Injury: Lumbar Disc Herniation Physical Therapist: Winston Graves I had experienced chronic back pain for over two-years when I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my lumbar spine. After four epidural steriod injections, I found myself in extreme pain and on the track to get back surgery. As a last ditch effort to avoid surgery, I told my doctor I wanted try physical therapy. I am SO GLAD I chose to go to Rose Physical Therapy. As a result of my amazing experience at Rose, I am now pain free most of the time, and my mobility and functionality have improved way beyond my expectations. Rose Physical Therapy is THE place to go when it comes to Physical Therapy in DC. Here is what I love about Rose and my amazing physical therapist, Winston: 1.Rose Physical Therapy gives me a full hour of dedicated time work with Winston, rather than having overlapping appointments like most other physical therapist. The dedicated hour really gives me a customizable and tailored service that gives me enough time to discuss my current concerns and create a game plan to attack those concerns. 2. Rose Physical Therapy is a high-quality healthcare service. Winston checks in with me at the beginning of each appointment, and we walk through my concerns and recent back symptoms. Then, he asks me about what types of functionality I will need to be prepared for down the road (For example, we are currently working towards lifting a bag overhead in anticipation of the holiday travel season). From there, he structures the appointment around my concerns. At each appointment, he walks me through my at-home exercises to take me to the next stage of my recovery. 3. My improvement happened faster and better than I could have ever expected. I attribute that success to Winston and the quality care he provides. Winston had higher expectations and goals for me than I even set for myself before coming into PT. His positive outlook and determination gave me hope that I could be pain-free. With a positive mindset and a customized treatment plan from Winston, I was able to rid of my chronic pain after less than two months. 4. The environment and staff are all extremely friendly, and I love coming into a place that is welcoming every week. read more

A few months ago I was diagnosed with a SLAP tear in my shoulder and decided to check out Rose based on their strong online reviews and its proximity to my office. I was immediately impressed with its environment, the professionalism of its staff, and the quality of care from the Rose's therapists. Over the past few months, I've worked specifically with Chelsea. She is incredibly thorough in her diagnostic / evaluation, and even more thoughtful with her on-going treatment of my injury. She brings a diverse set of treatments to the table to address the issue, including stretching, exercising, strength training, massaging, dry needling, and others. During my time with her, I've seen substantial improvement in the mobility and strength in my shoulder to the point where I'm returning to regular activity with limited to no pain in the area. Chelsea truly takes a holistic approach to her practice as well, diagnosing other potential ailments in her patients beyond those that they came into Rose to get fixed. After a few weeks of working on my shoulder, she pointed out issues with my lower back - an issue I've grown accustom to since having a sports-related injury in high school. We now split time working on my shoulder and un-doing years of wear and tear on my lower back. As mentioned before, the rest of the Rose staff seems very professional, extremely cordial, and knowledgeable. The front desk staff, Tamari and Ashley, always provide a happy welcome and are willing to help at a drop of the hat with any scheduling issues or questions. read more

Rose Physical Therapy is the best healthcare experience I have ever had - they have absolutely changed the outlook for my chronic pain and helped me chart a way forward! Even better, the space they have designed is a place where I feel welcome and safe to work on my fitness and recovery goals. I have never encountered such incredible customer service - in healthcare but also straight up anywhere! From the therapists to the front desk staff, the scheduling/admin team (shout out to Dorothy!) to the intern taking notes, the entire team is phenomenal. Their policies and payments are clear and their scheduling team response time, even on the weekends, and attention to details make me feel so valued. I have been challenged by my TMJ disorder for over a decade and the amazing Claire Bowe has helped me tackle my pain patterns from the inside out, applying diverse tools, and adjusting course when needed. Additionally, I didn't need a referral or to have an intense injury to sign up for services - I was new to Washington DC and was looking for ways to be proactive about my jaw and work on preventing further injury and pain. So don't hesitate to inquire if you feel physical therapy might be a good compliment to your chronic pain management, training for a fitness goal, etc. What I love is that Rose PT meets me where I am, working to recommend tools that are within my budget and set realistic goals that held meaning for my life. THANK YOU, Rose PT!!! read more

Rose PT is one of the best clinics I have been to in 20 years. Because my condition is chronic/lasting, I really have seen many therapists. This place is amazing. It's been two years since I first came to Rose, and from day 1, I knew I was in the right place: their staff is super accommodating and makes sure every patient gets the full attention they need. Therapists each have excellent training with individual specializations. The first -time evaluation is comprehensive, and therapists make sure you have personal recovery or improvement goals. Starting there, my therapists at Rose PT have really gone all out to help me improve, with stretching, strengthening and building at-home exercises all in the mix. Because I also use a wheelchair, braces and crutches, my therapists make sure I am comfortable in using all these devices and have given me advice on how to make the best use of my devices and exercises. At Rose PT, I trust that each therapist really knows what their doing, understands my needs and focusses on constant progress in my therapy. The team goes out of their way to accommodate my schedule and ensure I consistently see the same therapist. When I did switch from one to another, over two years, the transition has always been very smooth--things get picked up right where we left off. Claire- the owner- and Priska, MaryEllen and other therapists I have seen are amazing. Highly recommended! read more

