Physical Therapy · Lodi, CA

Get back to Moving.

You’ve rearranged your life around it: the shorter runs, the careful mornings, the ‘maybe next year.’ One cause-first evaluation with a physical therapist is how you start taking it all back.

★ 4.9 367 Google Reviews
Next openings this week
Physical Therapists No Referral Needed 4.9 on Google Most Insurances Accepted Same-Week Appointments

The Hardware

Award-winning care. Officially.

We don’t just say we’re good. The community keeps putting it in writing.

4.9-Star Google Rating

Rated 4.9 by our patients on Google. Not curated, not filtered: earned one visit at a time.

367+ Five-Star Reviews

Over 367 people took the time to write about their recovery here. Read them all, unedited, on Google.

What We Treat

Sound familiar?

Point to where it hurts. We’ll show you how we fix it.

Front-facing body model highlighting seven common areas we treat
1

Neck Pain

That knot between your shoulder blades by 3pm: tension headaches, migraines, neck strain that never fully lets go.

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2

Shoulder Pain

Reaching for the top shelf and stopping halfway: rotator cuff pain, frozen shoulder, that catch every time you lift overhead.

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3

Elbow, Wrist & Hand Pain

Your grip gives out opening a jar: tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, desk strain that flares by Wednesday.

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4

Low Back Pain

Standing up off the couch like you’re eighty: sciatica, herniated discs, mornings that take ten minutes to loosen up.

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5

Hip Pain

That pinch when you cross your legs to tie your shoes: hip bursitis, labral tears, flexors too tight to trust.

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6

Knee Pain

Stairs make you think twice: runner’s knee, ACL/MCL recovery, that ache on every squat.

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7

Foot & Ankle Pain

First steps out of bed feel like walking on glass: plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, a sprain that never fully healed.

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The 30-Second Pain Check

Not sure where to start?

Three taps. No forms. Most pain like yours is fixable. See for yourself.

This quick quiz needs JavaScript. You can book straight from the form below, or call us at (209) 207-0849.

Where does it hurt?

The Recovery Journey

A plan you can see. Progress you can feel.

You’ll never wonder if it’s working. Four phases, each with a job, a timeline, and a way to know you’ve earned the next one.

Phase 1 of 4

Weeks 1–2

Pain

Calm the pain down.

  • Hands-on treatment starting your very first visit
  • Pain education so you understand what’s really going on
  • Quick wins early so you trust the plan
Physical therapist providing hands-on treatment to calm acute pain

Weeks 2–6

Prime

Get your motion back.

  • Targeted mobility work for the joints and tissue holding you back
  • Exercise dosed to your body, not a generic sheet
  • Movement retraining so old habits stop reloading the problem
Patient working through guided mobility exercises with a therapist

Weeks 6–10

Perform

Make it strong enough to trust.

  • Progressive loading that builds real capacity, not just tolerance
  • Strength standards you have to hit before moving on
  • Confidence under load, so you stop bracing for pain
Patient performing progressive strength training under supervision

Weeks 10+

Prevent

Make sure it never comes back.

  • Sport- and life-specific testing before you’re cleared
  • A simple keep-it-gone program built for your real schedule
  • Clear graduation criteria: you’ll know exactly when you’re done
Athlete completing return-to-sport performance testing

Not sure which phase you’re in? That’s exactly what the evaluation is for.

Get My Plan

Real Comebacks

A pickleball fall left her with multiple fractures, barely able to move without pain

Functional again and pain-free, thanks to Dr. Christina and the team

Fracture recovery ★★★★★ Google review

Daily low back pain that kept her from doing the things she loved

Almost 2 years pain-free, and thankful every day

Low back pain 2 years pain-free

Extreme lower back pain that wouldn’t let up

Virtually pain-free by the end of her sessions

Low back pain ★★★★★ Google review

Couldn’t walk when she started treatment

Walking 100%, and recommending Excel to everyone

Mobility recovery ★★★★★ Google review

Came in unsure what recovery would even look like

Left every session feeling stronger and more confident

Physical therapy ★★★★★ Google review

Dealing with pain that didn’t seem to let up

Feeling a lot better, with the pain no longer running the show

Pain relief ★★★★★ Google review

The Numbers

Proof, in numbers.

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Team Members

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Services Offered

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Conditions Treated


4.9 on Google 367+ verified reviews No referral needed Most insurances accepted

Why Excel Physical Therapy

You’ve maybe done PT before. Not like this.

Half our patients came from somewhere that handed them a printout and a heat pack. Here’s what’s different when a physical therapist owns your whole visit.

Physical therapist guiding a patient through a one-on-one session
Physical therapist reviewing a treatment plan with a patient
One-on-one Every visit
01

One-on-one, every visit

You’ll never be handed off to a tech or share your therapist with three other patients.

02

A Physical Therapist, every time

Every session is with a licensed physical therapist, not an aide.

03

No referral needed

In CA, you can start PT without seeing your physician first. We handle the paperwork if your insurance needs it.

04

We handle the insurance maze

We verify your benefits before your first visit, so there are no surprise bills.

Your First Visit

Know exactly what to expect.

No mystery, no surprises: here’s your first hour with us, minute by minute.

0:00

You’re greeted by name.

Paperwork’s already done: you did it at home. Straight back, no waiting room purgatory.

0:05

We watch how you move.

A full movement assessment, not just where it hurts, but why it hurts.

0:25

Treatment starts today.

Hands-on work in the very first visit. You’ll feel the difference before you leave.

0:55

You leave with the plan.

What’s going on, how long it’ll take, and exactly what happens next.

One hour. You walk out knowing what’s wrong, how long it takes, and what happens next.

