Having been through numerous rounds of PT at various facilities, I can confidently say the staff at Novacare is a class above the rest. I saw Will Waterman on semi-regular basis for over two years to deal with a myriad of sports related injuries. He is hands down the best PT I have ever worked with, the guy is a rockstar. Not only does he know truly his stuff but he's also willing to go the extra mile for his patients. I had been struggling with chronic knee pain for years, bouncing around PT"s with limited success. Will immediately demonstrated a level of genuine care for my case that I had yet to experience and truly went above and beyond his requirements to exhaust every possible treatment method for me. Whenever I'd hit a roadblock in my recovery, Will was always quick to find a new angle to tackle the problem and even consult with colleagues to make sure we were doing everything possible to address my pain. I also was impressed by the continued education Will put himself through to provide the latest treatments, which ultimately helped me eliminate a 5 year bout with severe knee pain, end my dependence on prescription anti-inflammatories, and return to my sport at a level I hadn't been able to in years (something 4 previous PT's had failed to accomplish). Thanks to Will not only am I pain free but through these past two years my overall sports performance has been elevated to another level. As a bonus Will and the rest of staff at Novacare are a blast to be around, making what can be the tedious task of physical therapy an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend Novacare to anyone looking for a physical rehabilitation center. Thank you to Will and the rest of the crew at Novacare for all you did! read more

I can't say enough good things about Novacare and Mike Kelly. I would (and have) recommended their PT to anyone. Last winter I suffered an injury after my first marathon and was devastated when I could no longer run. Multiple doctors referred me to Novacare. I met Mike and he was direct and responsive about my injury. The best part was he was so completely positive and enthusiastic about how, with the right physical therapy, strengthening, and cross training, I would be back in marathon shape again. Mike's assistant Angie was fantastic and made sure that scheduling appointments was flexible and fit my schedule. I met with Mike twice a week for almost 3 full months. Mike and his crew are so knowledgeable and helpful. I learned tons of exercises and activities that would help with my injury. I really felt that all of the Novacare staff were constantly contributing and helping with my recovery. And Mike was just wonderful. He makes a serious commitment to each patient, which is not guaranteed in PT. He was always available to me to help answer questions, make suggestions, and I always felt that I could rely on Mike. It was such a pleasure visiting each week and the best part was I could really see the progress. After my PT ended I was able to run a 15k, 3 half marathons, and the Chicago full again. There is no way I could have done it without Novacare. I still drop by all the time to check in and say hello...being at Novacare is so much more than just PT. read more

My review is long overdue. I broke my collarbone and had it surgically repaired in May 2014. I came here for rehabilitation and was treated by Will Waterman. He was great! As a triathlete, it was very comforting to have another triathlete treating me. He was able to really target and understand any issues or concerns I had. He also was very knowledgeable and was able to talk thoroughly through the treatment he was applying and also would share additional information to related issues that he and I had experienced from our past training. In addition, he was very personable, friendly, and encouraging. I usually scheduled my appointments first thing in the morning and received great attention at that time. They do get a little busier as the day goes on so the 1:1 attention isn't as heightened but still good. The additional support staff was great too. Very friendly, attentive, and encouraging. Regarding the treatment, I always felt that the appropriate approach was taken. Never once did I feel like I was trying to be taken advantage of or oversold on treatment. In fact, Will monitored my progress closely enough to trim down my initial treatment schedule. While I was there, I noticed a number of other sports related injuries for which people were recovering. They all seemed to also be in good humor and to get similar levels of care and attention. For an injured athlete needing rehab, I cannot recommend Will and the support staff enough! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Sarah and the DePaul NovaCare team! I am in my mid-30s and very active, including playing competitive tennis. I developed chronic hip pain, and eventually decided to have surgery to repair a labral tear. I worked with Sarah before and after my surgery, which entailed about 7 months of physical therapy (2-3 sessions/week). Sarah was incredibly knowledgeable, and took the time to explain what the injury entailed, and how PT would help. She also knew exactly how far to push me to make sure I was progressing with my recovery as efficiently as possible. She and her team paid careful attention to me while I did all of my exercises, to make sure I was doing them properly and without too much discomfort. I am now fully recovered, pain free, and much stronger than I was before my injury. I also now have the tools to stay strong and avoid future injuries. Medical knowledge aside, Sarah is also a great person and fun to hang out with, which is important because we spent so much time together! I have already recommended Sarah to several friends and family members for their various injuries, and will continue to do so. I highly recommend Sarah and her team! read more

