Category: Back to Life

We’re bringing a positive spirit back into Midtown: we’re excited to announce the opening of our newest clinic: Grand Central – 3rd Ave!

This clinic marks SPEAR Physical Therapy’s 21^st location in the NYC Metro area and becomes a flagship symbol of optimism for Midtown’s post-pandemic recovery. Located at 630 Third Avenue, this new physical therapy clinic is just steps from historic Grand Central Station and is easily accessible by the numerous public transportation options that Grand Central provides—including Metro-North, 4, 5, 6, 7, and S lines—making it a convenient location for New Yorkers and commuters alike as they begin to return to their offices, outdoor activities, and pre-pandemic lifestyles.

Clinical Director Ashley Rozek, PT, DPT, CSCS,

The new clinic and team will be led by Ashley Rozek, PT, DPT, CSCS. Formerly the Clinical Director of our Midtown – W 57th St clinic, Ashley has experience not only leading her team members and running a branch, but also providing excellent care for her multitude of patients. Ashley is passionate about working with and helping her patients get back to doing what they love. Her goal is to help her patients find their own strength, mobility, and confidence through physical therapy. ” I am so excited and incredibly honored to be leading the start-up and growth of our new Grand Central location,” says Ashley about the transition. “As New York City starts to get back to normal and people return to work in the Midtown area, I am elated to play a role in helping them improve their health and get back to life!”

At SPEAR, we are always looking for opportunities to grow and expand. “We are confident that NYC will return to its position as one of the most vibrant, energetic bustling cities in the world, so we are investing in its success at this time,” says Dan Rootenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS, CEO & Co-founder. Our mission to reach as many New Yorkers as possible is rooted in a simple philosophy: more locations means more availability for appointments, more flexibility in our schedules, and more one-on-one attention for our patients. We’re dedicated to keeping New Yorkers healthy by providing the best physical and occupational therapy care.

Grand Central – 3rd Ave is now accepting appointment requests! You can do so right here online or calling us at 646-829-2290!

The dream team, ready to help out local youth baseball team, The Brooklyn Bonnies!

Serving the community has always been fundamental to SPEAR’s values. We always strive to find ways to give back to our community and use our expertise, knowledge, time and resources to help out where we can.

This past weekend, our SPEAR teammates did just that by volunteering their time toward a free screening for the Brooklyn Bonnies, a team of youth Baseball athletes from the Bonnie Youth Club! Our skilled Physical Therapists spent dedicated time with each player, giving real-time advice on how to improve their athleticism and avoid injury.

SPEAR PTs Jeffrey Smith, PT, DPT and Chris Churchill, PT, DPT, CSCS lead a group of Brooklyn Bonnie athletes through an exercise.

The athletes visited several stations set up by our SPEAR teammates, who took time assessing their individual different needs. Our team covered many important aspects for these athletes, including mobility, balance, lower extremity range of motion, core stability, and postural control, as well as checking for any shoulder/elbow injuries. Each athlete received personal attention to ensure proper advice was administered, and to make sure they also got the most out of this screening, giving them the opportunity to ask questions about their specific athletic goals and issues to get the most out of their sport.

SPEAR is excited to partner with an organization as uplifting and encouraging as the Bonnie Youth Club. Founded in 1949, the organization uses baseball as a vehicle to capture young people’s interest, and then guides them in their academic endeavors. Most participants are from minority and economically disadvantaged backgrounds—the organization uses baseball as a means of communicating to those who might not otherwise be engaged.

Derek Lee, PT, DPT, assesses a baseball athlete’s shoulder.

The screening was a total hit out of the park—it was great weather in a great location, taking place at Parade Ground Prospect Park in Brooklyn, a beautifully restored 40-acre field with its own dedicated baseball field. Not only did the young athletes receive one-on-one aid, they also left with some cool SPEAR gear, including t-shirts!

The event was a great success! Thank you to our dedicated group of physical therapists for volunteering their time for this stellar baseball team. We love helping youth athletes excel at what they do by providing guidance on how to keep healthy and injury-free.

To learn more about the Bonnie Youth Club, visit their website at www.bonnieyouth.org!

Of all the things to worry about during a pandemic, wearing a mask shouldn’t be one of them. Found to be an easy way to help stop the spread, it is an essential component in our ongoing combat to eradicate the virus. Unfortunately, some people are experiencing issues with everyday mask wear: recent studies have found a correlation between masks and neck pain. In Marisa Dellatto’s article for The New York Post, “Wearing your mask wrong can cause neck pain,” she interviewed our very own Ninia Agustin, PT, DPT and Clinical Director of our Times Square – Center for the Performing Arts clinic, to get her clinical insight.

According to Marisa’s research, “The American Chiropractic Association has observed a connection between people spending long periods of the day in masks, and increases in jaw pain, neck stiffness, eye tension, upper back pain and headaches.” The correlation comes from masks, specifically ones that don’t fit well, causing people to shift their bodies and hold onto stiff positions in order to be able to see—some masks have been reported to get in the way of one’s field of vision, hence the irregular body contortions and sudden need to hold muscles in an uncomfortable manner.