Book My First Visit

Meet the Team

The people behind your recovery.

Physical Therapists who treat you like a person, not a protocol.

Portrait of Dr. Dhawal Bhanushali, CEO and Doctor of Physical Therapy

Dr. Dhawal Bhanushali

CEO & Doctor of Physical Therapy

  • PT
  • DPT

“My approach to manual therapy comes from watching my mother work as an Ayurvedic therapist for thirty years. I still carry that with me in every session.”

Ask me about

Vestibular therapy, vertigo, and plantar fasciitis

Book with Dr. Bhanushali
Portrait of Dr. Christina Gavino, Clinical Director and Physical Therapist

Dr. Christina Gavino

Clinical Director & Physical Therapist

  • DPT
  • SFMA-1

“I tore my own ACL playing rugby in high school. The physical therapist who got me back on the field is the reason I became one.”

Ask me about

A movement-quality-first approach to recovery

Book with Dr. Gavino
Portrait of Andrew Rowerdink, Physical Therapist

Andrew Rowerdink

Physical Therapist

  • PT

“Watching my dad go through physical therapy is what put me on this path. I know what it means to a family when it works.”

Ask me about

Functional-capacity assessment, across all kinds of conditions

Book with Andrew
Portrait of Tanuja Yella, Physical Therapist

Tanuja Yella

Physical Therapist

  • PT

“We rise by lifting others.”

Ask me about

Rebuilding strength, mobility, and independence

Book with Tanuja

Patient Stories

Real people. Real comebacks.

T Teresa A.

I had a wonderful experience! I recommend Excel Physical Therapy. The doctor and staff are so nice and they really want to help me.

via Google

J Jenna D.

I’ve only had one visit so far, and I feel good about my visit.

via Google

A Amardeep C.

My therapist was very knowledgeable and patient with me during my visit. The staff and management are all very friendly.

via Google

D Diane K.

Very professional, kind, and knowledgeable. I would recommend them to all my friends.

via Google

M Monica M.

Excellent customer service: well-informed, friendly people.

via Google

M Michael G.

Very cool place.

via Google

C Corinne L.

This is my first experience with Excel, their staff is amazing! I feel safe and heard, and I’m looking forward to working with them.

via Google

J Joe M.

They really help you, very nice people, very clean, and motivational. Thank you for everything.

via Google

★ 4.9 rating · 367+ Google reviews

Read them all →

Live From Google

Don’t take our word for it.

Every review below is pulled live from Google. We can’t edit them. That’s the point.

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The Honest Truth

Pain rarely waits with you.

Here’s what actually happens in the next 90 days, on both paths.

If you keep waiting

  • Your body compensates: other joints quietly pick up the slack
  • Simple problems layer into complicated ones
  • The workouts, walks, and weekends keep shrinking
  • Painkillers manage the noise, not the cause

If you start this week

  • A Physical Therapist finds the actual cause: visit one
  • Hands-on treatment starts the same day
  • A phase-by-phase plan with an endpoint, not endless visits
  • Most patients feel meaningful change in 4–6 visits

Nobody regrets starting too early. Every week, someone in our clinic says they regret waiting.

Start My Comeback

The Boring Stuff, Handled

Insurance and paperwork, without the headache.

Most insurances accepted

We verify your benefits before your first visit: you’ll know your cost up front. No surprise bills.

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[Insurance Logo]
[Insurance Logo]
[Insurance Logo]

Not sure if we take your plan? Call us. We’ll check for you: (209) 207-0849

Free benefits check

Send us your insurance details and we’ll verify your exact coverage and cost, then call you with the answer. No guessing at the front desk.

Your details are used only to verify your coverage. We’ll call within one business day with your exact cost.

Questions, Answered

Everything you’re wondering before you book.

Straight answers: no medical jargon, no runaround.

No, most states, including CA, allow direct access to physical therapy, so you can start without a doctor’s referral. If your insurance requires paperwork from a physician, we’ll handle tracking it down so it doesn’t hold up your care.

We verify your benefits before your first visit, so you’ll know your exact copay before you ever walk in: no surprise bills later. If you’re without insurance or prefer to skip it, we also offer self-pay rates.

Wear something comfortable you can actually move in. Shorts are best if we’re treating a knee or hip, and a tank top or loose tee helps if we’re working on a shoulder or neck.

Your first visit, the evaluation, runs about 60 minutes. Afterward you’ll leave with a phase-based plan with an endpoint, not a guess, and not an open-ended string of visits. Most patients feel meaningful change within 4–6 visits.

That’s exactly what your cause-first evaluation is for. A physical therapist examines you first, then builds your plan from whichever of our services actually fit: hands-on manual therapy, cupping, spinal manipulation, or straightforward physical therapy. You’ll never be sold a service you don’t need.

No. Every visit is one-on-one, hands-on care with a physical therapist, never a tech handing you a printout. Your exercises are dosed specifically for you and progressed live as you improve.

That’s a fair question, and it’s usually the model, not you. A lot of clinics rotate you through techs and hand you generic sheets. Here, you get one-on-one time with a physical therapist every single visit, a cause-first evaluation instead of a cookie-cutter protocol, and a phase-based plan with clear graduation criteria, so you always know why you’re doing what you’re doing, and when you’re done.

Book Your Visit

Ready when you are.

Request a time and a real person calls you back, usually within two business hours. No phone tree. No ‘someone will reach out.’ Just a plan.

  • Hours Mon–Fri, 7:30 AM–6 PM
  • (209) 207-0849 Prefer to talk now? Call us.
  • Same-week appointments available

4.9 · 367+ Google reviews

Typical response: under 2 business hours

Step 1 of 5

So we know who to look for when you walk in.