/7 physical pain may have been caused by nerve damage from the jump, and treated me for a sports-type injury. Their non-prejudice towards my 80-plus age, and their treatment and exercises have brought me back to a very strong, high-heeled wearing, great-grandmother who can lift her 30-pound great-granddaughter. read more

I had 4 visits at this facility. I have no concerns about the PT I worked with and had to find one closer to Seattle, where I live. The main reason for the poor review is they seem to mostly care about billing. They collect the fee with each visit based on an estimate. For my first two visits (August and October) they over-estimated the amount, e..g they collected more than they should have based on my insurance. I had met my out of pocket by the 3rd visit and despite that they tried to collect another fee. To date as of January 3, 2025 I still haven't been paid back for the amount I was overcharged for the first two visits even though those bills posted (were paid) by the end of 10/2024. I sent several emails to the biller over this. A patient shouldn't have to deal with this type of hassle And they shouldn't collect before the bill has been processed if they can't calculate the correct amount. read more

This isn't my first round of PT with Lake Burien, or with PT with any provider, actually I've been to LBPT 3 times, this being my third, and 3 other providers. I have chronic knee pain, partly due to arthritis, partly due to being overweight. One I can control, the other I can't. I've been a casual athlete for a good portion of my life, and my body has always been strong, even though I don't treat it the best. When I tell anyone in the medical world this I get a "Yeah, right lady" response because of my weight and age. Then would prescribe exercises intended for senior citizens. Not with Mitch Rock at LBPT. Mitch started with easy exercises and as we moved forward, and he could see that I wasn't fantasizing about my physical strength, he added more and more challenging exercises. I would come away from our sessions feeling that gym exhaustion I felt when I had a good weight lifting workout when I was younger. Muscles were exhausted, mind was ecstatic, endorphins were out of control. My only wish would be to be able to continue, even on a monthly basis, to see what I could add to my routine. Ah, I guess there are websites and YouTube. As for those complaining about paying when they don't cancel within the clinic guidelines, seriously? You blocked out time that another patient could have been scheduled for had you cancelled 24 hours ahead. It's not easy getting that first appointment, these folks are good at what they do, don't waste their time by not showing up. read more

My orthopedic physician said Pain Science Physical Therapy is the best PT to treat my chronic neck pain around Seattle area. After visiting Dr. Orit and her team, I was always moved by their sincere spirit of helping patients. The front desk here is the warmest I have ever seen. More importantly, their treatment levels are top-notch. It's worth the hour-plus drive one way. I feel so lucky to get their treatment. Strongly recommend! read more

So far so good. Had my first visit with Orit. It went well. I start next week. The staff was helpful and friendly. I've been going for several weeks now and I wish I could get treated for life there. I've been treated by Orit and Michael. I cannot wait for my next visit. read more

I have been coming here but one day I was not feeling well, I have called in to cancel my appointment. This place is charging me for not show up. This place doesn't deserve a Five Stars. I would not recommend anyone to come to this place. read more

A rare PT office where you can expect to work one-on-one with a highly-skilled PT for the ENTIRE hour! The staff is wonderful, kind and genuinely care about their patients. If you are looking for true healing, on multiple levels, then you need to check out LBPT. read more

Orit is the Best! BACKGROUND: Lets start with the fact that I am young. I began having severe debilitating knee problems/pain almost 3 years ago? It resulted in crutches, painkillers, and even a wheelchair. I saw several different physical therapists, a few orthopedic surgeons (one of which couldn't conceive that I could possibly be in the pain I was)...and a year ago, my knees failed completely, putting me in a wheelchair for a month and a half. Other physical therapists threw me into a "one size fits all" program. I couldn't do the exercises! It hurt! I was too weak. They also did not take the time to find out all the variety of problems that were contributing to my pain. I slacked off going to appointments because I expected the pain and lack of understanding and attentiveness. TURNING POINT: It wasn't until I my sports doctor refereed me to an orthopedic surgeon...who then referred me to Orit Hickman. No one thought I should do surgery (I expected they would). Orit has been AMAZING! She took the time to figure out every little tick that my body might be contributing to the problem. She has a dedicated, hands-on approach. She studies my movements, and muscles, and structure. There has been some trail and error, but I can walk again, and with far less pain than I've been in for years. I hardly ever take painkillers now. She also UNDERSTANDS pain/pain signals/ how the brain interprets pain and relays signals. This is important. Not only do I have physical issues, I have messed up pain-brain patterns. No one else has explained all the complexities as well as Orit. She is easy to understand, and very professional. I would refer anyone to her. If you want a well-educated PT who cares about helping you and reducing/eliminating your pain....Orit is the Dr! Side note: After insurance/deductible etc...my co payments are typically around $25/visit. This obviously varies by insurance coverage, and services rendered, but hopefully it gives you a financial ballpark? read more