Ninia agrees that though masks may not be a direct cause, they can definitely be a contributing factor: “Impediment of the peripheral vision is a real thing…I can’t just look down with my eyes; I have to look down with my head and neck.” Doing this often, say, when reading text messages with your neck out of alignment for a good period of time, will cause pain in that area.

Seeing as masks are still required by law in most places, there needs to be a resolution found while wearing them. A good first step is to find a mask that fits you well. “The CDC advises that good-fitting masks will not have gaps on the sides of the face or the nose, and will have ear loops that allow the mask to sit comfortably close to the face. The ACA said that it shouldn’t drastically impede your field of vision, either,” writes Marisa. Her recommendation? “Test out a few different masks and look side to side and around to make sure you can see, noting if you’re changing your body position to compensate.”

Ninia recommends moving around as much as possible to combat the pain: “The more you move your neck, the better off you’re going to be. Posture isn’t static, it’s dynamic. Whenever you’re working or on the phone, be mindful of moving every hour, minimum.” Quick neck stretches, shoulder rolls, and a side neck stretch will also help alleviate discomfort.  “Put your arm behind you. Take your other arm, wrap it around your head and gently pull toward one side,” Ninia advises.

Another coronavirus-related issue that could be causing neck pain? An improper desk set up. Sitting at a desk for long periods of time could cause stain. Setting up your desk is optimal for prolonged sessions. (Psst: we got you covered—check out our Ergonomics webinar for information on how to get your work station properly set up!)

If all else fails and your discomfort/pain persists, you’re experiencing numbness or tingling, or severe headaches, Ninia recommends visiting a doctor or a physical therapist ASAP.

Thanks to Ninia for providing such insightful information! You can read Marisa’s entire article on the NY Post website!

The SPEAR team getting ready to cut the ceremonial red ribbon!

April 2019 was a historic moment for SPEAR: it marked the grand opening of our Long Island City—CityView clinic! The first of its kind, the launch of this clinic is our first venture into Queens. This was a momentous occasion, as it brought us one step closer to achieving our goal of reaching as many New Yorkers as possible to continue providing top-notch patient care.

While the clinic did open on time, we never did get a proper celebration for this launch due to the pandemic. It’s never too late to commemorate, however—so we hosted our ribbon cutting now! Our SPEAR leaders and teammates congregated safely at Long Island City – CityView to commemorate the launch of the clinic, which opened almost two years prior down to the day. Clinical Director John Mackarey, PT, DPT did the official honor of cutting the ribbon, symbolizing the ceremonial grand opening of this clinic and all the amazing opportunities for healing it has to offer!

CEO and CO-founder Dan Rootenberg addresses the team in a rousing speech

Introducing a new clinic location allowed us to be more easily accessible and accommodate more appointments for those who need it most. SPEAR’s partnership with CityView Racquet Club truly provides an elevated experience for patients within a premier luxury facility with plenty of incredible amenities. Long Island City – CityView is equipped with many treatment areas, updated workout equipment, locker room facilities, and is always thoroughly cleaned and sanitized per CDC guidelines.

We’re so excited we had the opportunity to finally celebrate such an eventual marker in SPEAR’s history. We look forward to continuing to expand and grow in the NY area, helping more residents get Back to Life!

You can learn more about our  Long Island City—CityView clinic, or schedule an appointment here!

The coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult hurdle for so many people across the world. New York in particular was hit hard—considered the epicenter of the disease when it first emerged, we’ve managed to flatten the curve and get back to a more normal state of being. Although the city is seeing improvement, many people are still feeling the effects of the virus, particularly those who contracted it: there has been a resurgence of side effects and ailments in patients, even months after recovering from the virus.

Michael Reagan is one example.

Michael is a patient of ours, seeking treatment with Aimee Bitzel, PT, DPT, MS at our Union Square clinic. Michael is usually a very active person: he participates in many sports, including running. He enjoys rock climbing with friends. He loves to travel and explore new places. Last March, however, he contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized for nearly two months. Fast forward to the present day: a full year later and he is still feeling negative effects from the virus. Michael was featured in a piece that recently aired on CNN—filmed at our Union Square physical therapy clinic. Michael was interviewed about his struggles since contracting the virus and how it’s affecting his everyday life. Constant chest pain, seizures, tremors, and loss of vision in one eye are just some of the side effects Michael has been unfortunately experiencing.

Despite the uphill battle Michael is facing, he is a trooper through and through! He works diligently with his Physical Therapist, Aimee, during his sessions, and stays on course with his Covid Rehab treatment plan to ensure he’s helping his body work at its optimal level. Though we know Michael is dealing with some unprecedented ailments, we will be here to help him continue on his journey back to life!

You can watch Michael’s full story on the CNN website!