Recently, I underwent surgery on my right hand's pinky fingers to treat Dupuytren's contractures. To expedite my hand's rehabilitation, I visited Santa Monica Hand Therapy in Santa Monica. I specifically requested Pamela, a certified hand therapist (CHT), who attentively listened to my concerns, thoroughly analyzed my condition, and implemented corrective measures that resulted in my pinky's permanent full range of motion. I highly recommend Pamela, a top-notch hand specialist who will diligently listen, analyze, and alleviate your hand problems. Robert Cuthbert read more

First of all, they inundate you with text messages and emails asking you to fill out all kind of paperwork only to make you sign the same stuff all over again when you get to the office. Then the security guard who is supposed to be at her post downstairs is often missing so you have to wait to get buzzed up the elevator which just adds to the annoyance of trying to find parking in Santa Monica Then, there's absolutely no parking. They only have one mastectomy specialist, wait... She quit after she took an intake and wasted two hours of my life. They make you wait two months for appointments like George Clooney is going to be the one working you out. They like they're curing your cancer and not teaching you how to stretch your shoulder. Avoid at all costs to save the little patience the world has left you with. read more

Following my wife's accident shattering her wrist in several places, her Doctor recommended Pamela Van Laningham PT. CHT at Select Physical Hand Therapy in Santa Monica. Since my wife's injury was so traumatic she was extremely fortunate to be placed under Pamela's extraordinary care. During the course of treatment Pamela was talented, attentive, and caring. She is truly an expert in treating serious hand and wrist injuries as well as being compassionate, informative and friendly. We could not recommend her highly enough. read more

At two out of four appointments, the therapist was double-booked. She hastily gave me an exercise to do, then swiveled her chair around to give the other client something to do, then swiveled around to give me another task. She asked a few rushed questions and generally seemed uninterested in my answers. The sessions produced no improvement. After response from "Susan M," I called Select Physical Therapy--no one there by that name. read more

Excellent therapy, and friendly staff! I couldn't be more pleased. Would definitely recommend! read more

SMHT is amazing and my hand/arm/back hasn't felt this good since before my injury started 5 years ago. Torie at the front desk is extremely nice, accommodating and helpful; I always enjoyed talking with her before and after my appointments! I worked with Daniel specifically on my injury and he was awesome. Upbeat, smart and positive through and through. Instead of a passive physical therapy session where you get passed off from therapist to therapist, at SMHT, the therapist gives you their undivided attention for 45 minutes truly focusing on the core exercises and activities that will actually improve your condition. I went to other offices and nothing has been more effective than the exercises that Daniel has taught me. He is very well educated and also tech savvy - he was able to put all of my exercises into my "Notes" section on my iPhone for easy access and accountability. He gave me useful tools that help my workplace ergonomic set up. I am very grateful for Daniel's help and guidance to my recovery. He also played great music in the office! read more

I came to Select PT for ongoing lower back pain. My therapist, Jeff Hennessy, is just terrific. He's very knowledgeable, he listened and understood my problem. He found the spasms and worked them hard (it was painful, but well worth it), and my back is significantly improved. Another couple visits should get me to 100%, and I'm confident the exercises he's shown me will prevent a recurrence. But if I were to strain it again, or have another issue, I'd absolutely ask my doctor to refer me to Select, and would request Jeff. read more

A1 care and experience all around. Sarah is incredible. the whole staff is super friendly and welcoming. I actually looked forward to my appointments and made great progress every time read more

Select physical therapy forced me to transfer to another location without prior notification. Once you go to the other location, you have to start from the beginning. The first visit is filling up 20 pages which are already been completed at the Santa Monica location. Very unprofessional service. Please think twice before going to this place. read more

I went to SMHT last summer after I took a fall and tore ligaments in both my wrists. I was lucky enough to get Daniel, a brilliant occupational therapist, who worked diligently with me for the next 6 months. Although I asked the same questions every week and voiced my concerns, he was patient and caring. He never gave up and as a result of his support, neither did I. With his experienced input, I was able to avoid surgery. Torie was always cheerful, efficient and made me feel comfortable. I highly recommend SMHT. read more

Worst experience of my life. People at this office are not friendly and very unprofessional. They expect you to come in when it's good for them not when it's convenient for you. You have more pain after your treatment than before. they mess up your appointment and blame it on you and if you complain, they say they can't help you anymore. I don't recommend this place to no one. read more