Let me preface this by saying that this is not the first physical therapy clinic I tried. I shopped around and met with a few other therapists before deciding to work with Dr Hickman. I'm serious about my cycling and I didn't want to waste time with someone who spent their career rehabbing nursing home residents. I've been dealing with knee pain that has kept me from cycling and walking comfortably for almost a year. I've seen 3 specialists. My orthopedist sent me off with a prescription for physical therapy with a very vague diagnosis of knee pain caused by "weak hips". Dr Hickman spent an hour and a half on her initial evaluation, and immediately noted several things about my posture and movement mechanics that indicated the true scope of my injuries. She is incredibly knowledgeable and intuitive about human movement. Within the first 30 mins she pinpointed the cause of my knee pain as excessive rotation of the femur against the patella, something my orthopedist and 2 other doctors never diagnosed. In addition, she noticed that the joints in my shoulders were separated, from the way I was sitting. I had no idea. She's been working with me on strengthening the areas that are weak and figuring out solutions for the range of movement issues I'm dealing with. She's a shoe expert- she looked at every pair of shoes I own and evaluated them. She does myofascial release. She does athletic taping. She does ASTYM. She has a whole network of other specialists she consults with. Really, the proof is in the pudding. I couldn't walk half a mile without pain before, and I walked a 5k last weekend completely pain-free. People have commented on what excellent posture I've developed. I'm stronger, and see very steady improvement. It's just a matter of time before I'm back to bike racing. Other stuff- -The building and facilities are very nice, modern, and clean. Don't be put off by the neighbors (Good Time Ernie's and Wizards Casino). Hello people it's Burien, there is no boundary between trash and treasure. I'm sure Buckingham Palace sees its share of prostitutes too. -Easy to schedule appointments, and very flexible. I haven't yet had a week when I couldn't get a time slot that was convenient for me. -Enduringly patient and helpful receptionist Kristen will solve all your scheduling and insurance problems and give you candy. Good candy, with chocolate in it. -I worked with Dr Thedinga once and he is going to help cast my new orthotics. He is also very skilled and extremely observant. He really respects the elderly too. read more

Dr. Hickman came highly recommended by an orthopedic surgeon to help me address some lower back problems keeping me from my weekly pick-up basketball and impacting my other activities. This was my 3rd experience working with a PT. First time was for back (herniated disc). Second for a 'scoped knee. Both of my 2 previous experiences were good. The PT evaluated the referring doctor's writeup, developed a therapy plan, and helped me get on the path to recovery. My experience with Dr. Hickman was much different - and better. She took a genuine interest in identifying the root-cause of my pain. Along the way, we identified several areas of 'referred pain' or compensation - where other muscles were trying to 'protect' the injured area and causing problems of their own. We worked through those and kept assessing until (I believe) we got to the root of the issue. From there, we picked up where the other PTs had started and developed a therapy plan and exercises to get my back (and my legs, feet, etc.) stronger and more balanced. I also feel like I learned a ton about how my body works - the various muscle groups and how they interact. The results have been great. My pain is gone. I feel stronger and more flexible. I have a set of exercises that I can do on my own to continue to strengthen my back. And I'm back to playing basketball every week. Dr. Hickman also has a great attitude and 'bedside manner'. She's easy to talk to, funny, and clearly cares about her patients' well-being. Kristen - who manages the office - is awesome too. She was very accommodating of my hectic schedule and always friendly - on the phone and in-person. She also went above and beyond to find a way to work with my insurance company. read more

Severe arthritis in my left hip. Pain all the time ranging to mildly annoying to oh good lord I need a morphine drip. I was diagnosed at age 40 with this, and lost enjoyment of doing the physical activities I had done all my life as the pain involved outweighed the joy. The orthopedic surgeon thought I was a candidate for hip replacement surgery. Fast forward to TWO months ago when my wife finally talked me into seeing a physical theapist. I always thought it would be a lost cause and would involve more pain than relief as even the doctors I had been to thought it wouldn't be effective. My doc said this young lady just opened her business and seemed to know what she was talking about. I decided to see her. Orit S. Hickman, PT DPT OCS is what is on the business card. She left off of the card "savior" and she really knows what she is doing. After the 1st meeting she showed me ways to relieve the pain. Tonite she discharged me as I am running again, jumping again, moving about with no pain! Although she doesn't think I should triple jump again, I will continue with the excercises she gave me and come springtime I may just have to give it a try in the masters division. I wonder if they have an arthritis...I digress. If you are thinking of seeing a PT, or your MD said you need a PT, go to see Orit. She opens the doors at 7AM and the last appointment of the day is 6pm. She is the owner and only PT there so you will receive true individual treatment. Free cookies, too! read more

I injured my knee and after 6-8 months of discomfort and favoring it, the turning point was trying to go biking with my daughter and not being able to bike for longer than 5 minutes without pain. I was a physical therapy skeptic, but I had to do something. I knew about LBPT through a friend, and it was quite simply, a miracle. I remained skeptical through my first few sessions, like "will this small exercise REALLY do anything?" By my last session, I tried the recumbent bike for 5 minutes without pain and almost cried. It's been 6+ months now and I can do everything I used to do and I feel great. EVERYONE at LBPT is kind, approachable, and it feels like a family. I would return in a heartbeat, but I hope I don't have to! read more

