LEVEL4 PT & PILATES - Encinitas, California

Amanda C.

I am so grateful for finding Level4 studio. Everyone there is amazing! I have been loving the one on one training and the small group classes. I’m already seeing great results as I am getting stronger and my pain from a past injury and from child birth has greatly improved. I plan to go to even more classes in the future and recommend this place to anyone wanting to improve their health.

Bud M.

I've had extensive surgeries and Dr. Dawn Andalon (owner) and Dr. Annelise Thompson have been amazing helping me on my very long road to recovery. I've received treatment from them their team and they are some of the most caring, professional, and resourceful people out there. Their use of pilates and newer treatments are integral in helping you return to what you love. They also have a machine called "shockwave therapy" that I was treated with recently, and it was amazing for some of my deeper tension in an older limb injury. I've had a myriad of orthopedic injuries with next level care at several academic institutions, and hands down. they are amazing. Please Check them out, their services are some of the best investments in your long term health and well being!

Steffani S.

I'm so happy to have found LEVEL4! I've struggled with back pain for years due to gymnast injuries and scoliosis. At LEVEL4 I've taken privates and had cupping done with Dr. Annalise Thompson and now I've recently started doing group pilates classes with different instructors. All of the staff at LEVEL4 is amazing, super friendly, knowledgeable, and caring. They focus on getting you healthy and strong, equipping you with take home exercises and tips, and work with you to find the right plan for you. They are always mindful of not pushing you past your limits and checking in with you to ensure no further injuries which I really appreciate. I highly recommend LEVEL4 if you need help recovering from injuries or are just looking to find the right exercise plan for you!

Thank you Dr. Dawn, Dr. Annalise and the whole LEVEL4 team for all the help and support!

Gee V.

ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH OUT THERE

I am one of the MOST critical consumers of PT. Why? I've consumed so much PT I feel like I could make a screening tool for it. I've been seen at some amazing academic facilities and NOTHING comes close to the treatment by Dr. Annelise Thompson at LEVEL 4 PT & PILATES. From the initial intake and consultation, all of my needs and concerns have been addressed with the most caring, detailed treatment. Be prepared to participate, LEARN, and work with the staff there for an improvement in your pelvic floor situation.

The staff is absolutely amazing - they give you the tools to help you improve, and are there when you have questions, concerns, and anything else!

I resisted pelvic floor PT for years due to the stigma, thinking I was fine and in reality, the difference between "being able to do a kegel" and total "pelvic floor health" is vast and wide. Let's face it: it's awkward. However, Drs. Thompson & Andalon make it much less difficult and all activities are in a safe environment, making you feel relaxed enough to have PT and also do exercises to help you with your home program.

From visit one, Dr. Thompson proclaimed to me, "you don't have to lose your bladder as you age". While that wasn't my issue, this was something that really struck me as something most women are not aware of, especially those that have had kids.

I've also received treatment there for issues with my back and spine and again, nothing short of amazing. If you have any type of soft tissue or orthopedic injury history, you know some things are interrelated and addressing them as a total is much helpful than individually. Dr. Thompson has helped me invaluably with the issues in my low back/hip/IT area that has plagued me for years.

The pilates classes are both individual and very very small group and instructors really pay attention to your form and muscle engagement. Michelle, in particular is amazing when it comes to variety and different exercises to help you engage your core and get stronger! This has made a huge difference in my posture, and PAIN LEVEL! I'm a fan of getting tools/exercises that I can take with me to help myself. If I could take pilates classes every day there I would.

This is no ordinary PT, this is like the most personally tailored PT I've ever had. I feel so lucky to have found LEVEL 4!!!

Gerardeen S.

I've had sciatica for almost a year, on the heels of struggling with a labral tear and FAI in my right hip for four years, before I started my treatment at LEVEL4.

I was skeptical at first about what Dr Dawn's team could do to help me, but I'd reached the end of my tolerance, the end of the proverbial "rope": the pain I felt had become a constant presence in my life, from a dull ache to an excruciating sharpness that made my hip buckle and collapse. I could no longer go to the grocery. I could no longer walk my dogs. I could no longer play tennis with my husband. I grew depressed: I used to play two hours of tennis AND run or hike 2-3 miles of trails with my dogs everyday. I thought nothing of gardening. All the little things, the little joys, I used to take for granted -- I thought that this debilitating pain would be with me for the rest of my life.

Until I found LEVEL4. Today, I am on my tenth PT session with Dr Annalise and I am feeling hopeful. Although I am far from pain free, I am learning how to manage my pain while strengthening my core and leg muscles and slowly regaining my flexibility and range of motion. I know I've got months of PT and pilates training ahead of me, but I'm learning to accept this and be grateful for at long last being on this journey. I am hopeful that by working with the LEVEL4 team, I will achieve my goals of once again hiking with my dogs and, possibly, playing tennis with my husband one day.

This is not an easy journey. You must be committed to making lifestyle changes (eg, do not sit for longer than 20-30 min!). But LEVEL4's techniques are effective. Take it from me who have suffered long-term pain and tried almost all the touted online programs for FAI, anterior pelvic tilt, and sciatica for 4.5 years (I did everything short of surgery). LEVEL4 's hands-on manual therapy and customized exercise program works. After six PT sessions with Dr Annalise, I can go grocery shopping and walk around the block, hooray! I still experience pain and stiffness but, hey, I am walking again.

Note: In addition to the PT and pilates, I strongly recommend shockwave therapy, also offered by LEVEL4 (I believe this helped heal my labral tear). I also suggest purchasing a good red/infrared light therapy device to help in recovery and pain management (Novaalab has a good belt for areas like the back and hip, and Kineon has an excellent laser for more focused application).

Michelle H.

For the past 6 months, I have been working with Dr. Annalise Thompson doing physical therapy and 1:1 Pilates. Unfortunately, I hit a plateau, but we continue to work doing modifications to avoid pain. I continue to get stronger, little by little, and Dr. Annalise helps educate me on my options as I navigate my insurance & the healthcare system.

Colleen S.

My daughter tore her ACL playing soccer. We had Kaiser for insurance, and while the surgery went well, and there were relatively no complications, the physical rehabilitation offered by Kaiser was very poor. Wanting to return to the sport she loved, I knew she needed something more. We found Oscar and the Level4 group, and from day 1, it was head to toe better than any PT she had up to that point. Through a series of tests they found where she still needed to gain strength and offered a program to get her there. They were the calm in a storm and even helped through the stressful months of her starting back on the field. I couldn’t recommend them more if you are concerned about getting back to sport the right way! My daughter is now 11 1/2 months in recovery from her surgery and is doing great!

Cindy Y.

I’ve been going to Level4 for my low back pain from scoliosis with the goal of stretching with PT and Pilates to help my golf swing. Each week I’ve felt improvement with Dr. Analise. She understands my body and is great to work with!