I started at Santa Monica Hand Therapy (SMHT) back in July after a freak accident when I cut the tendon of my left hand on a piece of broken glass. It was easy to book my appointments with the most friendly and efficient Torrie. I had my therapy with Daniel with assistance from the new recruit Chris who was putting in his hours under the supervision of the clinicians. Daniel was absolutely wonderful! Knowledgeable, understanding and very caring. He listened to my complaining on my twice a week appointments while reassuring me that I was improving and everything would be fine if I kept up my treatment and did the home exercises as well. Another therapist, Pamela, who was the consummate professional, told me that this was my "job" for the next few months. That really got me going to focus on my recovery! Thanks Pam! Daniel always took meticulous measurements and documented all my improvements while also emailing my surgeon regarding my progress or if he had questions concerning my care. The end result is that my hand after only three post op months, is great. I barely notice that I had surgery to correct the tear which was difficult as the surgeon attached it to the next finger. It was a long hard process, but everyone at SMHT made it more than bearable. I actually looked forward to seeing everyone knowing that when I left my hand felt so much better. I highly recommend SMHT for any hand therapy. Plus, they accepted my insurance. read more

Staff is friendly. Therapist Pamela explains the problem clearly. She is thorough, attentive in treating patients.

NOT JUST FOR HAND THERAPY! I am extremely impressed with Santa Monica Hand Therapy. The therapists there are miracle workers, and they don't just work on hands; they rehab wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Just this past August I had a brutal accident that damaged my left wrist, elbow, and shoulder. I had a severe dislocation of the elbow, hairline fractures in wrist and elbow, and a tear in in my rotator cuff. I am 67. After four weeks in a cast, everything had atrophied and when the cast came off, the joints were frozen; I could barely move my left arm, and I was in a lot of pain. I was seeing a different specialist for each injured joint, and none of them thought that I would get the full use of my arm back. But the physical therapist that I worked with at SMHT had a different idea. He created a program that consisted of effective exercises that I did in the sessions, and a daily rehab regimen that I followed at home. In 10 weeks I had the full use of my fingers, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, and most of my strength back. I am working out at the gym, and am quickly closing in on a return to full strength in my injured arm. My doctors are stunned, and I am thrilled. The therapists at SMHT are intelligent, motivated, skilled, highly trained, and best of all: caring. I highly recommend this business! read more

I have been a patient twice at SMHT, most recently for two broken wrists, both requiring metal plates. Aside from my surgeon and nurse nightingale girlfriend, SMHT made the biggest difference in my recovery. It was a long and challenging process, and every appointment was a positive, encouraging experience. Everyone at the office is super friendly and laid back. Justine especially kept things light and fun, which was so helpful in a process that sometimes felt overwhelming. She also gently expressed concern the couple times that she felt that my recovery was stalling, and helped me through it. I always knew I was in good hands (sorry), and even though it was a bit of a drive to get there, I kept going there over something more local due to the quality of care that I was receiving. Three months later I was 90% functional, and over the following months I have been regaining the rest. I am so grateful to everyone at SMHT, I would recommend them to anyone. read more

I heard great things about SMHT so I tried it out, hoping to remedy a trigger thumb problem. Unfortunately, I was sent to a kind, well-meaning but seemingly untrained "therapist" who was directing me to do exercises that were contraindicated for my condition. Based on her inability to answer a number of questions, I switched to working with the owner, Maria, who is very personable and really spent time trying to help me understand my options and avoid unnecessary procedures. Buyer beware! read more

I would highly recommend this physical therapist's office. I went to therapy for two different arms after surgery. The staff is friendly and helpful. It seems like a very professional business and I think the specialization and upper extremities is a much-needed area. read more

