What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
Average wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
“I started seeing Rico for shoulder and neck pain that had been bothering me for months. He took the time to listen, thoroughly assess what was going on, and explain everything in a way that actually made sense. The treatment was very hands-on and tailored to my goals, and I noticed improvements in both pain and mobility within a few visits. What stood out most was that he did not just treat the symptoms. He focused on helping me move better and understand how to prevent the issue from coming back. Rico is knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely invested in his patients’ progress. Highly recommend.”
Initials hiddenJune 2, 2026
“I’ve been to a few physical therapists before and Rico was honestly the first one who made me feel like I wasn’t just another appointment on the schedule. I went in for knee pain that had been bothering me for months during workouts and even going up stairs, and after a few visits I started noticing a real difference. He’s very thorough, explains things clearly without overcomplicating it, and pushes you just enough without making you feel overwhelmed. The whole experience felt relaxed but professional, and I actually looked forward to going to PT for once.”
Initials hiddenMay 26, 2026
About Dr. John Rico Valdez
John Rico Valdez, PT, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist in New York who specializes in orthopedic and sports-related rehabilitation with a strong focus on movement quality, strength training, and hands-on manual therapy.
Rico earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Montana and has experience treating active individuals, gym-goers, athletes, and patients recovering from musculoskeletal injuries in outpatient orthopedic settings. His treatment approach combines manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, therapeutic exercise, corrective movement training, kinesiotaping, and dry needling to help patients move better and return to training safely and confidently.
With a background in both physical therapy and fitness coaching, Rico enjoys helping patients improve performance in the gym while reducing pain, stiffness, and movement limitations. He has experience working with weightlifting-related injuries, mobility restrictions, postural dysfunction, and strength-based rehabilitation programs.
Rico believes physical therapy should go beyond temporary pain relief and focus on building long-term strength, resilience, and body awareness. His sessions emphasize individualized care, proper movement mechanics, and practical strategies patients can carry into their workouts and everyday life.
**At Reef Physical Therapy, we are committed to providing high-quality, one-on-one sessions tailored to your specific needs. To achieve this, we negotiate session fees with insurance companies on a claim-by-claim basis. We also ensure affordability through our Flexible Payment Plan. Once you book with us, we will verify your coverage and provide a clear estimate of your session costs, so you have nothing to worry about.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
Enter your insurance carrier and plan
choose insurance
In-network insurances
99% of patients have successfully booked with these insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Oxford
Office location
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- University of Montana, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Languages spoken
- English
Provider's gender
Male
NPI number
1780311399
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
9 reviews
Most relevant
I started seeing Rico for shoulder and neck pain that had been bothering me for months. He took the time to listen, thoroughly assess what was going on, and explain everything in a way that actually made sense. The treatment was very hands-on and tailored to my goals, and I noticed improvements in both pain and mobility within a few visits. What stood out most was that he did not just treat the symptoms. He focused on helping me move better and understand how to prevent the issue from coming back. Rico is knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely invested in his patients’ progress. Highly recommend.
June 2, 2026Initials hidden
I’ve been to a few physical therapists before and Rico was honestly the first one who made me feel like I wasn’t just another appointment on the schedule. I went in for knee pain that had been bothering me for months during workouts and even going up stairs, and after a few visits I started noticing a real difference. He’s very thorough, explains things clearly without overcomplicating it, and pushes you just enough without making you feel overwhelmed. The whole experience felt relaxed but professional, and I actually looked forward to going to PT for once.
May 26, 2026Initials hidden
Rico was great from the first session. I came in with a lot of neck and shoulder tightness from work and training, and he actually took the time to listen and figure out what was causing it instead of just treating the symptoms. The session felt very personalized, and I walked out feeling noticeably better and moving more freely. He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and gave me practical things to work on outside the clinic too. Super professional, easy to talk to, and you can tell he genuinely cares about helping people get better.
May 26, 2026Initials hidden
I found Dr. Rico through Zocdoc and ended up having a really positive experience. He’s easy to talk to, very thorough during evaluations, and pays attention to the small details that other providers sometimes overlook. I never felt rushed during appointments, and he adjusted the treatment plan based on how I was responding each session. After a few visits, I noticed real improvement not only with pain but also with how I move during workouts and daily activities. Would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a thoughtful and knowledgeable PT.
Less than 1 month agoInitials hidden
Dr. Rico was great from the first visit. I came in feeling frustrated after dealing with ongoing pain for a while, and he made me feel comfortable right away. He’s very attentive, explains things in a way that actually makes sense, and the sessions feel very personalized instead of generic. I also appreciated that he focused on building strength and movement confidence rather than just temporary relief. The overall atmosphere felt welcoming and professional. Definitely one of the better healthcare experiences I’ve had in NYC.
Less than 1 month agoInitials hidden
I’ve been seeing Dr. John Rico Valdez for a few sessions now and honestly had a really good experience. He takes his time during sessions, listens carefully, and doesn’t make you feel rushed like a lot of places do. You can tell he genuinely cares about helping people get better, not just treating symptoms. I especially liked how he combined hands-on treatment with strengthening exercises that actually felt personalized to what I needed. The clinic atmosphere was also very welcoming and professional. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for someone who pays attention and truly works with you one-on-one.
Less than 1 month agoInitials hidden
I had a great experience with Dr. Rico Valdez at Reef Physical Therapy. What stood out the most was his genuine care and attention to detail. He really takes the time to understand your body, your goals, and what’s actually causing the issue instead of rushing through sessions.
His combination of hands-on manual therapy and strength/lifting-based exercises made a huge difference for me. The sessions felt very individualized and performance-focused rather than generic rehab. I always left feeling better, more confident, and with a clear plan moving forward.
Highly recommend Dr. Rico for anyone dealing with pain, recovering from injury, or trying to get back to training safely.
May 18, 2026Initials hidden
I’ve been to a few physical therapists before, but Dr. Rico Valdez felt different from the first session. He takes a very personal approach and really listens to what you’re feeling instead of rushing through treatment.
What stood out to me most was the balance between hands-on manual therapy and strengthening exercises that actually felt customized to my body and goals. The sessions never felt generic. You can tell he genuinely cares about his patients and wants them to improve long term, not just temporarily feel better.
Highly recommend Dr. Rico if you’re looking for someone attentive, knowledgeable, and truly invested in your recovery.
Less than 1 month agoJihee C.Verified patient
I had a really good experience with Dr. Rico Valdez. He actually takes the time to listen and figure out what’s going on instead of rushing through the appointment. The combination of manual therapy and strengthening exercises helped me feel noticeable improvement, and everything felt personalized to what I needed. You can tell he genuinely cares about his patients and wants them to get back to feeling strong and moving well again.
Less than 1 month agoInitials hidden
How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. John Rico Valdez?
Generally, Dr. John Rico Valdez has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Valdez's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. John Rico Valdez accepting new patients?
Dr. John Rico Valdez generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Valdez's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. John Rico Valdez accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Valdez is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. John Rico Valdez online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Valdez using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. John Rico Valdez work with?
Dr. John Rico Valdez works with Reef Physical Therapy.
Where is Dr. John Rico Valdez's office located?
Dr. John Rico Valdez's office is located at 11-43 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. John Rico Valdez?
Dr. John Rico Valdez frequently sees patients for Arthritis, Hand Problems, New Patient Visit, Physical Therapy Consultation, and Sports Injury. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. John Rico Valdez on their profile.
What languages does Dr. John Rico Valdez speak?
Dr. John Rico Valdez speaks English.
How do patients rate Dr. John Rico Valdez in reviews?
9 patients have reviewed Dr. John Rico Valdez. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.