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Palo Alto has physical therapy and chiropractic offices along El Camino Real, Middlefield Road and the streets around California Avenue. The two big health systems run rehabilitation programs nearby and independent clinics fill in across town.
This guide groups physical therapy and chiropractic practices by area and gives a neutral description of each. Businesses in our business directory link to their directory pages, with hours and the sources we checked. Others come from each provider's own website in October 2026. We do not rank or review providers and we do not list prices. This page is not medical advice. Your doctor can help you decide what kind of care is right for you.
Physical therapy and chiropractic: the difference
The two professions overlap but are licensed and trained differently in California.
- Physical therapists are licensed by the Physical Therapy Board of California. They evaluate movement problems and use exercise, manual therapy and other treatments to help people recover from injuries, surgery and conditions that affect movement. Many work in hospital systems and outpatient clinics.
- Chiropractors (D.C.) are licensed by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. They focus on the spine and musculoskeletal system and are best known for spinal adjustments. Many offices also offer soft tissue work, exercise guidance and other services.
- Occupational therapists help people regain the skills of daily life, often after a hand injury, stroke or surgery. Hand therapy clinics often include them.
You can confirm a license on each state board's website by searching the provider's name.
Health system rehabilitation
If you already see doctors at Sutter or Stanford, their rehabilitation programs are the simplest place to start, since referrals and records stay within one system.
Sutter Health, Palo Alto Center
Sutter's Palo Alto Physical Therapy and Hand Therapy is on the first floor of the Clark Building at 795 El Camino Real, on the Palo Alto Medical Foundation campus near Town & Country Village. It lists orthopedic rehabilitation, sports-related musculoskeletal injuries, neurologic conditions, postoperative care and pelvic floor treatment. Listed hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. It is closed on weekends and major holidays and lists onsite parking. The campus is described in our Palo Alto Medical Foundation directory page.
Stanford Health Care
Stanford's rehabilitation services locations page lists three outpatient sites:
| Program | Address |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Neurologic Rehabilitation | 213 Quarry Road, Palo Alto |
| Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy | 450 Broadway Street, Pavilion B31, 3rd floor, Redwood City |
| Outpatient Hand Therapy | 450 Broadway Street, Pavilion A24, 2nd floor, Redwood City |
Stanford says rehabilitation appointments are requested through a doctor's referral and asks patients to get a therapy prescription from their medical provider. The scheduling number is 650-725-5106. The Quarry Road site is near Stanford's Hoover Pavilion at 211 Quarry Road, a short walk from the Palo Alto Transit Center.
Independent physical therapy clinics
Two outpatient clinics outside the big health systems sit near the California Avenue district and on south El Camino Real.
- Select Physical Therapy, 425 Sherman Avenue, Suite 300. A clinic of the national Select Physical Therapy brand near California Avenue, offering physical and occupational therapy on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It names Medicare, workers' compensation and motor vehicle accident liens among the payment types it accepts and lists telerehab.
- Agile Physical Therapy, 3825 El Camino Real. The Palo Alto clinic of Agile Physical Therapy. Its location page describes sports physical therapy, rehabilitation, pain management, pelvic floor physical therapy, concussion rehab and post-operative care. Phone: (650) 565-8090.
The California Avenue area has public garages and is close to the Caltrain station. Our California Avenue guide covers parking.
Chiropractic offices
Palo Alto's chiropractors cluster downtown and near California Avenue.
- Stanford Chiropractic Center, 489 Middlefield Road. An office founded in 1990 by Dr. Gavin Carr, offering adjustments, spinal decompression and injury care, with weekday hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and same-day visits listed. It says it accepts Medicare and bills other plans out of network. Despite the name, it is an independent practice, not part of Stanford University or Stanford Health Care.
- University Chiropractic, 157 Homer Avenue. A downtown clinic founded in 1997 and led by Dr. Patricia Kiser-Cohen, with five chiropractors and Spanish spoken. It lists most insurance, HSA and FSA.
