“You will find professionalism at the core of every feature within Optimal Performance & Reconditioning. From the outset of my initial consultation, in each session, and throughout the evolution of my therapy, Marc provided a tailored program specific to my needs. This is not a cookie-cutter physical therapy business. Marc demonstrated an attention to detail and a command of his profession that left me confident I was receiving paramount care. In-person visits were informative and instructive and in between sessions, if I had questions or comments, Marc always responded promptly.
I was at the pinnacle of my physical fitness when I ruptured a disk in my low back during a heavy deadlift. A year later, I ruptured another disk while simply kneeling down and bending over. This was followed by years of low-back pain, sciatica, neuropathy, and limited mobility. I was very disinclined to surgery and wanted my body to recover naturally. After multiple stretches of sub-standard care and indistinguishable PT programs, with little progress, I discovered Optimal Performance & Reconditioning.
Today I am pain free. I’m also back to swinging kettlebells, running, and martial arts. Working with Marc, I began to see substantial progress within the first couple months. This positive response so early in my recovery was a boost physically and psychologically after years of living with low-back and nerve pain. To sum it up, Marc is in a league of his own. Marc’s skill with the McGill Method identified the root cause of my pain, tailored a physical therapy program that evolved with my progress, and helped me achieve all the goals I had declared in my initial consult. Optimal Performance & Reconditioning lives up to its namesake. Highly recommended.”
J.R.
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“I struggled with a disc injury for over 6 months and after seeing multiple PTs, I almost lost hope of being able to squat and deadlift again. It wasn’t until my friend recommended I see Marc until that changed. He is without a doubt the BEST PT I have ever worked with. He gave me a thorough, INDIVIDUAL assessment of my condition and designed a clear path to recovery. He used innovative exercises and techniques that were specific to my needs, and he continues to refine his craft studying under some of the leading researchers in the field of back mechanics. My only regret is not going to see him sooner. I highly recommend Marc and will continue to refer my friends and family to him to rehab back injuries and back pain.” -Y.B.
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“Marc is the best physical therapist I have seen in quite a while. That’s the most important point I’d share about Marc – it sounds a little strange, maybe, but Marc rehabs you and teaches you. It’s the teaching and subsequent empowerment that differentiates him from your run of the mill PT. He sets you up to know how to take care of yourself. Now, I’ve been in for different things over the past couple of years but not because we are still troubleshooting the same fundamental issue (I have the gift of coming up with new ways to antagonize my body as a competitive powerlifter). I’ve learned so much about not only assessing my body but also in how it responds to treatment through Marc. Undoubtedly he has had a major impact on my ability to compete in my last few meets without what previously were just the usual “nagging” issues that I’d see a PT for and give up on as their treatments were much more scattershot, trying to figure out what root cause we are even trying to address. I could tell the difference immediately working with Marc. I feel lucky to have found him and recommend him to anyone else working through the complex chains of sports injuries. He’s methodical, well-informed, and focused in his approach.”
-Esther Scott
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“Dr. Marc Luko is an absolute genius in his craft. I’m a professional athlete and have been struggling with an injury for over 3 years. I had tried almost every conservative method in the book and was heavily considering an invasive surgery. My condition didn’t have a clear diagnosis either. Upon visiting Dr. Luko, he gave me an extremely thorough, 3 hour assessment and I could tell he genuinely cared about making me become pain-free, rather than keeping me trapped in a cycle of PT/Pain. He showed me sympathy in my injury, where other Doctors were extremely dismissive and just shrugged at the explanation of my symptoms. Dr. Luko very accurately helped to identify my pain triggers, helped me relearn painless movements, recommended environmental changes, and created a solid plan for recovery which has already shown signs of success. What blew my mind was the fact that, after his assessments of me, he was able to identify the exact locations of my injuries BEFORE actually looking at the MRI. After looking at the MRI, he confirmed the compromised areas. I’m extremely grateful that his practice is in the DMV area and will 100% seek his consultation in the future if need be!”
-Samir Farid
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“I recently had a back-pain assessment with Marc. He took time to ask questions about my general lifestyle, injury history and my goals. After this in-depth discussion, Marc assessed my pain triggers and helped me by correcting movements that were exacerbating my pain. Since my appointment, Marc has been readily available to answer questions and has contacted me to make sure my exercises are going well. The atmosphere in his practice/gym is incredibly welcoming and professional, and I left the appointment feeling so encouraged. I am very grateful to Marc for the knowledge he has shared and I feel confident that with his support, I’ll be able to restore my back health. I would highly recommend his services!”
– Emily Bien
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“The precise diagnosis is what makes the difference. Marc takes the time to understand where is the pain and evaluate all the possibilities until he establishes the precise diagnosis, which he treats impeccably.” -B.D.
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“Optimal Performance delivered what I went there for. There is no magical wand, it’s hard work from the patient under the guidance of the physiotherapist. If you want your quality of life back, this is the place to go.” -B.N.
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“I’ve had a great experience working with Marc for my chronic low back pain! He helped me go from frequent pain during daily activities to being able to do my extreme sports without injuring my back! He takes a lot of time to work with each individual patient and cares deeply about your personal outcome. He helped me understand my body so much better and was wonderful at explaining everything.” – L.W.
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“Since working with Marc at Optimal Performance and Reconditioning, I am finally pain-free, gaining strength, and feel better than I have in 15 years! I’ve seen countless specialists for chronic back pain and Marc’s expertise in both physical therapy and strength conditioning has made all the difference. And, I really appreciate the individualized attention and patience in modeling exercises for me multiple times. Highly recommend!” – J.E.
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“I’ve been working with Marc for almost half a year. During this time, he has helped me overcome three chronic injuries that two other specialists told me were impossible to heal or even improve. I am able to go to practice pain free and feel stronger than I ever have. He takes the extra time to explain what’s going on and to answer any questions you might have. I will definitely go back to Marc for any additional physical therapy or performance needs.” -A.S.
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“I write to offer my sincere gratitude for the excellent care that Dr. Luko has been providing to me for my debilitating back injury.
I emailed you in March desperately seeking help for my chronically bad back which went out on me in January. The pain and dysfunction were so severe that I could barely sleep for more than two months. I was in terrible shape, and was trying to find help. I saw two chiropractors, both of whom were doing things that were unhelpful, and possibly harmful. I then saw two physical therapists, who both told me to flatten my spine against the table as a therapeutic exercise, which is ridiculous. I also saw a physiatrist, who did not examine me and barely looked at my MRI. Thus, I was stranded with no help, until you referred me to Dr. Luko.
Dr. Luko contacted me immediately and quickly arranged an appointment. He was compassionate, thorough, and thoughtful, spending more than three hours with me, explaining everything, and listening to my concerns. At the end of my session, he told me that I did not need surgery, which was an enormous relief, since I know how poor the success rates are for low back surgery. He created an exercise program and gave me his email address and phone number for me to reach him if I had questions, which was very reassuring.
I have a complicated back injury situation, and Dr. Luko has skillfully handled my care. He has written letters for work accommodations and helps me find solutions to work-related issues. He adjusts my program accordingly, and his last adjustment has increased my ability to function and to enjoy life. There have been times when I felt hopeless, but Dr. Luko always shows me the progress I’m making and encourages me to keep going. My visits with him are like little islands of hope in an otherwise difficult situation. He is part psychologist and part physical therapist.
I’m making progress, all thanks to Dr. Luko’s knowledge, skill, intuition, and compassionate care. I am indebted to him for his care, and most importantly, for his ability to help the person suffering behind the back.”
Sincerely,
Kevin O’Brien