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Back Pain FAQ’s Answered – Finally Get Relief!

Neil Sauer | May 22, 2024

Are you tired of dealing with nagging back pain that just won’t seem to go away? You’re not alone. Back pain is a common issue that affects millions of people worldwide, but the good news is that there are solutions available to help you find relief and get back to doing the things you love. Here are someContinue Reading »

Pulling A Muscle: What To Do And How To Prevent It

Neil Sauer | October 7, 2021

Have You Ever Pulled A Muscle? Chances are you have… and you probably remember it clearly! A lot of patients here at Functional Advantage Physical Therapy are often surprised at how easy it is to pull a muscle. Someone recently pulled a back muscle while sneezing! They don’t realize how detrimental pulling a muscle could be toContinue Reading »

Household Exercise Equipment

Neil Sauer | November 9, 2020

Some days you just can’t make it to the gym. Whether it be due to COVID-19 or one of our Pure Michigan snowstorms, sometimes we just can’t make it out of the house. In these cases, there are plenty of options for at-home workouts that involve weights. If you don’t have dumbbells at home, youContinue Reading »

Google Rating

5.0

Based on 45 reviews

Functional Advantage Physical Therapy

5.0

Kara Michelle

14:07 14 Jul 24

Functional Advantage has been the best choice in Physical Therapy for my family & I. My husband went there for his hip (torn Labrum) and while this was their first they put their time and resources into figuring out a recovery plan for him. He’s back to playing soccer & doing more things because of them.For myself, I was having back, shoulder and neck pain that resulted in tension headaches and migraines. Neil took the time to hear me out and try multiple things in accessing where my pain was and that led to PT targeting areas I haven’t used muscle/tissue well in & getting those moving again. Erica was who I mainly worked with & she was like Neil, heard me out on how I was feeling, switched things up a bit to either target that area or let it rest to focus on another area, resulting in my pain going away in that first area. Stephanie I worked with a couple times and she only added to the positive energy there, being motivating and switching things up to help better target my pain. They all adapted and added new things to do as my back, shoulders and neck changed putting me to where I am today, less pain in those areas, no headaches and no migraines since May and that is a significant win for me.The office staff there are incredibly nice and caring. I saw them, as well as the PT’s, deal with all ages and kinds of injuries and saw nothing but patience, positivity and encouragement given to everyone. Personally, the laughs and music made the experience better too as it led to many discussions to take my mind off the exercise I was doing and loosen up so I wasn’t so tense in my muscles. I thank Functional Advantage VERY much in putting me in a better physical condition, I’m able to play more comfortably with my daughter, I feel better at soccer & no headaches have been amazing. HIGHLY recommend Functional Advantage for your physical therapy needs, 10 out of 10!

vick99993

13:33 15 May 24

Robert Gamm

14:27 13 Jan 24

Everyone at Functional Advantage does a tremendous job! The therapists are all highly knowledgeable and skilled and the support staff is very efficient. Each person is upbeat, friendly and genuinely focused on the well-being of their patients. Over the years, I have gone to a few physical therapy centers in the area and all have been very good but Functional Advantage is exceptional.

Chad Krueger

13:05 03 Jan 24

Functional Advantage helped me get quality of life back. My back has been so much better since working with the team. I highly recommend them for physical therapy in the Tri-cities. Clean environment and extremely professional all-round.

LCM Services

23:41 28 Dec 23

Great Staff, my go-to place for meeting my Physical therapy goals

Karen Clement

15:40 14 Dec 23

Highly recommend. The staff is very knowledgeable. It is a casual and fun atmosphere while undeniably helpful!

KELLY HENDRICK

11:17 07 Nov 23

My experience with Functional Advantage was nothing short of exceptional. The staff is professional but fun, the facility is clean and my appointments were full of efficiency. I would recommend them above others in the area!

Heather Beson

16:24 13 Jul 23

Theo was great! Worked with me to address my pain issues and to come up with a plan that worked. Very friendly and welcoming place.

travis hayes

16:22 07 Jul 23

Connie Taylor

20:39 25 Mar 23

Great place for physical therapy! I know everyone is different, but this absolutely worked for me. Low back pain is no joke...I keep doing the exercises that they taught me, and the pain is so manageable. Thank you Dr Neil and Dr Theo, and Dr Erica and all the staff.

Rain55 Rain55

16:29 22 Mar 23

I highly recommend Functional Advantage Physical Therapy for your physical therapy needs. They have a very friendly and helpful owner, Neil. The staff he hired ranging from the front desk girls to all the rest of the staff including the PTs and PTAs are all very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. This place treats you like family and has an atmosphere where you actually like to come and do physical therapy. Thank you Neil and Staff, my physical therapy time here was great with excellent results with eliminating my lower back/ hip pain and making me more mobile.