Finding a decent PT is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I strained my adductor in May last year at football practise. Went to a physical therapist (not Rose) for several weeks - wasn't getting better. That therapist failed to accurately assess my injury, did not provide a rehabilitation plan, and did not provide "therapy" during our consultations. My doctor then referred me to Rose. Absolute specialists! The first consultation was assessing my agility and flexibility - they thoroughly assessed to see where my structural and muscular weaknesses are, and what might be causing the soft tissue injury. As a result, they were able to develop an accurate rehabilitation plan to recovery, and provide, from a professional and informed standpoint, how long the recovery would take. Their trained specialists also had a variety of therapy tools to help with the recovery - from deep massage of the strained muscle, to dry needling, to doing exercises on the reformer. They also provided advice and exercises that helped me train the muscle outside of the PT. Their out-of-office service is also impeccable - if you send an email on a weekend with a complaint or feedback, they'll respond straight away with advice. I can't recommend this clinic any higher. Excellent, friendly professionals who know what they're doing, and put the effort in to make sure you recover. read more

Rose PT is amazing! I was just there on Sunday for a running injury prevention clinic. Among other things, we went through an abbreviated version of their full run gait analysis, which was enlightening, to say the least. I got video, along with expert PT analysis of what looked normal about my stride, and what definitely did not. Priceless. We were able to pinpoint issues stemming from a recent foot injury so now I know what to think about with respect to my stride as I increase my mileage. (Thanks Rachel!) Then we moved on to functional mobility, where I learned that my flexibility and mobility was great--except for my thoracic spine, which is comically tight. Good to know. Now I have four different stretches/exercises to loosen up that part of my back. Important because, as I learned, the tightness in my back can adversely impact my running stride and cycling form. The therapists at Rose are amazing. And in particular, they really understand the issues that runners and triathletes face. They always have recommendations or solutions to address specific issues. My experience at Rose as been fantastic. Whether you are most definitely injured and need help getting back to the activities you love, or whether you think you're healthy but want some analysis of your strengths and weaknesses, I highly recommend Rose PT. read more

Claire is a rarity in the medical profession. She listens. Yes, with her ears and everything. She listened when I told her what I was feeling, not only did she listen, she took that information, and then, gasp, formulated OTHER questions based on my info!! I know right!? I've had plantar fasciitis for about 2 years now, some weeks are ok, some weeks I walk like a man 3 times my age. Yes, and man 126 years old. I was going to the podiatrist every few weeks or so but all he really offered was "it'll just fix itself over time" or a cortisone shot, which seemed to me was treating symptoms rather than the problem. So that was where I was when a friend recommended Claire. I was disheartened that my pf would ever be better. Claire listened and came up with a course of action that was as effective as it was simple. It essentially involved massaging the knots out of my heels along with a stretching regimen. Simple as it sounds, it has been very effective over the past 2 months and I am back running again after over a year off. I'd recommend Claire unequivocally for anything that ails ya. She'll listen and really do her best to come up with a way to make you feel better. It really does seem like her passion. She's also got some awesome interests like endurance sports, motorcycle riding and she's possibly a ninja. read more

The Short: Rose Physical Therapy Group is great and my physical therapist, Melanie, was incredible. The Long: I'm a little bit of a hiking fanatic who regularly embarks on day hikes that are more than 20 miles long. When I severely sprained my ankle hiking to the top of New Hampshire's highest peak earlier this summer, I thought it was all over for me. After a few weeks of pouting, because I could barely walk, a friend recommended Rose Physical Therapy and it changed everything. For a couple of months, I met with Melanie once a week to help me (literally) get back on my feet. She was super knowledgeable, had great insights into what would help and, maybe most importantly, was super inspirational. I went from not being able to move my ankle or put weight on it for more than a few minutes to walking without a brace and then, finally, hiking again! I'm not back to 20+ miles a day, but the progress I've made in just a couple of months has given me renewed optimism that I'll be back to pushing myself further and further in no time at all. I am seriously so greatly indebted to Melanie and Rose Physical Therapy. If you're looking for a physical therapy practice that is just bursting with positivity and expertise, look no further. read more