Breaking a bone is no fun, but Mike Kelly and his team at Novacare DePaul made my recovery a pleasure. After major ankle surgery, complete with pins, screws and metal plates, I started calling around to local PT facilities. As luck would have it, Mike answered the phone, and gained my confidence immediately by asking all the right questions. He also put the kibosh on my upcoming vacation! Before even seeing me, he knew exactly what was going on with my ankle and why I couldn't risk it thousands of miles from home. Mike makes a serious commitment to each patient, and he's always available by phone or email to answer questions and provide encouraging feedback. Mike and his Novacare team are not only knowledgeable, encouraging, and caring, they make going to therapy fun! And that's icing on the cake when you're hobbling around on crutches in the snow. It took over 5 months and a lot of work to get back on my feet, but now I'm good as new - thanks to Mike and the crew at Novacare. I'd recommend them to anyone looking for top-notch PT. read more

I am truly thankful that my primary care doc recommended Novacare for my PT. (I have had lower back / SI joint pain, largely due to pregnancy and carrying two heavy kids). The entire team is friendly, knowledgeable and accessible - though I particularly appreciate Will, my PT. I saw Will throughout my 2nd pregnancy; my pain was a lot less with that pregnancy than the first and I was able to maintain a higher level of activity throughout the pregnancy. My recovery was also a lot faster. Will is now supporting me on increasing my functional strength, so that I can easily carry my 23-lb 9-mo old up 2 flights of stairs, put my toddler in her car seat in our small car, etc. I also really appreciate Stacy - my back started spasming the day before Thanksgiving, and she was able to get me in within 2 hours and provide some emergency relief, so I could still travel for the holidays. As you can tell, I highly recommend the Novacare Team at DePaul. Even if you think you might need a PT, you can go visit them for a free evaluation. read more

I went to my primary physician in October of 2015 with shoulder pain. A few weeks prior, I had been rock climbing and felt something pop in my shoulder, so I decided to go get it checked out. My doctor diagnosed the shoulder problem as tendonitis and gave me two cortisone shots of the course of a couple of months. She also sent me to see Sarah at Novacare, and out of all the things my doctor did wrong in this scenario, this was the one thing she did right! After an examination, Sarah and I began to strengthen my shoulder, but she knew something else was wrong. She referred me to an orthopedic doctor in the area, and after an x-ray and MRI, I was diagnosed with a SLAP tear (what Sarah suspected to begin with). The diagnosis then led to a few months of rigorous PT, and after four months off of climbing, I finally made a comeback. I couldn't have done this without Sarah and the rest of the Novacare team, so if you're impatient like myself to get back to what you love, look no further than Novacare at DePaul. read more

Mike Kelly is the best!! I would recommend anyone to him. I have seen him on and off, for various issues over the past 2 years. He is a great PT and the fact that he is also a runner is huge. He is honest and upfront with you but won't just say, don't run unless it will do more damage. He figures out your issues, what is causing it and teaches you what to do so that you can get stronger, more balanced and not have the same issues in the future. He and his staff are top notch and very professional. They are super accomodating with locations and times. Mike's attitiude and approach towards his patients is unique and wonderful. He truly cares about his patients, their goals, their injuries and their sucess!! If it were not for MIke I would not be able to do all the training and events I do safely. I would recommend him and Novacare to anyone for any injury. THANKS! read more

I just want to take a few seconds to thank everyone that took care of me at NovaCare! Greg, Will, and Stacey all did an amazing job as I began my journey to a recovering back injury. Every single session I attended was a lot of fun but at the same time straight and to the point. When I first entered NovaCare, I literally could not walk two blocks from my apartment without feeling the sharpest pain in my lower back. After even the first couple weeks with Will and Greg, my body took a complete 180 and I knew I was on the right track to eliminating the back pain and strengthening my core. These PTs are some of the best I have worked with in my lifetime (And I have had a lot of sports injuries!). I highly recommend NovaCare to anyone who wants to be on the the fast track to recovery and ever since using them, I have reconsidered entering the NFL combine! read more

I had been suffering from low back pain for nearly two years before I found Novacare. Before starting treatment, I could barely put on socks. I had gone to another rehab brand a year prior and didn't experience half the service or care that Novacare provided. Jessica and the team were amazing throughout my journey. I felt super supported and understood by everyone on staff. They work with you to establish a treatment plan and pay special attention to make sure you're doing everything correctly. You can tell that they want you to fully understand your physiology and what's going on with your body. After three months of weekly visits, I am excitedly pain-free... and perhaps most important to me, I feel fully equipped with the knowledge and tools to continue to take care of my body. A huge thank you to Jessica and the Novacare team! read more

I had the pleasure of working with Sarah and most of the staff at Novacare while I was undergoing recovery from an ACL tear. From the pre-injury screen to pre and post-surgery therapy, I received the best treatment that I could have possibly asked for! I put in over 8 months of physical therapy and I can honestly say that each session was conducted in a positive and caring way. This is especially important because it is not easy going into physical therapy multiple times a week when you are injured. No one likes to be in pain, that kind of goes without saying, but the welcoming and supportive environment provided by Sarah and the staff made those 8 months bearable. I am happy to say that I have now returned to doing the things I love (soccer, basketball, etc) with no problem thanks to the help of Sarah. Love you Novacare fam!! read more