Brooke Nellett

00:11 22 Feb 23

I had a great experience with Erica and Theo! My improvements were significant! I appreciate all that they did for me. I would definitely recommend Functional Advantage for your physical therapy and pain relief needs.

David Clark

19:09 01 Feb 23

I am very glad I chose Functional Advantage to help me with my neck and shoulder issues. From the first evaluation to the last appointment, Neal and his team did an excellent job in diagnosing, developing a plan and executing the proper therapy. I feel much better now and would definitely go back. I highly recommend their services.

robert BINDER

16:10 20 Nov 22

I recommend this place for senior folks with back or neck pain. The therapists work with you to develop a series of exercises and stretches that relieve your pain. Even though I have completed the therapy, I continue to perform the exercises that helped. Thanks to Neal and staff.

Adlar Feldotte

16:17 10 Nov 22

This place is amazing. Everyone is friendly and it is such a nice environment. They have definitely helped me regain all my strength after losing most of it from my injury. I would recommend Functional Advantage to anyone seeking physical therapy needs. Thank you so much!

Trevor Quandt

21:53 03 Nov 22

Functional Advantage is the place to go for all of your physical therapy needs. The staff was excellent. I am truly grateful I chose Functional Advantage as my choice for my pectoral tendon surgery rehabilitation.

Jan Bow

18:30 14 Oct 22

This is Jim, all of the PT were very professional and completely professional.

Chelsea Sorrels

15:33 08 Oct 22

I went to functional advantage after having issues with balance, dizzinesses and just overall unsteadiness. My neurologist recommended I try physical therapy along with medications and I was skeptical at first but the team at functional advantage were amazing! They helped me so incredibly much! They supported me, made me feel great about the small improvements I was making and after just 4 weeks of going I was able to get back to work, driving and living an almost completely normal lifestyle again. I would absolutely hands down recommend going to functional advantage to anyone and if anything ever comes up again I will be going back to them to take care of me!

Sarah Keel

23:12 20 Sep 22

Functional Advantage helped me get back to a pain free life after an elbow injury that was 8 months old. I wasn't able to do much with my affected arm, but after doing physical therapy I am now back to all my normal activities, pain free, and feeling stronger than ever.

Jennifer Horton

13:43 11 Aug 22

Excellent experience. Great outcome.

Michelle Boyle

01:58 23 Jun 22

I had a discovery session with Neil Sauer, DPT. Neil dedicated double the time scheduled to thoroughly investigate my symptoms. Very professional and personable man. Every member of the establishment met me with smiles and genuine warmth. I can't speak to recovery and intervention at this time, but this establishment certainly presented as a safe and healing environment.

Judy

20:06 01 Jan 22

I can’t say enough about my pleasant experience with Functional Advantage. They made it fun and a good experience going there. I never minded going as I could feel myself getting stronger as the weeks progressed. The staff was friendly and personable and welcoming. I can’t say enough good things about them. Thank you Functional Advantage!

Gary Lewis

18:36 29 Oct 21

To keep this review simple, I'll use a few key words. THEY CARE, about you on a one to one basis. They expect you to work, they inspect that you are doing the work properly and most of all they follow-up to make sure you are progressing. Why? because THEY CARE!

Gayle Johnson

23:00 18 Aug 21

Functional advantage therapists were great! Very helpful and caring. I recommend them highly! They helped me with the pain I was having.

Stacey Kettler

15:50 18 Aug 21

I went to Functional Advantage for help with neck and upper back issues. They were so helpful and accommodating! Functional Advantage really set me up for success after therapy was over and I've been doing well ever since!

Lorraine Kellogg

16:40 18 Oct 20

I went to Functional Advantage for arm and shoulder therapy. Their professionalism and individual care was very encouraging. I felt comfortable working with therapist Kelly. She not only educated me about my condition but gave me an detailed workout plan that I could do at home. Functional Advantage does a fantastic job staying in touch with current and past patients. My husband went here for 2 knee surgeries and was extremely satisfied with his therapy. I would highly recommend them for anyone who wants first rate therapy.

Tate Kaneshige Callejas

20:16 06 Oct 20

I went to Neil at Functional Advantage PT with severe low back pain that radiated down my leg, culminating in numbness and weakness in my foot and toes. Within five weeks, Neil helped reduce the pain almost completely! Neil and his team are incredibly organized, friendly and knowledgeable. I have seen many other physical therapists, chiropractors, specialists and doctors for this pain and Neil was the only one who was able to almost completely fix the problem. I highly, highly recommend Functional Advantage PT!

