Custom Performance — Local services in New York

My story before Custom Performance was a long one filed with agony, disappointment, frustration, and unshakeable pain. My story after my 1st and ONLY visit to Custom Performance with Greg Laraia quickly turned into a pain free, invigorating, uplifting, and SUCCESSFUL one.

I traveled the 2 hours into the city and had an hour session with Greg Laraia that changed EVERYTHING. When I met with Greg I remember explaining to him that I was 2 weeks away from the start of my 16 week training program for the NYC Marathon, but at the time I had not run more than 1 mile without excruciating pain in 4 whole months. I explained that I was told from the doctors that I have ITBS, patella tendinitis, and muscular imbalance — and have NEVER ran more than 13 miles before…oh, and I have scoliosis too. I was expecting him to have the reaction that I was a lost cause, and maybe wasn’t meant for running this length. Instead, Greg met my adversity with an exciting energy and eagerness to start the running analysis and get to figuring my running form out. Throughout the session Greg get off a calmness that ensured me that he would figure out what was causing the pain, and step by step he indeed pieced the pieces together. After my session I received a detailed write up that broke down everything we went over in our session, including the tests, as well as a recommendations for strength training, stretching, and of course cues on how to correct my running form. I have to say that the program Greg wrote up for me was not difficult by any means. It was 5 exercises with a resistance band and a few stretches, and he gave me about 5 cues to focus on changing in my running form. I loved that the solutions were not overwhelming or complicated, it was very precise and targeting only the areas that needed addressing. Greg prescribed me 2 mile runs 2-3 times a week for 2 weeks and then to start my marathon training. Since then, I HAVE NOT HAD KNEE PAIN ONCE. 16 weeks later I ran my first marathon, the NYC Marathon in 4:13, and am already planning my next.

Words can’t describe how thankful I am for Custom Performance, and especially Greg Laraia. I pushed myself through so much pain, spent so much time trying to figure out my knee problems through all of these complicated processes… and my experience with Custom Performance was so SIMPLE. The knowledge that the running trainers have is so incredible— Greg was able to watch a video in real time with me, and break down core aspects of my form and how they effect my body. The fact that Greg was able to take that complicated knowledge and break it into simple terms for me, and most important simple SOLUTIONS, was extremely impressive.

If you are on the fence of whether its worth it to invest in an appointment, DO NOT HESITATE.

I will try to keep my backstory short, but I started training for a Marathon in January, and by mid MarchI was not able to run more than 1 mile without debilitating pain. For almost 5 months I visited 3 different doctors, traveling all over Long Island to see different knee specialists, got MRI’s twice, ect. I changed physical therapists, went 2-3 times a week, even routinely tried acupuncture and deep massage/cupping. I changed my diet to reduce inflammation and began juicing and taking supplements. I did EVERYTHING, and spent a LOT of money doing so — $2,000+. Tried braces, taping mechanisms, and wraps… I tried it ALL!

The problem was no one was focusing on WHY it was happening and HOW TO FIX it so it won’t happen again. This is when I began researching the web for running analysis locations and running specialists. This brings us to Custom Performance!

The whole entire staff was so friendly as soo as I walked in, and welcomed me as if I was their best friend. Greg Laraia followed up with various emails after my visit, continuing to offer and guidance and answer any of my questions via email. I can tell that Greg Laraia, and the entire staff at Custom Performance genuinely cares about their clients and I am...

Custom PT is the best!!! They really care about their clients. Your goal becomes their goal and they want you to achieve it!

About a month into my 16 week training for my 2nd marathon I started to get severe knee pain. The pain would kick in after about a mile or two and it made it hard to finish training runs, especially the long runs every week. I started going to a different physical therapist that will remain nameless, but after two sessions there I knew I would never make it to the marathon if I stayed there. So I googled running physical therapist and Custom PT came up in my search. I knew after reading the info on their website this was the type of place I needed. I made an appointment with Cat and she was amazing from day one. The first thing she had me do was run on a treadmill while she recorded it. We then watched the video and she told me what I was doing wrong, gave me a couple of cues to try and had me run again and recorded it. We then watched the videos side by side and there was a vast difference just from the simple cues she gave me. We then went through a series of exercises to strengthen muscles that were weak and not being activated that can cause the pain I was experiencing. The video analysis is such an amazing tool at pinpointing what could be causing the injury. She also encouraged me to do the exercises at home and continue running and training with the cues we had worked on earlier. Since my training plan had been disrupted do to the injury she helped me create a plan that would give me the best chance at making it to the marathon healthy and ready. Every time I went in they worked on massaging my IT bands, stretched me out and then put me through an intense workout that was purposely created to strengthen the weaknesses in my legs. The strength training exercises were what I needed and what my training was lacking.

I highly recommend Custom PT if you are a runner with an injury and need help getting back on track to achieve your goals. You meet with someone 1 on 1 that cares and wants to help you make it to your race. The entire staff and management are incredible and are super easy to work with. I always looked forward to going to physical therapy and always felt better and stronger after leaving each session. Even missing a few weeks of training due to my injury I still crushed my goal of beating my previous marathon time, my legs felt great the next day and recovery time was very minimal. I couldn’t have done it without Custom PT! Thank you Cat, Greg and Jordan who were the staff I worked most closely with over the...

While I can confidently echo all the wonderful reviews below (and those that will predictably come after my own) I want to especially note how Custom Performance PT provided and continues to provide me one-of-a-kind virtual care during the ongoing co-vid19 pandemic. And when the statement “health is wealth” has come to hit home for us all in different ways, Custom Performance PT has selflessly rose to the occasion to give their clients whatever they could and more.

At 8am, Monday through Friday during this past spring, Custom Performance offered FREE bread and butter strength sessions on Instagram live. I tuned in sometimes for 30 minutes or just 5 minutes to stretch, stay strong, or simply just to feel connected and in a routine with the peppy, experienced, and familiar faces that led the classes.

Then Custom Performance went further to provide FREE/pay-as-you-wish virtual PT consultations, something they still today. For a few weeks throughout April and May, I struggled with an achilles injury as well as (what we found to be) a blood vessel caught under my meniscus. I was able to access care with Dr. Megan Flynn over video chat, and she gave me all of the tips and homework I needed to heal things up. (She was pretty much my coach for a month.) By June, my injury had resolved as I strictly followed Megan's program and I was ready to gradually start training again. The ability to speak Dr. Megan––an excellent PT with a bright presence––was also so appreciated during this time when human connection was limited. You'll find the entire Custom Performance staff has this great balance of positivity and knowledge.

I am so incredibly grateful and in awe of how Custom Performance genuinely continues to go the extra mile in their care. I couldn’t ask for a better support system and team to keep me healthy and happy. I'm really looking forward to staying healthy and strong with them this...