I have been going to SPEAR for just over 3 months now, and I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without everyone there, especially my Physical Therapist David Block. My case is quite unique, and I am not sure there are many physical therapists or PT places out there that would have put in the amount of time and effort to make sure that I meet my goals and get back to doing the things I was doing prior to PT. I was pregnant and due at the end of the July, but my daughter decided that she would rather not wait so long, and I gave birth 3 months early at the end of April instead. The day I delivered I noticed a small bump on my right thigh, no bigger than a pimple, and it was very sore when I touched it. The doctors gave me antibiotics and told me it would be fine. Once discharged from the hospital, I went home, and started spiking fevers of 104 and then becoming so cold that I would be shaking o my bed even under 5 or 6 thick blankets. I went back to the emergency room and this little pimple-sized bump had become the size of a grapefruit. In the ER they cut it open to drain it, and I was still not getting any better even after the pus was out. VERY long story short, I ended up having 4 surgeries (including a skin graft) on that right thigh. In the 2 months that I was in the hospital, however, I was told to basically keep my leg up on the bed, and straight, not to bend it much, not to move it much, and even if I could have, I didn't because the pain was more than excruciating. I ended up with a small dinner plate size open wound that had every layer of my skin all the way down to my muscles scooped out of my leg. After all the surgeries and the graft, I was on bed rest for a total of 2 months, and was not able to stand up, let alone walk to the bathroom. I was resigned to thinking that my leg function might never come back, let alone any time soon. The amount of tissue that was taken out, and the amount of nerves that were severed and damaged, had left with me a swollen yet numb right thigh. From day one at SPEAR, however, David Block made my program so personal and, frankly, so much fun that PT was the best part of my week. I went him and showed him my leg, and being a classical Indian dancer, my legs are my everything. I asked him to get me back to my dancing - I had a show to perform at on September 12th. Rather than say no or say let's see, David said, "Let's get to work." Within 2 months, I have regained almost my entire range of motion and functionality back in my leg, and not only can I take care of my newborn daughter, but I have ditched my walker (which I had day one) and can literally do jumps and agility drills better than I could ever before. I would recommend that anyone who ever needs physical therapy, go to SPEAR and work with any of the therapists there, and the rest of the staff (Jo, Alex, Sylvia, Lauren) are amazing and supportive, rooting for you to make it to your goals every day! I swear by SPEAR so much that I commute in from Westchester twice a week just to go there, rather than find any place near my home. David has brought me back from a life with potentially one leg (had I not gone to the ER when I did) to one where I can accomplish any goal with his support, guidance, and program. Going to physical therapy is still the best part of my week! read more

In September of 2014 during my routine training I badly injured the left hip joint. I began to experience a serious difficulty not only to walk and squat but even to slightly bend the upper part of my body in a standing position. I had had X-ray and MRI images of the joint done and with them I started visiting surgeons. The images didn't show any deserving surgical intrusion damages of the hip joint. Some of the doctors proposed just to put up with the injury and live with it. It was the period of three months when I felt as if I was a soccer ball kicked around. But the illness was progressing and reached the stage when I couldn't even lie and sleep on the left side. Later I learnt that in complicated cases as mine only the invasive surgical opening of a damaged hip joint can reveal the main culprits of the illness. It is difficult to describe in words the emotions I felt then. The colors of life were fading out and the feelings of despair and hopelessness were descending on me. For the person leading an athletic style of life and actively working in natural science and research, which require a very high level of concentration and inspiration, it was a knocking-out blow of the destiny. But the Help from the Above came and one of the leading American experts on hip injuries, referred me to SPEAR. My physiotherapist Abby K. managed to create a huge part of the miracle of healing during the first month (!) of PT. I celebrated January 1 of this year early in the morning running in the Caribbean serenity along the shoreline of the still sea. It was a glory, the quiet miraculous glory of my physiotherapist and SPEAR. "The real miracles make no noise. The crucial events in a life are unobtrusive." Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Lettre à un otage. read more