I'd agonized through several months of almost nonstop tension headaches, which I'd previously tried to address with doctor visits, over-the-counter meds, meditation, yoga, and too many hours of awkwardly hanging upside down in my apartment. Then I went to Rose ... and Alex and Claire conclusively identified the muscles causing the problem on my first day. The headaches have been all but gone since my second. All of which is to say: I can't recommend Rose enough. The level of care Alex and Claire (and Laurel, who I've seen a couple times now, too!) have shown is, seriously, astounding. I don't think you'll find anyone more attentive or knowledgeable; Claire is the Dr. House of physical therapy, and no one will convince me otherwise. We're doing dry needling, which I hadn't heard of but which has given incredible relief. We're working on fixing my posture, which apparently has been awful for years. We're working on my uneven breathing and resting heart rate, which I can't imagine most physical therapists would even think to address. Rose is full of not just top-notch physical therapists but also, if you're open to it, strikingly wise and insightful life coaches. They're transformative. They're something else. Go here. read more

Claire is fantastic and such a delight to get to know! I went to her with a knee condition - chondramalacia patella - but she has helped me in so many other ways (e.g., reducing the pain of TMJ, helping me recruit muscles that have 'shut down' over the years, etc.) It's been so difficult to find someone who views you in a holistic way and acts like a 'detective', trying to figure out what might be at the root of your problems. The answers are not always clear and they sometimes take a long time to figure out with some degree of trial and error. But Clare is patient and nurturing and never-endingly curious. She has identified that some of my problems are not strength-related but actually the result of a muscular imbalance. One anecdote - I was suffering from intense shoulder pain and was eager to get dry-needling to see if it could help reduce the pain. I emailed Claire in the afternoon and she got back to me within two hours and squeezed me in later that evening. She really cares about you and is an incredibly conscientious therapist! I look forward to continuing my work with her and unlocking the secrets of how to stay healthy. read more

I can't recommend Claire highly enough. I have struggled with lower back pain off and on for years but found myself in excruciating pain in the last months of my first pregnancy. In a total panic with visions of 6+ weeks of bed rest in front of me, I turned to Claire. She was able to identify the problem and design a tailored program for me that really worked. Claire had to be quite creative with exercises that engaged my lower back and core given that I was 8+ months pregnant and not able to lie down and she found ways to adapt many to work. Through biweekly sessions and intensive "homework," I made unbelievable improvement, returned to work, and was pain free in short order. Claire also made herself available by e-mail in between sessions which was invaluable - I was able to change course and make alterations to the program on a daily basis which I think was critical to a speedy recovery. Finally, Claire took the time to explain the anatomy behind my problems, why she selected the exercises she did and how to assess progress which was empowering and helped take some of the fear out of the process. She was truly a life saver!! read more

I have recommended Rose Physical Therapy Group to several friends who are expecting. They have been extremely happy! All of us felt better after only one or two visits. The "homework" Claire gave me has really made my pregnancy a lot more comfortable. My friends feel the same way. I am glad that I found this physical therapist. One of my favorite things about going here is that Claire gave me her direct email. So I can stay in touch with her and update my exercises as needed, without having to go back in repeatedly or go through layers of staff. I'm pretty busy, so it's great to just fire off an email and get a response to my questions. I should also mention that the clinic is located inside Results Gym in downtown and was convenient for me to get to. I drove there and parked on the street nearby, but almost every metro line goes within two blocks of the clinic. The red line station at Farragut North (I think) is about 5 feet from the door of the clinic. I would think that this convenience would be a major benefit to anyone needing physical therapy, including pregnant mom's with twins like myself :) read more

Rose PT has been absolutely amazing! I jokingly (but also very seriously) tell my physical therapist, Nina, that going there is the highlight of my week. I started PT four months ago with a myriad problems, including radiating pain all along my arm, stiff neck, almost no mobility in my shoulder. The issues were from really old injuries and surgeries. In just a few short weeks, I saw tremendous improvement in my mobility - I went from not being able to do simple things like reach overhead for dishes to nearly full mobility. We are gradually working on regaining some strength and dealing with the issues that cause inflammation and tension - I have a lot of issues and Nina is awesome at working through them. I'm really happy with my decision to start going there. In addition to the actual physical therapy, the staff is also really courteous and helpful. I've had some billing issues and they were very responsive. The only issue is probably getting the first appointment within a reasonable timeframe - they are good and book up much in advance - but it's totally worth waiting the couple of weeks. read more