- Silicon Valley Fit, 299 California Avenue, Suite 120. A personal training studio whose owner is a chiropractor, pairing chiropractic care with one-on-one training, massage and youth strength programs. It starts with a free consultation.
Our downtown guide covers parking near Middlefield Road and Homer Avenue.
Related care
Some people combine physical therapy with other services. These businesses are in our directory:
- Massage Therapy Center, 368 South California Avenue, with state-licensed massage therapists since 1981.
- Acupuncture of Palo Alto, 472 Everett Avenue, a one-practitioner traditional Chinese medicine clinic that lists sports injuries and chronic pain among the concerns it sees.
Our spas and massage guide lists more massage options. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist about how other treatments fit into your care.
Referrals and insurance
California allows patients to see a physical therapist directly, without a physician's referral, within limits set by state law. In practice, insurance rules often decide the path. Many plans require a referral, a prescription or prior authorization before they pay for therapy. Many also limit the number of visits per year. Health systems also set their own rules. Stanford asks for a doctor's referral for its rehabilitation programs.
Before your first visit, a few questions help:
- Is the clinic in network with your specific plan? Check your plan's network with your insurer and confirm with the clinic.
- Does your plan need a referral or prior authorization?
- How many visits does your plan cover and is there a copay for each one?
- For chiropractic care, does your plan cover it at all? Is the office in network or billing out of network?
- Can you use an HSA or FSA card?
Your first visit
- Bring paperwork. Your insurance card, any referral or prescription, imaging reports and a list of medications.
- Wear comfortable clothes that let the clinician see and move the area being treated.
- Expect an evaluation. First appointments usually include an assessment and a plan. They often run longer than follow-ups.
- Ask about home exercises. Many plans of care include exercises between visits.
- Plan your trip. Several clinics are near Caltrain or the free Marguerite shuttle. Our Stanford parking and transit guide covers the shuttle routes to the medical buildings on Quarry Road.
Once you are cleared to exercise, our guides to gyms and fitness and running routes can help you get back to your routine.
Good to know
- Sutter's Palo Alto PT and hand therapy clinic is at 795 El Camino Real, Clark Building, 1st floor.
- Stanford's neurologic rehab is at 213 Quarry Road; its sports PT is in Redwood City.
- California allows direct access to physical therapy within limits, but many insurance plans still require a referral.
- Check your plan's network and visit limits before your first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral for physical therapy in California?
California law lets patients start physical therapy without a physician's referral, within limits set by the state. Many insurance plans and health systems still require a referral or prescription. Stanford Health Care, for example, asks patients to get a therapy prescription from their medical provider. Check with your insurer and the clinic before you book.
Where is Sutter's physical therapy in Palo Alto?
Sutter Health's Palo Alto Physical Therapy and Hand Therapy is on the first floor of the Clark Building at 795 El Camino Real. It lists hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. It lists orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, neurologic conditions, postoperative care and pelvic floor treatment.
Does Stanford have physical therapy in Palo Alto?
Stanford Health Care lists Outpatient Neurologic Rehabilitation at 213 Quarry Road in Palo Alto. Its orthopaedic and sports physical therapy and its outpatient hand therapy are at 450 Broadway in Redwood City. Appointments start with a referral from your doctor; the scheduling line is 650-725-5106.
Where is pelvic floor physical therapy in Palo Alto?
Sutter's Palo Alto Physical Therapy and Hand Therapy lists pelvic floor treatment. Agile Physical Therapy at 3825 El Camino Real also lists pelvic floor physical therapy. Ask either clinic whether it treats your specific concern and accepts your insurance.
Which chiropractors accept Medicare in Palo Alto?
Stanford Chiropractic Center at 489 Middlefield Road says it accepts Medicare and bills other plans out of network. University Chiropractic on Homer Avenue says it accepts most insurance, HSA and FSA. Confirm coverage with the office and your plan before your first visit.