i would like to take this opportunity to share my personal experiences at spear physical therapy and in particular my physical therapist, amir rand. an mri confirmed that i had a complete tear of the rotator cuff in my right shoulder. i had surgery on october 17, 2014. approximately two weeks later i started physical therapy. for easy access to public transportation i chose the 120 east 56th street location in new york city and was assigned to amir. i found the staff at spear and in particular amir's assistants,joe louis and lauren, highly professional. amir helped me to understand the dynamics of my injury. he did what was needed to get me back on course. i have been working out at gyms since april, 1976. i knew that if i wanted to get back into shape, i needed someone to challenge me, to raise the bar, to up my game, i needed someone who is relentless but at the same time compassionate and encouraging. amir fillfulled all that i was looking for in a physical therapist. amir sent to my pc pictures of exercises i was able to do at home between sessions. the bottom line is that amir is attentive, well-trained, well educated and driven to see his clients overcome their injuries. he loves what he does. he helped me to get my body back into shape- to get myself back. it is now seven month since surgery and my right shoulder feels as if i never had a tear. saying thank you is just not enough. in closing, i highly recommend spear and in particular amir rand to anyone needing post-op therapy. martin c. read more

1 year ago, I developed knots in my gastrox (otherwise known as your calf muscle). Although I was advised not to run by the orthopedist, I continued to do so until the pain became too much to bear. Afraid that I would have to stop engaging all physical activities I went to SPEAR to see what it would take to remove these knots. I was fortunate to work with therapist Dave Endres and clinical massage therapist Doug Coutu. Alternating between PT sessions with clinical massages I was able to minimize the knots. Runners, if you have been plagues with tightness and/or knots, seriously look into massage therapy especially scraping. I cannot speak highly enough of this technique. Had it not been for the work of Dave and Doug, I would not have been able to run the NYC Marathon this year. To put it into perspective, I did not run from June 2009 - June 2010. In June 2010, I started with .25 miles intervals of running at 6.0 mph and .25 miles of walking. I ran my first 3 consecutive miles July 2010. At the end of August, I ran 20. 2 months later I ran 26.2 miles. Runners, also schedule your massages with Doug right after the run. I had 2 sessions (Mon & Wed) after the marathon and was able to go to the gym and workout 4 days that week. That is how good these guys are. Everyone in the office is super nice and attentive. You never feel like you are one of the masses. read more

I have been going to SPEAR for about a year and a half for a couple of different injuries, and now rehab from shoulder surgery. I can say without any reservation that it has been a fantastic experience. Aside from the fact that I have made significant progress with all of my issues, I actually enjoy and look forward to going for my appointments. Never have I felt like just a number. Everyone there, from the front desk to the assistants to therapists I have never worked with seem to know my name and be aware of my issues. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and seems genuinely personally invested in the successful treatment of the patients of the practice. I often feel as if my main PT, Dave Endres, who is also one of the owners of SPEAR, is my own personal coach, encouraging, challenging and totally committed to my recovery. I can't imagine the treatment Derek Jeter or Eli Manning receive from the Yankees and Giants is any more personally focused or more considered. I can't say enough good things. Though I am looking forward to the day I am feeling fully recovered, I also know that I will miss my friends at SPEAR. Thank you to Dave Endres and Dan Rootenberg for creating such a fantastic environment for the rehabilitation of physical injury! read more

I recently completed physical therapy for two pubic rami fractures with Jacob McCloskey,at the East 56th Street location. I had booked a cruise for 6 weeks after the injury and the physician did not think that I would be able to comfortably go on the trip, since the groin pain and pain on walking was so limiting. I told Jacob that my goal was to work everyday on being well enough to go on the cruise.. He developed an exercise program for me that I could also do at home with the equipment I had, with the goal of getting me ready to take the trip.. I amazed everyone, but no one more than myself, by going on the cruise and being able to walk all around the ship and the ports without any pain. It was an unexpected miracle. I totally enjoyed working with Jacob and he was a prime motivator for me to exercise everyday. He never rushed my sessions and was really invested in making the most out of them and monitoring the progress to my goal. He is a consummate professional as well as someone who is a pleasure to be around. This is the third time I have been to Spear for rehab and am always impressed by their excellent therapists and staff. I highly recommend Jacob and would request him in the future if I ever require physical therapy again. read more

I highly recommend this place for Physical Therapy. I am a runner, who has completed 3 marathons and dozens of half marathons. During training for my upcoming marathon, i was diagnosed with Posterior Tibial Tendonitis and prescribed PT. My therapist, Amir Rand, from day one knew what the issue was, what caused it and came up with a plan of "attack". I had sessions for twice a week for about 8 weeks with him and the aides who helped with the exercises. Amir gave me homework to do every day (managed most except 2 days), and the exercises at the sessions were increasingly more challenging. I was out of my comfort zone a lot! Starting around week 5 I was able to test the "running" water and was pain free. I gradually increased mileage. Now 4 weeks back into running - I completed a 10-mile, a 13-mile and 18-mile training run - pain free! I found that everyone at SPEAR was friendly, client-oriented and have our best interest at heart. If you find yourself needing PT, I highly recommend SPEAR. Andrea read more