Debbie Beiser

21:32 08 Dec 19

I have had a great experience at Functional Advantage. The staff, especially Kelly & Erica are amazing! I went there with severe shoulder and bicep pain and believed that the only thing that would fix my problem would be surgery. I had a right rotator cuff repair surgery 2 years ago and I believed that this pain was a rotator cuff tear again on my left shoulder. I was in a lot of pain and limited on what I could do with my left arm, but after almost 8 weeks of therapy I feel great. I can do everything again with my left arm and if I feel a little flare up I do my exercises and get instant relief. I really enjoyed going to therapy because they are so personable and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them. I was also going through a rough personal experience with a family member and they were so caring and concerned and I always felt so much better after talking with them for that hour. They have helped me tremendously and I highly recommend them to anyone needing physical therapy! And again I say “Thank You!”

Christy Johnson

18:06 13 Nov 19

After my ankle surgery, getting back on my feet was harder than I thought it would be. A friend recommended Functional Advantage for physical therapy and after my doctor gave me to go ahead... I went. I was able to get an initial appointment the very day I called. Within three visits I was walking better and doing more that I had in a long time. I continued gaining strength and flexibility with each visit and was amazed at how far I was able to go. The Functional Advantage team is wonderful at what they do. The environment is clean and professional and physical therapy was actually fun. I am so motivated now to continue exercising and to keep my ankle (along with the rest of me) strong and healthy. I highly recommend Functional Advantage to anyone in need of physical therapy.

Janet Plas

22:19 30 Sep 19

During my 6 weeks of PT at Functional Advantage I worked with therapists Kelly and Erica. Both therapists were thorough and creative in helping me achieve my goals with the pain in my shoulder. They were very personable and caring in providing the right exercise combinations for my therapy. My therapy was successful because of their dedication and commitment. I highly recommend Functional Advantage for your physical therapy needs.

Wendy Franz

18:39 18 Sep 19

After many weeks of limited activity and often painful movement from a recurring sports injury, a co-worker suggested I see Neil Sauer at Functional Advantage in Freeland for a 'discovery' session. There was no charge for this initial appointment!, and Neil spent a good hour with me evaluating the injured area to determine the what/why/and what's next phase. Physical therapy was recommended, and I went on to work with Neil, Kelly and Erica over the next two months or so on a 2-3 times per week basis. Each and every visit was enjoyable... if you can say that about physical therapy! Neil and his entire staff are knowledgeable, professional and super-friendly. In no time improvement was noticeable and by the end of the the eight weeks I was pain-free and back to all of the physical activities that I enjoy. Additionally, my body is MUCH stronger physically than it was going in, and I am equipped with home exercises that are easily integrated into my regular workout routine to help keep me strong, injury-free and active. Am planning to stay strong!! but will not hesitate at all to see Neil and his staff at the first sign of trouble. This was a top-notch experience from beginning to end- THANK YOU Neil, Kelly, Erica, Lauren, Jaeland and McKaely

Corey Rusch

18:28 03 May 18

Functional Advantage is great! Neil and his staff are great to work with and very knowledgeable. I will be sure to recommend them to friends and family in the future.

Roger Bellinger

16:28 20 Feb 18

Tim Enright

23:13 13 Dec 17

If you are in need of truly top-notch Physical Therapy, I highly recommend stopping by Functional Advantage in Freeland and meeting with my new friends Neil Sauer and Erica Moeller.Not only did Neil help me deal with problems that were causing me a great deal of pain but he would go the extra mile and teach me what I needed to know to prevent them in the future. I now know some of the bad habits of the past that led me to the situation I was in and exactly how to correct them in the future.For example on my very first visit after learning of the amount of time I spend driving in my car, Neil took the time to go out to my vehicle and show me how to properly adjust my sitting position.As a person Neil was a pleasure to deal with. I truly enjoyed his company while I was there. I found him to be kind, thoughtful, professional and very thorough.

KEB-Business

15:48 18 Aug 17

I had major back surgery in Jan 17. My therapy was to walk. With more walking , my right knee began to be a problem again. (I had knee surgery a year and a half ago). My doctor recommended therapy. Since Neil had worked on my shoulders previously with great results, and he had set up Functional Advantage in Freeland (about 3 1/2 miles from my house), I decided to go to Functional Advantage for my knee therapy. In evaluating my situation, Neil identified some additional problems with the way I walked because of the knee and back surgeries. So my therapy not only focused on strengthening my knee, but also on trying to correct the difficulties I had with walking. I went to therapy for about 8 weeks. I was pleased with my progress. In one walking test, I showed a 100% improvement. I still have some issues with my legs, and Neil prescribed some exercises to address those issues. Erica also was also my therapist. I found Neil and Erica to be very knowledgeable, personal and professional. I am very pleased with the results of my therapy and would highly recommend Functional Advantage to anyone needing therapy. The atmosphere at Functional Advantage is personally focused such that I always looked forward to my therapy sessions.

