Like most climbers (and athletes), I let an injury go for way too long because I thought rehab would mean stopping and I kept hoping a little rest or slow down would fix things. It didn't. Dr. Barnes helped me understand why my tendon issues weren't going away and how to work through them. I didn't have to stop climbing and in weeks I improved and in less than two months I was significantly better off than before the injury. Since then I'm better at preventative strengthening and whenever I do hurt something I don't wait to address it, I just make an appointment with Dr. Barnes and get a plan in place.
Gabi Fox
Feb 2021
Natasha is brilliant and saved my shoulder. I injured my right shoulder in the gym doing a shouldery gaston move. It hurt like hell and I spent the following year going to 3 different physical therapists trying to recover. All of them told me to stop climbing and stop using the shoulder. Things got so bad to where I couldn't even brush my hair or chop lettuce. A year after the injury I saw a surgeon hoping that he'd have some answers. He ordered an MRI which showed a healthy shoulder, so he gave me the "there's not really anything we can do for you, try going back to physical therapy".I was pretty devastated and depressed, having lost a year of climbing, not able to use my right arm without pain, and no one able to help me. I posted on instagram asking if anyone had any advice and multiple people reached out saying Natasha Barnes could help. I hadn't thought about talking to a climbing specific rehab person, but I'm so glad I did.Natasha explained what was going on with my shoulder, why NOT using it over the last year made it even weaker, and gave me a program to get my shoulder back on track. I was climbing within a couple weeks of that first call with her. And here I am today, almost a year after connecting with her, and I'm climbing better than I ever have in my life. My only regret was not finding Natasha earlier! Seriously, if you have an injury that has been bothering you for a while, stop reading this review and just go book a call with her. She's an angel sent to us by the climbing gods.
Meghan A.
Mar 2019
The reviews were so promising. I really thought this would work out better. I tried to express that oftentimes it can be extremely hard for me to get to a gym (and also to PT). However, it was emphasized that I must do that rather than use hand weights and bands at home and the exercises were being doled out a horrifying slow rate- 1 or 2 per pricey session. I'm pretty sure that some kind of PT exercise regime could have been developed to accommodate a busy work schedule. But alas, a lack of understanding that I can't really lose my job made this sort of seem like it wasn't worth my while since clearly my needs weren't being taken into account and the heavy lifting exercises were being doled out at a rate of one or two exercises per $165 session. Kind of disappointing.
Celeste B.
Oct 2018
This review is long overdue - I'm a climber and have seen Natasha about some shoulder issues. Natasha completely rewired how I think about injury: I now recognize that one must engage in an active rehab program and focus on healing AND gaining strength simultaneously to promote recovery. She is an excellent diagnostic, and creates a strength-based rehab program to address root weakness so that you can return to sport recovered and stronger than before. From her I have learned so much about self-treatment and have gained holistic knowledge rather than one-time relief. Natasha is highly responsive to follow up questions regarding protocol and form - I've exchanged dozens of emails with her - and she is clearly invested in the progress and outcomes of those she works with. She is also just an awesome person - confident, compassionate, and she has a great sense of humor. Just the demeanor you need when you're feeling anxious about an injury and prognosis! Her blog is also an informative and well-written resource. I am so grateful to Natasha - we are so lucky to have her in our community.
Jared Goor
Like most climbers (and athletes), I let an injury go for way too long because I thought rehab would mean stopping and I kept hoping a little rest or slow down would fix things. It didn't. Dr. Barnes helped me understand why my tendon issues weren't going away and how to work through them. I didn't have to stop climbing and in weeks I improved and in less than two months I was significantly better off than before the injury. Since then I'm better at preventative strengthening and whenever I do hurt something I don't wait to address it, I just make an appointment with Dr. Barnes and get a plan in place.
Gabi Fox
Natasha is brilliant and saved my shoulder. I injured my right shoulder in the gym doing a shouldery gaston move. It hurt like hell and I spent the following year going to 3 different physical therapists trying to recover. All of them told me to stop climbing and stop using the shoulder. Things got so bad to where I couldn't even brush my hair or chop lettuce. A year after the injury I saw a surgeon hoping that he'd have some answers. He ordered an MRI which showed a healthy shoulder, so he gave me the "there's not really anything we can do for you, try going back to physical therapy".I was pretty devastated and depressed, having lost a year of climbing, not able to use my right arm without pain, and no one able to help me. I posted on instagram asking if anyone had any advice and multiple people reached out saying Natasha Barnes could help. I hadn't thought about talking to a climbing specific rehab person, but I'm so glad I did.Natasha explained what was going on with my shoulder, why NOT using it over the last year made it even weaker, and gave me a program to get my shoulder back on track. I was climbing within a couple weeks of that first call with her. And here I am today, almost a year after connecting with her, and I'm climbing better than I ever have in my life. My only regret was not finding Natasha earlier! Seriously, if you have an injury that has been bothering you for a while, stop reading this review and just go book a call with her. She's an angel sent to us by the climbing gods.
Meghan A.
The reviews were so promising. I really thought this would work out better. I tried to express that oftentimes it can be extremely hard for me to get to a gym (and also to PT). However, it was emphasized that I must do that rather than use hand weights and bands at home and the exercises were being doled out a horrifying slow rate- 1 or 2 per pricey session. I'm pretty sure that some kind of PT exercise regime could have been developed to accommodate a busy work schedule. But alas, a lack of understanding that I can't really lose my job made this sort of seem like it wasn't worth my while since clearly my needs weren't being taken into account and the heavy lifting exercises were being doled out at a rate of one or two exercises per $165 session. Kind of disappointing.
Celeste B.
This review is long overdue - I'm a climber and have seen Natasha about some shoulder issues. Natasha completely rewired how I think about injury: I now recognize that one must engage in an active rehab program and focus on healing AND gaining strength simultaneously to promote recovery. She is an excellent diagnostic, and creates a strength-based rehab program to address root weakness so that you can return to sport recovered and stronger than before. From her I have learned so much about self-treatment and have gained holistic knowledge rather than one-time relief. Natasha is highly responsive to follow up questions regarding protocol and form - I've exchanged dozens of emails with her - and she is clearly invested in the progress and outcomes of those she works with. She is also just an awesome person - confident, compassionate, and she has a great sense of humor. Just the demeanor you need when you're feeling anxious about an injury and prognosis! Her blog is also an informative and well-written resource. I am so grateful to Natasha - we are so lucky to have her in our community.