I write to strongly recommend Maria Zeccheto (owner and head therapist) and her capable, caring staff of hand therapists at Santa Monica Hand Therapy. They are knowledgeable, resourceful, and bring collective decades of experience to healing hand injuries, which can be tricky and complex -- and hands are so incomparably necessary to life function (which you may not fully appreciate until you injure one badly). Maria opened early to see me the morning after my hand surgery because my surgeon wanted me to be given special exercises immediately, and to construct a splint that he entrusted her to make, with minimal guidance from him. This she did, skillfully and pleasantly. For many business owners, four days before Christmas (which was when my surgery occurred), fitting in the demands of a new patient's extensive needs would be a non-starter, with an already full slate of year-end patients trying to close out their insurance benefits, plus readying for the holidays. But not for Maria and SMHT -- she welcomed me, provided an excellent rehabilitation plan in consultation with my surgeon, and had so many suggestions for how to keep my hand safe yet do gentle but very necessary exercises to prevent intense stiffening of the repaired joint ( which stiffening could have been more problematic than the underlying condition, long-term). I will never forget how reassuring it was to immediately be under such expert care, in a matter of hours after my procedure. Now eight weeks in, my surgeon is so pleased with my nearly 100 per cent range of motion recovery, which is due in large part to Maria's therapeutic expertise. She provides clear explanations for what my home therapy program should be, demonstrates her points with diagrams and helpful commentary, customized for each stage of recovery, and has a broad range of scar management techniques and suggestions-- in short -- all that is needed for a successful recovery regime is available at SMHT. I am also impressed and appreciative od how Maria has made herself available by email to answer what has probabaly been a significantly high number of questions, between my appointments with her. I am, understandably, anxious to have my right hand restored to as normal as it can be, and Maria understands and respond so helpfully to this, patiently and calmly. I can give no higher praise to Maria and her extraordinary facility, which is a large, and welcoming place, with lots of light, and comfortable surroundings and multiple patient work-stations, to promote relaxation and healing. As a plus, Torie at the front desk is cheerful and efficient, and always provides a pleasant interaction to start your therapy session with her welcome. (But -- you don't have to just take my word for it -- the praise of SMHT is high, and deservedly so, from several of the talented hand surgeons at reknowned UCLA Orthopedic Surgery for Maria and her team, over numerous years of working in conjunction with her for good recovery outcomes for their patients.) read more

I started at Santa Monica Hand Therapy close to 10 years ago and have had about 9 different hand/arm surgeries. I have worked with the same therapist the entire time, Pamela. She has helped with everything from a simple (not for me) trigger finger to some intense hand, wrist, forearm and elbow surgery all at once. She has never missed an appointment and is never in a bad mood. She is very professional and knows all the little tricks to help move my recovery along. I highly recommend Santa Monica Hand Therapy . You cannot find a better place or therapist. read more

My first encounter with Maria at S.M. Hand Therapy was very nice. All the woman who worked with her were great. A month later, I found out that my hands were going to get progressively worse. Eventually it would be difficult to open my hands. The Doctor gave me a prescription to have Maria make a splint for my left hand since I had a few for my right hand already made previously. When I came in, I started to tell her the news and she said "I do not want to hear what you have to say." It was embarrassing since the client at the next table looked over at us. She was really angry with me and it was obvious I did not know what hit me. It was terrible. I am in a wheel chair and just froze not knowing what to do. She kept saying my hand were fine. I called this morning and asked the receptionist to recommend another place, and send my prescription back to me . The receptionist was very accommodating. I told her that Maria (the owner) was rude, disgusting and I felt she owed me an apology. This was a horrible experience. read more

I had surgery on my right pinky at UCLA and my therapist PAM has been amazing to work with. Incredibly nice, helpful, and great at explaining the "why" to a lot of the exercises. The support staff is excellent too, Torrie & Michaella. It's been a great experience and I could not recommend SMHT highly enough. read more

I am so impressed with my hand therapy facility. When you're injured and vulnerable you really need a place where you feel welcome and safe and taken care of. This place is full of nurturing women who are genuinely happy to see you and invested in your recovery. My doctor recommended them and I was hoping to find healing and this is the place. Although I'm not where I want to be and still in pain I feel optimistic and happy to see these faces each time I go. If you have to be in therapy why not be in an amazing place to heal. This is it. I highly recommend it. If you're trying to choose between two or three places, which I was, CHOOSE THIS ONE. Looking forward to a full recovery. read more

The entire staff here is friendly and helpful! I have an injured tendon from (lab) pipetting and I've seen Maureen several times so far. She is wonderful! Very knowledgeable, gentle, sweet, and understanding, and really devotes her time to helping you recover. Sometimes there are slightly overlapping appointments for her, but overall, a great place for therapy!! read more