I went to Orit before my first back surgery in 2009 and she was so helpful and encouraging. If I was having a bad day she would switch everything up and focus on stretching, positioning for sleep and what ever. I needed. I changed insurance and tried many physical therapist but was not happy with them and was not getting the help I needed so ended up paying full price to see Orit again and it was so worth it. She saw the problem and had me get a belt to support my low back and then had me do water therapy with her associate before my knee surgery and it helped so much. She is amazing. read more

I came to Lake Burien PT following an ACL injury for "pre-hab" and also post ACL reconstruction for my rehabilitation. Not only have they done a very thorough job with my physical therapy, but they have also taken the time to provide education related to my injury and the healing process. Their attention to the mind-body connection, stress, fear and pain has been extremely helpful and effective in leading me to a successful recovery. Following the advice and assistance of my PT I have exceeded my goals and I am continuing to make weekly progress. In summary: This office is doing absolutely fabulous work. There is an amazing attention to detail in the way they run their clinic from the friendly & helpful front desk staff to the capable and informed therapists who are educated with the latest research and provide individualized, holistic care. The therapy space itself is uplifting, open and conducive to healing. I have been so impressed by them and grateful to have them a part of my team and a part of our community. Therapist Kat is awesome!!! read more

Not your typical PT 'puppy mill,' Lake Burien Physical Therapy is more like a spa than any Physical Therapy clinic I have known. This new, inviting, open space, devoted to one-on-one care is the vision Dr. Orit Hickman. Already a sought after Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, she opened her own clinic where she can give her patients the type of personal care not allowed in large clinics that, like puppy mills, are focused on profits, not patients. She has created a place that makes you feel better just walking in being greeted by her efficient, sweetheart of a receptionist, Kristen. There is no doubt that you are Dr. Hickman's first priority by her warm greeting and genuine interest in how you are. The home made cookies and coffee also make you feel pretty special. And, as if that wasn't already over the top, she mailed me a hand written thank you card with a Starbucks card just for making my first appointment! But, wait, after this, it gets better! Dr. Hickman is in a class all her own when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. She doesn't measure your condition by asking you how you feel on a scale of 1-10; she observes you like a human x-ray machine and somehow sees by your posture and movement where things started to go wrong. Fixing my knee, fixed my hip and my foot! How is that possible? It's all connected, she explains. Okay, that seems obvious; so why, then, has no PT in my past put me back together like she did? What is really special and beneficial is that Orit takes you through correctional therapy exercises herself; explaining and teaching you every step of the way. In other clinics, I was always passed off to an assistant. I now firmly believe that is a mistake. When Orit watches you execute the moves she discovers and corrects additional movement issues that would have gone undetected by an assistant. This comprehensive a level of treatment is unusual. But then, Dr. Hickman is unusual; she will even visit a patient's office to conduct an ergonomic evaluation, if it will help unlock the puzzle of their injury and assure long term recovery. It is by spending the entire hour with each patient that she gets the chance to set you up for lifetime success. A former college professor, she is a natural teacher and passionate about educating people on the proper use of their bodies. She gives you a deeper understanding that motivates you to take care of yourself long after your treatment has ended. I will always remember what Orit said when I asked her when I could pump iron again. She told me I had to first learn how to properly move my body through space, before I moved on to moving weights! I was stunned having never heard anything like that in my 30 years of constant chiropractic and occasional physical therapy treatment. If only I had known then, what she taught me now! In fact we all should be taught in school that we actually cause our own pain, if we do not practice proper movement and posture and wear sensible shoes. Actually Orit is even working on that. She speaks to students groups and passes on the wisdom, "It's all about movement...and movement matters!" Dr. Hickman says we get manuals for everything... But there isn't a manual that tells you how to live in your body. Thanks to her, I now have my own personalized maintenance manual and I feel great. Better late, then never! read more

This review is for treatment received in 2009, for problems in the cervical area causing periodic numbness in both arms and upper back discomfort. The mild exercises and advice were easy to follow. Manditory "homework" did not take long and sped up the good results. The best part was the understanding I received of how specific muscle strength and bone positioning helped everything. I enjoyed going and learned very much. Results were outstanding. By the end of treatment, not only was the cerivical area well positioned and strengthened, but my poor posture was corrected, unconsciously. Orit Hickman has a special talent and understand of the whole patient. I feel very lucky to have found her. If I need PT again for any reason, she is the first person I'd contact. Appt. scheduling was easily flexible to my schedule. Medicare insurance is nicely accepted. B. Millar, RN read more

Great therapy but be aware of how many visits you have on your insurance because I was told I had two to save for a tune up and then I went in thinking I was covered and surprise I got a bill for $215.00. If I had known I would have done one of two things first not made the appointment or called my Dr. to get an extension on my PT prescription. I tried to send a message and did not get a reply, it was really disappointing and unprofessional. read more

Love, love love the people at Lk Burien PT! The therapist are very knowledgeable, patient and thorough. I'm a frequent flyer there with orthopedic issues and have enjoyed the classes as well they have to offer. Thumbs up emoji! read more