Desert Palms Physical Therapy — Attraction in Four Corners States

The progress I made with Marcus Neal at Desert Palms Physical Therapy was extraordinary. It truly gave me my life back.

If you have pain or symptoms that are unexplained or persist despite a diagnosis, I strongly recommend seeing Marcus before pursuing further medical intervention. His ability to pinpoint the root cause of a problem—even in complex cases involving multiple, overlapping factors—is rare and invaluable. In his thorough evaluations, he accurately identified the primary drivers of my condition. This saved me significant time, cost, and risk by ruling out ineffective and potentially harmful treatments, and finally ended the exhausting cycle of bouncing from one provider to the next without answers. If a family member or close friend’s health were on the line, I would trust his technical judgment without hesitation.

However, what sets Marcus apart isn’t just his diagnostic precision and depth of knowledge. It’s how he applies it—with creativity, dynamic intelligence, and nuanced responsiveness. His clinical discernment, both gifted and finely honed, allows him to detect subtle patterns and underlying mechanisms others often miss. He then translates those findings into highly individualized interventions—layering techniques, leveraging cross-disciplinary modalities, tracking how multiple systems interact, adjusting in real time, and addressing not just symptoms but how the entire brain-body network moves, processes feedback, and adapts over time. His work doesn’t follow a script; it’s mastery in motion.

My case was anything but easy or straightforward. I had spine surgery at 17, followed by immediate post-surgical complications and pain that lasted years beyond the expected healing timeline. In my 30s, I was diagnosed with joint hypermobility and developed chronic pain that resisted standard treatment. During the most difficult phases of my recovery, Marcus’s ability to problem-solve on the spot, pivot when needed, and craft tailored, innovative strategies led to breakthroughs that moved me forward when I felt stuck or hopeless. He consistently brought fresh insight from diverse frameworks, challenged entrenched assumptions in rehabilitation theory, and seamlessly integrated biomechanical and neurophysiological approaches with pain science education.

While many clinicians perceived me as fragile due to the hypermobility and cautioned against strenuous exercise, Marcus pushed back against limiting narratives and reinforced my capacity for full physical function. Above all, what I’ll never forget is that when other practitioners backed off or gave up entirely when faced with the stubborn, persistent, and nonlinear nature of my condition, Marcus met every obstacle head-on. He worked with me for three years straight—a level of dedication rarely seen in today’s quick-fix medical culture. As a result, I made a complete recovery! I went from being unable to sit, stand, or drive without pain to hiking steep hills, doing high-intensity cardio and strength training, and living entirely pain-free for the past four years.

Over time, I’ve come to realize there is a profound difference between physical therapy clinics that prioritize cutting-edge research and ongoing learning, and those that operate more like an assembly line, checking boxes and going through the motions. Marcus’s practice demonstrates the extraordinary potential of physical therapy when delivered at the highest level, setting the bar for the entire field. Every aspect of the care I received at Desert Palms was the antithesis of a cookie-cutter approach to PT.

Marcus fundamentally changed what I believed was possible. Applying everything he taught me didn’t just transform my physical limits; it redefined the way I see my own power, capacity, and even pain itself. I would not be where I am today without his unwavering conviction that I could recover—not based on empty reassurance, but on deep expertise and an ever-evolving knowledge base. After a recent minor setback, he got me back on track in just two sessions! I’ll be...

No idea if the PT is good, didn't get past reception. The appointment letter (email) I received had multiple typos and missed words, so that was odd. Got there and the receptionist had no greeting for me, and was generally non-communicative.

When I handed her my Aetna healthcare card, I said, "I am on COBRA, so am not sure how that may affect this coverage." She (the healthcare administrator professional!) said, "I've never heard of that." I explained to her what COBRA was.

Come to find out my crappy (Aetna) insurance shows only $3 paid toward my deductible this year. Figures, as I'd almost met the deductible, then the year started over July 1. This place told me it was $75 co-pay for first visit and $70 co-pays after that. If I had insurance, it would pay 90% (I found all this out later, through Aetna). Since P/T is usually twice a week, I managed to do the math and realized there was no way I was going to pay for P/T out of pocket.

The people at Desert Palms seemed really surprised when I said I wasn't going to pay $150/week for physical therapy!

TL;DR - Receptionist is clueless, office staff unhelpful. Didn't help that my high-deductible insurance plan is headquartered...

My primary physical therapist is Marcus Neal. He never ceased to amaze me with his ability to pull a different treatment modality or exercise plan out to tackle a presenting problem that was proving resistant to mainstream or basic physical therapy exercise treatment plans. Consistently following his instructions has made by body stronger, resulting in less painful flair ups. I am also grateful to Michael P. who evaluated and treated me when Marcus was unavailable. All the support staff were friendly and encouraging.

I had received treatment at a different physical therapist for an earlier injury in the mid 1990’s. The evaluation and versatile treatment plan received at Desert Palms far exceeded my previous physical therapy experience. Although I am 20 years older now, I feel the current improvement in my body’s muscles is superior to what was the result of the previous...