I worked with Doug for the past couple of months trying to figure out causes and solutions to pain in my arms, wrists, hands, fingers. He went above and beyond with compassionate caring and problem solving to try to help identify the source of my pain. When ultimately the pain source was identified as being outside the scope of hand therapy, Doug continued to follow up and suggest ways to improve my quality of life. read more

I was a patient at SMHT after I had a little firework accident this last 4th of July, 2018. I had to get the last bone of my pinky amputated and had a couple fractures resulting in my pinky needing to get a pin put in it for about a month. Once the pins were removed, I could not bend my pinky at all for the first couple of weeks. I thought I had cut the tendons or something of that nature and my pinky pretty much was stuck in the "trigger finger" position. I began therapy and my therapist, Doug, insisted he could feel some tendon activity. After about 3 weeks, my finger began to get some slight movement back with the exercises Doug guided me through. About 2 weeks later, I had a major improvement and broke through a huge portion of the scar tissue in what felt like my knuckle (utilizing the blocking exercise). By the time of my final visit (about 3 months) my finger bends and straightens pretty much as it did before the accident, however my finger is remains slightly shorter, but I'm pretty sure finger growth is not part of Doug's job description. I am very pleased with my results and am pretty sure my finger would still be stuck in the "trigger finger" position if had not signed up with SMHT. Also, the entire staff is very nice and accommodating. read more

A top-notch therapy clinic... was sent here by my physician. Professional, very competent service, friendly staff - what more could you want? Doug Hovey was my therapist and I highly recommend him! read more

I was diagnosed with "tennis elbow" and had a difficult time performing certain activities. I was referred to this center for occupational therapy. Doug is the name of my therapist. From the first session all the exercises and treatments have helped me toward healing. I progressed faster than expected. Today was my final session, I was discharged early because I met my goals. Doug was very persuasive for me to continue with my exercises at home. The place was clean, staff was friendly and professional. I strongly recommend this center and my therapist Doug. read more

I had 6 or 7 session with Pam, my therapist, and was very pleased. She made me a custom plastic type splint, helped me with a silver ring splint, taught me how to wrap my hands with tape and trained me in several very helpful exercises. The center is immaculately clean, the staff is very nice and well trained and I highly recommend them. A bonus is that I always found street parking on the same block. read more

I was referred to SMHT by my surgeon after breaking 2 fingers, and I'm so glad I followed his recommendation. I saw my therapist Pamela for about 3 months, and she was extremely personable, knowledgable and committed to helping me heal. The rest of the staff, especially Torie (who manages the front desk) are also very friendly. I highly recommend them. read more

They are awesome! Really sweet and absolutely professional in every way. Ask for Pamela she is the best!!

What a wonderful experience! I received excellent service and care from Maria. My splints were customized on the spot and she gave me very helpful exercises to carry out at home. Maria was great to work with--very personable and knowledgeable. Thank you, thank you! read more

I am so glad I went here for the de quervain tendonitis in my thumb. Justine has been absolutely amazing, and has completely relieved the excruciating pain I was dealing with. To be able to forgo the cortisone shot I was convinced was the only available option for me has been a welcome surprise. But what would make this a 10 star review if that was available is how all the staff has welcomed and been completely accommodating to my 1 year old who sometimes has to tag along. Thank you Justine and the rest of the staff for everything, all the little things have not gone unnoticed read more

Maria helped me with proper splint for my right hand and taught me exercises and at first I also did hot /cold soaks with my hand. I'm getting ready to make another appointment for my left thumb which has been diagnosed osteoarthritis by MD. I think I'll be seeing a rheumatologist also. read more

I am sorry to say that this is NOT a good location if you are looking for PT for your hands. I was looking forward to having a good experience, since they are specialists in this area...but the "therapist" I saw actually left bruises on both of my arms after a "massage." She called another therapist to "help" me and left me alone after showing me an exercise I was asked to complete and did not return. Look for another location if you need therapy...this place is not worth your time. read more

I could not have had a more pleasant experience here. I came in with a prescription for my wrist which had been in pain for about 9 months. I worked with Maria and she was sweet, kind, caring, attentive, patient and worked really hard with me to get me back into tip top shape. Going through physical therapy can be frustrating but Maria consistently put my mind at ease and really, all of the ladies here went above and beyond to make sure I had a really pleasant experience. I cannot recommend them enough! read more