Motivity Physical Therapy and Performance - Solana Beach, California

Juan-2-3

This review is long overdue, because the impact Garrett has made on my life has been remarkable. As a Marine Corps veteran (1996-2000), I’ve struggled with significant issues in my lower back, neck, and feet due to my service. In 2016, a ruptured disc and two herniations led to years of pain and unsuccessful treatments, even though I tried over 100 physical therapy sessions at well-reviewed clinics. Despite feeling stronger, my symptoms only worsened.

In September 2023, after dealing with relentless pain flares, I was recommended to Garrett. Since then, I’ve experienced real and lasting improvement. Unlike other clinics that focused solely on strength, Garrett’s approach emphasizes bodywork and targeted muscle activation exercises. In just 12 sessions over five months, I’ve had more healing and relief than in the previous six years. As of today I’ve been seeing him for a year on a monthly basis and continue to gain more of my life back.

Garrett’s extensive knowledge and unique techniques have restored not only my physical health but also my joy for movement. He takes the time to explain the anatomy behind his work, using visual aids to deepen my understanding.

I’ve already referred 5-6 people to Garrett. My wife, who teaches dance, had hip pain for over a year that disappeared after her first visit. One of our dance students, who had quit due to an accident, is now back to dancing. Garrett’s work has truly changed our lives.

Thank you, Garrett, for helping me reclaim my life, step by step and juan step at a time ?

Susie Donohue

I first met Garrett about 7-8 years ago when he worked for Body Gears PT in Chicago and was super impressed by his enthusiasm for this work, curiosity, caring nature, and immense knowledge base/skill set as a manual therapist. I referred my partner and my teenager to him- and we each made great progress and experienced profound healing.

I am out here in San Diego for work for the week and lucked out in scoring an evaluation and treatment session at Garrett's Solana Beach clinic, Motivity. Went last night. Chronic pain, migraines, arm fatigue- all sorts of stuff happening at the moment. Garrett performed an incredibly thorough evaluation, tuned into my history to piece together what the heck is going on in this body, and started treatment right there. Truly the BEST 90 minutes of physical therapy I've ever experienced. Life-changing.

Garrett educated me throughout the session as well, showed me things I can do on my own to continue to help my recovery, explained the principles behind what he was doing, helped me visual the healing. I can't wait to return to San Diego so I can continue this work. Might just fly out here every Friday for a session. 90-minutes with Garrett is absolutely worth the trek from Chicago.

Highly, highly, highly recommend!! Oh, his prices are super reasonable, too! Plus, free parking. Clinic space is lovely, tidy, warm, and sunny with a super comfortable treatment table. Very cute neighborhood as well.

Megan Faulkenberry

Having had severe elbow pain and mobility issues for over 6 months and with no relief after seeing multiple physical therapists, I was skeptical that anyone would be able to resolve my problem. Then, I happened upon Garrett and everything changed. He was able to quickly assess the reasons for my pain and worked with me to restore almost full extension to my impaired elbow in only two sessions! He is extremely knowledgeable and able to determine how to best treat ailments. He is every bit as interested in improving his patient as the patient is. I strongly recommend Motivity to anyone who has had long-standing issues like me!

Jenn Chang

I have been receiving treatment from Garrett @ Motivity PT since September, after injuring my shoulder in August. Garrett did a focused, yet holistic evaluation of my shoulder and movement, then quickly got to work treating what he found. Garrett’s approach to treatment is methodical and based a lot on how my body was responding to his interventions (which he was a wide, diverse skill set to choose from), and he could quickly re-assess and redirect if something wasn’t ‘working’ or was as effective as he wanted. As a physical therapist myself, this can be a hard judgement call to make with patients-knowing when to change course and try a different technique/intervention/body region to get improvement-but Garrett was able to do so with so much skill and intention. His mastery in his diverse skills sets as a manual therapist, and movement specialist displays his deep understanding of the body and the interconnectedness of the fascia, nerves, muscles, joints and organs. Garrett quickly resolved my shoulder injury within 2 sessions! Since then, he’s successfully and efficiently helped me work through other various injuries and movement issues. Garrett is generous, kind, incredibly knowledgeable, and shares his passion for helping his clients with humility that is rare to find in someone so talented. Working with Garrett at Motivity PT has been a truly beneficial opportunity to understanding my body and movements better to optimize my athletic potential.

Nate Early

Garrett@Motivity helped me get back to what I love. Couldn’t run from knee pain and driving was painful. After some critical thinking and hard work from Garrett@Motivity my knee is pain free and I’m running again at the same volume and speed as before. Manual physical therapy was the only technique that worked. Garrett@Motivity explained why he was doing each technique and exactly what was going on with my leg. Said I was renting his brain for our sessions. He gave me some easy stretches to do at home to maximize the effects of his treatment. A master of his craft and student of the human body. If you have pain or mobility issues and want to move your body again then go to Motivity and see Garrett.

-Pain free knee

Michael Jolic

My daughter plays competitive soccer and suffered a high ankle sprain in February. After working with a traditional PT, we were recommended to Garrett. He really took the time to understand the problem. He would go on all fours and watch every little movement to understand what the real issue was. He pinpointed the problem and solved it in a few sessions. We are so thankful to have come across Garrett and cannot recommend him enough. He is thoughtful, thorough, kind, etc.

Garrett Smith

I first saw Garrett several years ago to treat a nagging pain in my wrist from a bicycle fall. I had never heard of 'Manual Physical Therapy', but one of Garrett's other patients highly recommended him to me.

Garrett examined my wrist, and about half-way through the appointment (the full hour is with him), after pressing on different parts of my wrist and arm, asked me to try to reproduce the pain. I was shocked to find that the pain was already substantially improved, only part way through my first session.

I've been Garrett's patient ever since anytime I need PT. He has helped me with sprained ankles, knee pain and shoulder pain. Besides the impressive results, Garrett takes his time treating you and will explain anything you ask about his treatment. It has honestly been a joy to be his patient. He is a wizard.

William Trogler

Garrett is an outstanding knowledgeable and creative therapist who has made amazing progress on nerve, neck, hand, and shoulder pain on my dominant side. In only one evaluation and treatment session I was able to sleep free from nerve pain for the first time in years! In the second session my shoulder and neck mobility has made a dramatic improvement.