Athletico Physical Therapy – North Loop

Let me preface this review by saying I have never been a big believer in physical therapy. Sure it helps some people, but never in my experience. For prior injuries, I’ve shown up, been told to do the same exercises I’ve been doing at home all week, and barely supervised. Why do I need to pay someone $ 100 a session for that?!?
So when I herniated a disc in my low back in February I was dreading it when the doc told me first step was to try PT. My sports medicine doc specifically recommended I see Karen Groulx, I thought, ok sure it’s worth a shot if he has someone specific he thinks will help. Plus with the amount of pain I was in, I would have tried anything.
Fast forward a few months and I’ve just ‘graduated’ from therapy. Karen has helped me tremendously. She knows what the heck she’s doing. I also love that we never did the exercises she gave me for home during my appointments — she knew I was diligent about doing them so would rather spend the time doing something else that will benefit me. The manual therapy she provided as well has been awesome — there were days I walked I there almost in tears from pain and after a few minutes on the table, my pain was significantly reduced.
The other thing that is so great about Karen is that she would periodically ask how I felt about therapy and if I thought I still needed it. I literally thought it was impossible to get a physical therapist to ever agree you were done. All of my previous experience was my therapist trying to squeak as much out of myself and my insurance as possible. This was completely the opposite with Karen — she only wanted me to come if I thought I was getting something out of it.
Karen really helped me bounce back from my injury, and while I’m not yet 100%, I will be able to take what she taught me to help any pain I incur as I continue my recovery.

I have been working with Karen for the past month on the recommendation of my surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. My PT sessions started about 4 weeks after a procedure to repair labral tears on my left shoulder, or right about when the doctor allowed me to take off a shoulder sling.
Karen and her associates have been thorough, patient, and very accommodating in working with my work schedule. They do a great job of explaining their diagnosis, how your body works, as well as giving patients therapeutic prescription for both on– and off-​premise exercises. Insurance processing is also a cinch; Athletico’s billing system took care of everything after the initial paperwork.
I’d highly recommend this facility to anyone in need of physical therapy.