Everyone at Rose is wonderful and I'm very happy I sought them out to get after some lingering shoulder and upper back pain. Claire has been very welcoming and reassuring - she owns Rose PT and is always around the office, very hands on and willing to answer questions and assist her PTs with patient treatment. My PT is Nina, who has been a fantastic person to work with. New to Rose, I had no doubts about following her treatment regiment. In an hour apt, she massages the affected muscles, discusses changes in my mobility and comfort, walks me through my exercises, and effortlessly explains techniques and purpose behind them. Personally, she is a warm and kind person. One of Rose's calling cards is dry needling - like acupuncture if you took away all the mysticism and added a robust knowledge of muscle groups, fibers, and trigger points. It gets to muscles that can't be easily massaged and supercharges treatment. It might not be right for everyone but I'm convinced it's helped me. They have two locations - one near Farragut North and one in Navy Yard. Would recommend to anyone! read more

I strongly recommend Rose's, especially for athletes recovering from injuries as I'm a triathlete with serious IT band problems that kept me from racing last year (2012). I've bounced around to several PT's over the last 5 years and since recently moving to DC I've been in search of a new PT. A friend recommended Rose's and I was extremely surprised when Rose (Claire) discovered something all the other PT's had missed - an issue with my knee cartilage that was keeping my knees from straightening and was perpetually affecting my IT bands. I was impressed by Claire's outside-the-box thinking and super sharp intellect. I also appreciated that she took the time to explain everything in detail so I could understand exactly what was going on with my body. I was taught a new stretching exercise that I combined with my current foam rolling and have had great results--I can run for 45 minutes twice a week now without any pain! (Previously, my knees wouldn't last for more than 10 minutes on the treadmill.) I am so thankful as I'll be able to start racing again this summer. read more

Having previously endured impersonal and thus less-than-effective physical therapy at a competing facility nearby, I'm thrilled that a colleague recommended Rose PT when I recently embarked on rehabbing my catastrophically injured knee after its surgical repair. I've not yet recovered all of my Gene Kelly agility and Lou Brock quickness, but thanks to the lovely Laura and her colleagues Lauryl, Danielle and Kristen, all of whom have helped me keep a rigorous, integrated schedule with personalized, one-on-one attention, I expect to recover fully before too long. Along with all the rest of Rose PT's knowledgeable, dedicated-to-healing therapists, the ladies at the front desk -- Tamari, Ashley and Katya -- are also truly wonderful and committed to making patients' scheduling as convenient as possible. And while no one necessarily looks forward to physical therapy, per se, I can honestly say that I always enjoy my visits to Rose PT because of the entire staff's kindness, caring and good humor. There can't possibly be a better physical therapy experience available in D.C. read more

I HIGHLY recommend Rose PT to anyone with pains of any sort! Claire is determined to solve the mystery behind your aches and pains, and by using a the variety of techniques she's been trained in, it's almost guaranteed that she'll cure you! I was treated by another physical therapist before I found Claire, and there was absolutely no comparison! She actually educates you on your body as she discusses your pain points and potential remedies with you. After almost a year of physical therapy, I'd actually given up on getting rid of my pains and came to terms with the idea that I'd be living in pain for the rest of my life. Claire, however, didn't give up. She trained in new techniques and asked if I'd like to give those techniques a try as she thought they'd help us discover the cause of my recurring pain. I'm now able to prevent my pain from occurring when I feel it starting back up, and I understand my body better. I'm so grateful that I was treated by Claire and would go to no one else if I were ever in need of physical therapy again! read more

I'm so glad that I found Rose Physical Therapy. I've been to several physical therapists in the DC area over the years but none have impressed me as much as Rose's! I can't recommend Rose's enough. Rose (Claire) took the time to sit down with me for a thorough exam and took the time to ask me questions and find out what my exact issue was. She was more thorough than any other physical therapist that I have met with. I particularly like the one-on-one approach. I've been to several other places where the therapist has 5+ clients at the same time. At each appointment, she took the time to reevaluate how I was progressing instead of simply jumping into new exercises. At each step, Claire was great about answering any questions that I had and explained to me what the exercises should accomplish to result in better overall results. I love the fact that she is certified in the McKenzie techniques. I have learned new exercises that I had never known from other places. I can't thank Claire enough-- I feel great! read more

I attended a running injury prevention clinic recently. The staff at Rose PT is fantastic! The run gait analysis was great, and included video and personal tips on what I was doing wrong. More importantly, they offered tips on how to correct any imbalances. Some of these were simple exercises and form drills to work into my routine, as well as things to actively think about when out on my runs. All if this is invaluable to prevent injuries over the long term. We covered individual functional mobility as well. I have a better understanding of my flexibility and mobility. With this information I now know where I'm particularly inflexible and what to work on to improve that. The therapists at Rose are incredibly friendly and engaging. They understand the issues that triathletes face, and want to keep you healthy and race ready. Whether you need to rehab an injury, work on active recovery, or get ahead of any issues with injury prevention, this is an amazing team of professionals to work with! read more