I've been working with Helen Tan to ease pain in my hip due to a torn labrum for about two months now. I feel stronger and more confident after 8 weeks of therapy with her than I felt after 8 months with a different therapist at a NYC hospital. I've previously had surgery to repair an impingement and another tear in my labrum about a year and a half ago. When I found out I had a new tear I was all but crushed and resigned to the fact I would most likely need surgery again and was unsure I would ever be pain free. Working with Helen and other Spear staff has been the best thing I've done in the recovery process in two years. They're knowledgeable, informative, they pay attention, they care and they work just as hard as I do to make keep me on this road to recovery. Helen also referred me to Spear's in-house massage therapist Alex Ortiz (amazing). Between the physical therapy and massage therapy I feel great. My hope for having an active lifestyle again pain free has definitely been restored. read more

SPEAR is unequivocally the premier physical therapy center in the city. I am generally a very tough critic and hold every service provider to an extremely high standard. The level of service at SPEAR is unparalleled and the staff is incredibly helpful. Kirsten Sabotnik was my lead therapist and she, along with the staff, was very helpful during my recovery for both my hip and knee. Kirsten was extremely knowledgeable about my injury and the steps required to ensure a full recovery. I genuinely looked forward to going to PT every week since the staff was so fun and the experience so positive. I would highly recommend the 56th street location, particularly for anyone who works in midtown. They are more than willing to accommodate busy schedules. Everyone on the team is very pleasant and the degree of care with which you are treated is unbelievable. SPEAR has my highest level of endorsement and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a smooth recovery. read more

I highly recommend SPEAR Physical Therapy Midtown East. All of their staff is welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. I worked with Dr. Tracy Tran after sustaining a sprained ankle which led to further ankle complications. Dr. Tran's bedside manner was reassuring and kind. She listened to my goals, wants and needs to develop a program that would not only fix my immediate issues but also sustain my strength and endurance, post-recovery. Dr. Tran assuaged my moments of self-doubt and I am now well on my way back to the physical activities I enjoy. Though sad to leave behind such great, caring people, I am happy that I had a community that believed in my rehabilitation and bolstered my confidence during recovery. I would recommend working with all of the physical therapists at SPEAR Midtown East but, of course, recommend Dr. Tracy Tran above them all! Thank you, Dr. Tran and the dedicated SPEAR Physical Therapy staff! read more

The experience at SPEAR from beginning to end was phenomenal. I have been a patient there several times for various injuries and I left there each time feeling great and satisfied. Recently, I had surgery to repair a torn labrum. I have always led an active lifestyle and was disappointed I'd have to put that lifestyle on hold while I perform my rehab. But the experience I had at SPEAR made my time there enjoyable and worthwhile. While performing rehab on my shoulder, I also started PT on my lower back. My physical therapist, Kathy, was a tremendous help. She was professional, kind, knowledgeable and great to work with. No longer did I feel disappointed. I looked forward to PT sessions and the challenging exercises that laid ahead. I am now back to a healthy and active lifestyle and I'd like to thank the entire staff at SPEAR for helping to make it happen. read more

SPEAR physical therapy is simply amazing! I had knee surgery (partial menisectomy) on January 6th, 2012. I was told it would be 3 months for full recovery. I started my PT on the 13th of January with Kasey Johnson. She was professional and highly educated. Edwin and Traci also assisted in my recovery, which was greatly appreciated. All the SPEAR PTs worked both as a team and individually to help me recover. Today, March 3, 2012, less than two months after surgery, I played in my first soccer tournament. i played 6 games and scored 3 goals! Not only did i make a complete recovery, but i did it in 2/3 time. The front on house was professional and extremely helpful in scheduling appointments around my busy schedule. All in all, SPEAR is a great facility with an amazing staff and equipment which will aid you to full recovery in no time! read more

