Santos Nelson, DC

I’ve had a crick in the neck and upper back for months now. Couldn’t get rid of it with massage, acupuncture or reflexology.
Did a search on the internet and came up with a practitioner of A.R.T. (active release technique). Dr. Santos was the closest one to me, so I took a chance.
He has two offices, in West LA and Venice. The West LA office is small but serviceful, and there is free parking on the street in front. There are photos all ove the walls of the athletes he has treated, with inscriptions describing him as the best chiropractor in the US. High praise.
The ART treatment was not relaxing or fun; it was rather painful. But afterwards a spot that had been sore for months felt much better. Dr. Santos told me that I would probably need 3 treatments. That’s in tune with what I’ve been told by others who have had the technique. It usually takes from one to three treatments.
The actual treatment is really a very deep tissue massage, but the practitioner presses his thumb into certain points, while he manipulates your neck, asking you to turn to the right, up, down, left, turning and releasing while he digs in deep with his thumb. He also deep-​massaged the front side of my neck and that part was the most painful but afterwards felt much released.
At first I thought «I’m not comin’ back for this pain.» But the difference after the treatment has me hooked. I’ll go back for my other two treatments and let’s see what happens. $ 130/​treatment, $ 90 for seniors.
I tried it and I like it (sort of). Dr. Santos will see me again.

I’m now a firm believer in the Active Release Technique and can’t thank Dr. Santos and Dr. Cappo enough for their work. Had been suffering with a winged scapula from poor posture and many years of training, and started to have pain and numbness radiate down the middle of back and into my shoulder. After four sessions of ART with Dr. Santos I’m pain free and my overall upper back strength and scapular position are greatly improved! I have read results can be fast and they were! THANK YOU Dr. Santos and Dr. Cappo

Several years ago, a serious athlete friend of mine injured his shoulder. He raved about how Nelson helped him in only a few sessions, using ART (Active Release Technique). I am a life coach & massage therapist, so based on his experience I began to refer clients who needed deep work to him.
For years I would consistently get stellar feedback about the results they got with him — from all sorts: athletes, fitness competitors, students, lawyers, etc.
In 2012, I had my own injury which finally gave me my own reason to see Nelson — after years of hearing so much about him. That year, between overwork & over working out, I saw Nelson a few times for a few different injuries. Each injury only required 1 – 3 sessions for me to be 99% better.
In 2013, I had an injury from a car accident, and Nelson saved me there too. Incorporating ART, chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue tools & Kinesio taping, he alleviated a terrible twitch that I had from nerve entrapment.
Each time I see him, he’s such a pleasure to be around, too. Warm, funny, genuinely caring.
To top that off, parking is super easy and free right in front of his building and he now has a second location that’s attached to the Gold’s Gym in Venice (with its own big free parking lot).
Nelson is on my short list of health practitioners who I see and have confidently referred clients, friends & family to, because he is A GEM!

I really can’t say enough praise for Dr. Santos. He took me in quickly after I was hit on my motorcycle, and being his patient at that time was truly a gift. He was attentive, genuine, and a fellow foodie with knowledge of some amazing, local places to eat!
During the several months of therapy, a Super Bowl athlete walked in after one of my sessions, he treated Rock and Roll Hall of Famers at the Staples Center, and considered the opportunity of working for a UFC legend on The Ultimate Fighter show in Brazil. This wasn’t just a streak… His dedicated work ethic is apparent in the countless framed pictures on the walls of accomplished athletes and artists thanking him for his work.
Do not pass up the opportunity to work with a legend in the field of ART!

Terrible chiropractor. Tiny office very limited to machines and definitely does not return your calls on time. Find someone else

I almost never give reviews, but Dr. Santos is such an miracle worker, I think it would be a shame if other people who could use his help didn’t know about him and his work.
I tore a muscle in my calf fairly badly, and it put my out of commission for about six weeks. By the end of that time, I had a big golf ball sized knot of sore scar tissue in there, and a weird dent in my muscle. I went to physical therapy a few times, and I read everything that I could, and was doing everything that I knew, but I was scared that this leg might be vulnerable to another bad blowout from another real sports related activity again. It was pretty depressing and frustrating.
I kid you not, I literally went twice to Dr. Santos, and I think I’m already 100%. I might go a third time to make sure, but his A.R.T. therapy seriously worked like a miracle.
He’s a very warm guy who clearly enjoys what he does as well.
I’m so grateful to him, and I want everyone to know about him.