Every person here is well educated, professional, and fun to be around. The staff is super friendly, and always ask me about my day or weekend adventures to making me feel right at home before getting into my PT. They truly know their stuff too, especially Mike and Kristin. They challenged me for 2 months to not only better my injury, but my entire body. In those 8 weeks, my strength, performance, and overall fitness improved from the exercises and training that they put me through. They instilled great values in me to continue maintaining my strength and never pushed me past my limits. I highly recommend NovaCare as a very professional, fun, and helpful Physical Rehabilitation center. And the location is perfect! Thanks to you guys for everything you guys did for me. I'll definitely be back if I ever need PT again! read more

NovaCare at DePaul on Sheffield in Chicago is as good as it gets. The staff is professionally first rate, very friendly and work as a team. They designs exercises for the patient's specific needs and are focused on getting positive measurable results. For an "old codger" - I'm 80 whose joints are rusty and muscles taut - therapist Jessica Delmonaco was perfect match. Located on a college campus this NovaCare facility is also dedicated to restoring athletic functionality to youth and those in the "middle of life" as well as we older folks. While each patient has a primary assigned therapist others step in when she or he have to step away during your schedule hour so neither time nor exercise momentum is lost. All in all when your doc prescribes PT this is the place to go. Michael Sklar, Lincoln Park read more

I would like to give a big shout out and thanks to Sarah, Alex and the entire Novacare staff!! I had tore my ACL in the middle of the busy season as a realtor and could not have surgery right away. My surgeon, Dr. Nam, referred me over to Sarah at Novacare to go do pre-hab so I can get back to work right away. From day one Sarah educated me about the entire process and helped settle my nerves about the surgery and recovery process (this was the first time I had ever broken anything in my body). She got me back on my feet in less than a month and guided me through the entire surgery. I had a cadaver graft for my ACL reconstruction on September 7th and am already in better physical shape than I was before my injury. Sarah is as good as it gets for a physical therapist and I highly recommend her. read more

I had rotator cuff surgery and did six months of rehab at Novacare at De Paul with Stacy. I had an excellent outcome and have regained full strength and movement of my shoulder. Stacy and her assistants worked in conjunction with my orthopedic surgeon to develop a well designed protocol of exercises, stretches and manual manipulation to achieve their results. Stacy is very knowledgeable and experienced. She is a very good teacher and equipped me with the information and tools to carry on my rehab program outside of the clinical environment. She inspired me to do the work necessary to achieve our mutual goals. She works tirelessly with her clients and cares about their progress. I highly recommend Stacy as a physical therapist and Novacare at DePaul for rehabilitation. read more

I have just completed my PT series with Brett Painter. Brett if beyond knowledgeable and very friendly Physical Therapist. I came to Novacare with the issue in my mid-to-upper back. My condition was so bad, I couldn't carry a bag without a pain. Brett not only identified all the weak points, he was able to tailor exercises to fix my back. The sessions were efficient - we wasted no time between exercises. Exercises are easy to remember and do at home. The staff is very accommodating and super friendly. You get a phone reminders and if the time of the session doesn't work out any longer, they are more than happy to accommodate you and find a new availability slot. Thank you Brett, Zach and Novacare for the amazing experience! It's indeed as good as it gets! read more

I visited Nocacare frequently for an injury that I got while training for my first marathon. Mike was my PT and he was the best! Very friendly and professional and explained everything to me in a way that I could easily understand. Even though I became injured with only a month or two until the marathon, Mike helped me to be able to complete it! I now recommend him to all of my friends. The woman at the front desk was great, too. At the time I had new insurance that I was not very familiar with yet, and she took the time to explain how everything would be billed and how my insurance would cover it. I thought that she was extremely helpful. I currently do not have an injury anymore, but the next time I do I will definitely come back here! read more

I can't say enough about Will Waterman and his team! I limped into the office with the help of a walking stick 6 weeks ago fearing that I would never be able to run again. A thorough exam led Will to believe that I had a hamstring injury. He correctly isolated the problem and then led me through a serious of exercises and routines that effectively got me off in and running in six weeks. I appreciated his professionalism, good humor, and gentle manner. He explained the path to recovery and helped me gain the knowledge to work on getting stronger both during the PT sessions and at home. A major plus is that Will has great taste in music so the sessions flew by! I highly recommend Will Waterman and the staff at Novacare at DePaul! read more

I came to Novacare with pain in my left knee, however we really did not know what the source of the pain was. I worked with Sarah for about 3 months and she was wonderful. She pushes you but it is very worth it when you finally feel better. She is patient and helpful and just a generally enjoyable person to be around. Alex, one of the aids, was also incredibly helpful with making sure that I had proper form and keeping me on track. I ended up having surgery and was off crutches and back to daily life much sooner then my doctor anticipated. I would highly highly recommend this facility for any problems. Overall a wonderful experience with wonderful people who I always felt were there for my well being. read more