Leslie Thom

00:52 12 Jul 17

Working with Neil was a great experience. He went above and beyond... he was flexible with his schedule and helped me to recover fully.

Eric Bender

00:55 17 Apr 17

I went to Functional Advantage after having Achilles tendon surgery to repair a rupture. Neil helped me regain a lot of range of motion back and had me able to walk/drive in no time. This is a top notch clinic with a knowledgeable/caring staff. If you are looking for an amazing physical therapist who combines hands on (manual work) with therapeutic exercise, Functional Advantage is the place to go.

Elizabeth Burnett

01:11 22 Jun 16

I contacted Neil at my son's recommendation. He had just finished PT a few weeks before I started and continues to be motivated by the advice Neil gave him. My experience was a positive one as well. Neil is personable, professional and motivating. I finished PT much stronger overall than before my injury and with the knowledge, tools and encouragement to continue to work at home. I have recommended FunctionalAdvantage to people and will continue to do so.

Richard & Cindy Morrissey

18:46 22 May 16

When I decided to have both knees replaced at the same time, I knew that I'd be relying heavily on physical therapy to get me back on my feet. Neil Sauer at Functional Advantage was recommended to me and I'm so glad I listened. Functional Advantage is a nice facility and Neil is a terrific physical therapist. After only 2 1/2 months since my surgery, I'm getting around really well and I'm even back to playing golf! I also liked the fact that Neil is the only P.T. at Functional Advantage and I didn't have to adjust to other therapists when I showed up for my sessions. Neil is very capable and has the right disposition for this type of work. I highly recommend him. (From Rich Morrissey)

Lori Anders

23:21 05 Apr 16

I highly recommend Neil Sauer, DPT. Prior to attending Physical Therapy at FUNCTIONAL ADVANTAGE, I had chronic low back pain for over 10 years. Deciding I needed to do something about this pain, I went to a specialist whom personal referred Neil as my therapist. My experience was life changing. Neil not only gave me the one-on-one attention each and every session, thus making certain I was properly executing each task, he also taught me life skills on how to best keep my back strong while working at home and in my horse barn. He is definitely an asset to our medical community!!

Riley Hupfer

22:01 04 Apr 16

Working with Neil was an all around excellent experience! Not only is he highly skilled and intelligent from a PT perspective, but he's also great with patient interaction. I never felt as if going to therapy was a chore, as I looked forward to not only feeling better physically but to hanging out with Neil.I would highly recommend his services to customers of any age, with any ailment. Hands down one of the best therapy experiences I've ever had.Thanks Neil!

Pam Miller Kuk

14:01 03 Apr 16

Today is my last day of therapy Neil Sauer did a wonderful job getting me the use of my shoulder back I still have to strengthening to do. But I can do that. I'm going to miss it a little. Neil has a great sense of humor so it was fun. If anyone needs a physical therapist. I would highly recommend you going to see Neil Sauer at Functional Advantage in Freeland.

Brad House

20:15 02 Apr 16

Functional Advantage has been the most effective PT clinic I have experienced. The one on one and undivided attention from Neil greatly improved my rate of recovery and flexibility. Having Neil explain the "what a why's" of each exercise as well as watching/instructing/correcting each exercise sets this clinic apart from others that I have used. Neil also documented an easy to follow at list of home exercises for in-between visits and an after care regimen. The clinic very clean and spacious, giving me the ability to walk around after a set of exercises. I would very much recommend Functional Advantage for anyone with pre/post surgery PT needs, or anyone with the desire to improve flexibility.

John Burnett

22:09 16 Feb 16

My experience at Functional Advantage was great. I felt more motivated and was more comfortable than at any other physical therapist that I have seen. It is a very professional environment and would highly recommend it to anybody looking for therapy. It is definitely the place that I would use again.

Sam Dewald

23:54 30 Dec 15

I was a client of Functional Advantage during the summer months of 2015. I found the experience to be extremely rewarding, pleasant and immensely helpful. Neil Sauer is very professional and accommodating in his approach to physical therapy. He is very knowledgeable about how the human body works, and how to maintain and improve its movement. The clinic is fully functional, pleasant and clean. I highly recommend Functional Advantage for your next physical therapy needs. You will be highly satisfied.

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