Amazing! I can’t recommend him enough! His skill in A.R.T. helped me through some of the worst pain I had been in since childbirth. Really! To start. I had gone to urgent care and then a different chiropractor before I went to see Dr. Santos. The 1^st chiropractor wanted me to come in 2 times a week for 6 weeks. Not only was that going to be financially difficult but adding that into my already crazy busy schedule was something I wasn’t looking forward to. A friend of mine who is a personal trainer to triathletes and Iron Men athletes recommended that I seek out someone who has been trained in Active Release Technique. A.R.T. He explained that it is not like any other chiropractic technique. It isn’t just making an adjustment or putting electrodes or heat pads on me. It’s a technique where you actually have to work with him while he is doing it. It can be painful but the results are phenomenal! After 3 treatments I was completely better. I no longer needed the pain meds and muscle relaxers that the urgent care physician prescribed for me. As much as I hate taking anything. I could not bare the pain and took them for a week until I went to see Dr. Santos. I have since sent several of my co-​workers to him who had serious pain. some new and some pre-​existing. They were just as happy with their results as I was. Especially one friend who had been in pain from an accident that happened several years ago. If you are having any doubts. do yourself a favor. and try one appointment with him. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

Awesome is the word that sums up Dr. Santos! I’ve been going to Dr. Santos for the last 3 years and he has been amazing in helping me with my lower back issues. I have a couple of herniated discs in my lower back which continually cause tightness and pain. Dr. Santos has really been able to make my pain much more manageable and the ART gives me great results. I’m also a fitness competitor. Athletes please take note: He has an arsenal of tricks up his sleeve that can work miracles on various injuries! I would highly recommend him to anyone.

A few years ago I developed a nasty case of Plantar Fascitiis in my left foot. I was in the middle of training for an Ironman, and suddenly I was looking at being away from running for weeks, and having my training be derailed. I tried everything. Strassburg Sock, rolling the foot on an iced bottle, foot exercises. You name it. But nothing worked. I was at my wits end.
And then someone told me to see Dr. Santos. Within weeks he cured it. It was incredible. Seriously.
Since then he has helped me with a Neuroma, IT band and various other ailments that I’ve developed from training. It’s meant that I’ve been able to continue training without stopping for years. What I love about his treatments is the fact that combines soft tissue instruments (Gavilan) and ART which makes it super effective. He’s also taped me with Rock Tape a few times with great results. You just have to be prepared to accept some mild discomfort during the actual treatments, but it’s worth every second. Oh, and he’s got a great personality to boot.

I was dealing with an IT Band injury that kept me from running for a month. I had been to others who perform ART but they didn’t relieve any pain. Couldn’t make it 2 blocks without pain after a few sessions with my first doctor.
After 1… ONE session with Santos, I ran a mile before any pain kicked in. Saw him again today and could tell before leaving his office that its even better.

Dr. Santos is a magician. He completely cured my sciatica. Oh yes, he did! His demeanor is professional and friendly. I have been recommending him to any of my friends who need help.

Dr Santos is the coolest guy doing ART that I know of… My favorite Brazilian :-)
Oh, did I mention he is great at making the pain in my arm go away? Ya, well it’s true.

Santos Nelson knows how to take care of pain. He digs until the body must surrender. He is great about scheduling and is very knowledgeable. He works on the UCLA sports teams, so I feel privileged to have his services and expertise.

This session was the most profound physical experience I’ve had excluding sex. I went to see the good doctor with «shout out loud» pain in my lower back and a stiff neck that I had been suffering with for several months.
No more.
Well, basically no more. I had an hour session. Dr. Santos used ART Therapy which I had read about in Tim Ferriss’s 4 Hour Body book. The best way I can explain is to say it felt like redesigning my muscular structure. My range of movement changed by feet in a matter of minutes. When he had finished with half of my body (and not the other half) i felt like I wasn’t even the same person on either side.
Weird, but in a wonderful way.
I’ve had back surgery when I was 19 and had I known about ART then…

Ever heard of ART therapy relieving carpal tunnel syndrome? For a minute I thought doc and I were going to get down with paints and canvas and release my pain ;) Seriously though, Active Release technique (ART) therapy is pretty amazing stuff and Dr. Santos is the best! Great alternative to traditional physical therapy for chronic muscle over-​use problems.
«ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/​movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART.»
I was diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel syndrome and was on my way to the operating table to have my wrist sliced open when I found Dr. Santos. Tried everything: massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and while they collectively helped, it was determined I would never regain full use of my hand without surgery. I have improved more in only three sessions with Dr. Santos than I did in the three months of treatment prior. It really is amazing.
Oh, and did I mention he’s nice too? Kind, attentive and extremely respectful, he has the greatest disposition ever. If you have muscle pain, he’s your guy.