So this goes out to everyone with lumbar issues (not to exclude any of the other issues), but the truth is: you NEED physical therapy and you NEED Kelly Althaus. So get to spear! Now. Between Kelly and Kasey and Traci and Edwin- you ll get your body back in shape in no time and you ll walk away with some perspective too. I realize this almost sounds like a late night ad, but i urge you to consider the fact that this really isn't a celebrity ad for acne treatment, nor am i related to any of the staff. The simple truth is i got really lucky with Quality Treatment, and i want good karma. So if you are still here reading this then i suggest you do yourself a favor and call Spear and ask for Kelly . Oh and while you are at it pamper yourself with a medicinal massage and call Helmi! I m telling you, there s just no going wrong with this place read more

I have been going to Spear for my neck, shoulder & back pains. All the therapists & staff are very nice & friendly. My therapist, David Block has been very attentive of the pains & stiffness I feel in my body. The first thing he will ask the min I see him every session, "how are you feeling today?" If I am having terrible pain, he will make every extra effort to loosen all the tightness on my neck & shoulders. Shows me the exercises I need to do to. And if I am not doing something right, he will come right over and correct my posture right away. I always feel so much better after every visit!! If his schedule is full, he will find a way to squeeze you in and still spend a good amount of time treating you. I can definitely say that I feel so much better today because of David! The place has so much positive energy and nice people! read more

I have never done this before but my experience with Spear PT deserves my time. First I hurt my shoulder moving boxes. The pain was terrible. My new MD sent me to a surgeon and Spears. I was in so much pain that I thought I was wasting my time with PT..... D J Eldon, who worked on me, said just wait a little. He was right my shoulder now has full mobility and no pain. I don't feel I need surgery and neither does the DR. The other thing about that facility is the staff. They take care of each patient with the individual style that works for that patient. I like to laugh and so their sense of humor shines. Other patients need gentle attention and that is available to them. At the age of 75 and a former dancer, I have had many experiences with Physical Therapy , and SPEARS makes me happy I was in NYC read more

I have had PT at numerous NYC locations and Spear is by far the best experience. The facility is small so you get personalized attention from your therapist vs. many other locations where you are left to do exercises on your own and potentially with the wrong form. More importantly, the therapists here are knowledgeable and actually care about their patients. In just 1 session with my PT, Dave Block, I went from coming in almost in tears because of my back pain to leaving with a smile because I was able to walk, bend and move around 10x better than when i came in. I continue to see progress with every session. I HIGHLY recommend Spear if you are looking to make progress with your treatment, in a positive, upbeat environment with therapists who are friendly, supporting, and most of all, knowledgeable. read more

This is the greatest physical therapy center in NYC! Not only did they handle my clinical issues but the staff were caring and compassionate. I would say the most memorable part of my many visits was my interaction with the staff; which includes the front desk staff to all of the therapists. My therapist, Dan Rootenberg was fabulous. He was extremely competant and I knew on my first visit that I had the right therapist to fix my shoulder problem. He also was caring and carfeul with me as my pain threshold tended to be on the low side - which I greatly appreciated. He also was very kind and at times we joked around which really made my therapy "enjoyable." I would highly recommend SPEAR Physical Therapy to my family and friends - and now I can confidently say I would recommend them to you as well. read more

Spear Physical Therapy is better than I could have hoped for. All of the PTs are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, working with your needs to provide a dynamic and fun PT experience tailored to you. I had Stephanie for my PT and she was absolutely incredible. I had lower back pain; Stephanie assessed and quickly formed an action plan for me. Over the course of 6 weeks Stephanie worked with me to improve to the point that I was able to squat and deadlift again. She puts tremendous time and care into her work and it really showed in the improvement of my back and general health. The aides are also so fantastic and kind. I loved going to PT because it was such a friendly fun environment. Though I'm happy to have fully healed, I'll really miss everyone at Spear. Thank you for everything! read more

I first went to Spear in 2000 with an injury from training for my first marathon. 15 years later I needed PT for a back problem. My orthopedist sent me to a large PT chain. It was terrible. Then, I remembered how much I had gotten to know and liked Dave, and looked up Spear. There are 7 locations now, but Dave still treats patients. I very easily made an appointment to see him and immediately I felt so much better. Dave knew exactly what was wrong with my back, and I got in to see him 2x a week. All of the therapists there are fantastic, and my back problem healed up much quicker than expected. I am actually pretty sad that I don't need to go for PT anymore, I miss talking to all the therapists. Spear is a very special place, and I highly recommend going there if you need PT. read more