Designed to educate and motivate, Spear’s #LetsKeepMoving Blog is our official stream of fitness tips, exercise advice, and healthy lifestyle inspiration. Our articles and features are written and produced in direct partnership with our physical and occupational therapists! Disclaimer
Located at 2465 Broadway between 91st and 92nd Street, our newest location is now open and accepting appointments, providing a new opportunity to reach even more New Yorkers! Spear’s Upper West Side – 92nd St clinic was created out of a need to serve our community. This brand new location allows us to allocate more appointments and reach more patients in need of the best therapy around!
Spacious and modern, this new space has everything our clinicians need to continue providing the best physical and occupational therapy in town. With many shopping and restaurant options nearby, including Trader Joe’s, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and The Mermaid In, and just a short walk from Central Park, it’s a perfect addition to the neighborhood!
Alyssa Reyes, PT, DPT is the Clinical Director of Spear’s Upper West Side – W 92nd St clinic. Her passion for the profession stems from receiving an overwhelmingly positive experience in rehab for a rotator cuff injury in high school. She has experience in outpatient sports and orthopedics, outpatient neurology and geriatrics, pediatrics, inpatient acute care, and inpatient acute rehabilitation settings. Alyssa’s overall goal is to make a lasting impact on NYC’s community by helping patients to regain function and increase their self-confidence.
UWS – 92nd St is now accepting appointment requests! You can do so right here online or by calling us at 646-829-2299!
This brand new clinic marks Spear’s 23rd location, and its third in Brooklyn! The first clinic in Williamsburg, the space was created with your comfort in mind. It features ample space, new machines, spacious treatment areas, and locker room changing areas. Conveniently located by the L and G trains, Williamsburg is a community rich in history that has become one of the trendiest residential areas in the city, boasting incredible coffee shops, restaurants, a Whole Foods, Apple store, Equinox, Alo Yoga, Warby Parker, and more!
Nicole Surach, PT, DPT, SFMA, is the Clinical Director of Spear Brooklyn – Williamsburg. Previously the Clinical Director of Spear’s Brooklyn Heights –St. George Hotel clinic, she has helped to build a team of passionate clinicians and helped hundreds of New Yorkers to keep moving. Nicole is committed to her patient’s success. She strives to not only have her patients make full recoveries but also to prevent future injuries.
Brooklyn — Williamsburg is now accepting appointment requests! You can do so right here online or by calling us at 646-829-2295!
The lights of Times Square are no longer dimmed— Broadway is back! After a year-and-a-half long shutdown that saw the closing of New York City’s famed Theatre District, the Spear team celebrated the return of Broadway, arts, and culture to the city, serendipitously coinciding with the grand opening launch of our Times Square – Center for Performing Arts clinic, with a grand night of emotional stories, celebratory hugs, epic performances, exciting productions, and of course, much love.
Situated right in the heart of Broadway, our Times Square clinic was born from a desire to provide a special space specifically for dancers and performers, an innovative idea brought forth by the location’s Clinical Director, Ninia Agustin, PT, DPT, during her very beginnings at Spear.
Growing up performing and competing as a dancer, Ninia has held a long-time love for the art of movement, evolving into a passion for helping performing artists rehabilitate and treat their bodies. Ninia was clear on her vision: bridging the world of dance with the science of physical therapy, her two passions, to create a space that catered to the physical needs of performers. Today, that dream is alive and well.
Spear’s Times Square clinic is a location created with the performer in mind. Our clinic works hand-in-hand with other like-minded organizations such as Mt. Sinai’s Samuel J. Friedman Health Center, a medical care provider that is focused on the particular healthcare needs of the entertainment and performing arts community, and The Actors Fund, a national human services organization created to meet the needs of our entertainment community. Together, we’ve formed an amazing support group for artists.
When the pandemic closed the city, Broadway, and our Times Square clinic down in March of 2020, just weeks after our opening, it was an unexpected and difficult time for everyone. This clinic was thoughtfully planned to serve as the premier location for performing artists and creatives to receive the therapy treatment they need. The vision suddenly seemed shaky, and the team struggled to find their footing.
Last month, with Broadway re-opening, we were given an opportunity to celebrate our team and their dedication to the artists who were finally getting back on stage. To commemorate such a momentous return, we created a truly magical night to honor the return of the culture, love, excitement, and emotion that art awakens for us all. We gathered together to celebrate in style with live performances, most notably from Scott Sussman, Spear patient, former Broadway actor, and Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in Singing Voice Rehabilitation. He wowed us by performing “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story and “Help is On the Way” by David Friedman, a beautiful track about maintaining faith through hard times, much like what we experienced right here in the city.
The return of Broadway marks a massive win for the performing arts community as a whole.
Over the last few weeks, our incredible Spear team members, with the addition of some special guests, joined together in creating our mini-documentary above. Serving much emotion and heart, it is our love letter to the city, an homage to the arts, culture, and performing arts of the city we adore so much.
The evening was a celebration, as well as a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve walked together. CEO and Co-founder Dan Rootenberg shared his deep appreciation for the dedication the team has. “Everybody is passionate about the arts, and that’s what it’s about,” Dan shared. “If you love what you’re doing and are passionate about what you’re doing, you know it’s sure to work.”
Ninia also acknowledged the trials, tribulations, and triumphs the team faced together. Thanking her teammates by name, she graciously recognized the efforts of every single Spear member, from the Front Desk Care Coordinators to the Therapy Technicians and Physical Therapists, for turning a vision into reality. “Five years ago, I said I wanted to build a niche practice working with dancers,” Ninia shared. “This is my background, this is my passion, and I would love to do it—and here we are.” Today, the clinic sees all kinds of performers, from Broadway actors, to dancers, to musicians. The Times Square team, who are all performers, artists, musicians, and dancers themselves, are a group of truly passionate members dedicated to what they do. The closeness to the craft really allows them to connect more with our performing patients, creating a truly special bond.
With large red scissors in hand, Ninia stood with the rest of the team, standing tall in support, as they cut the ribbon to mark the “grand opening” of the clinic. The joy and elation in the room was electric. As Dan said: “the lights are back on Broadway, and it’s very special.” We cannot wait to continue living our vision, and keep New Yorkers moving.
SPEAR had several amazing accomplishments in 2020 we are proud of. One, in particular, was the expansion of our 70 Pine clinic!
One of two clinics in the Financial District, 70 Pine officially opened on July 3rd, 2017. Our previous space, though renovated and spacious, was located in the basement of the building, making it sometimes difficult to find. We wanted to provide a space that was much more easily accessible for our patients. That’s why we moved—right upstairs!
Our expanded 70 Pine clinic is now located on the first floor, with curbside access right on Pearl St! Located in a historic landmark building, once the tallest structure in downtown Manhattan, it welcomes patients through a beautiful lobby with high ceilings and marble floors. Exposed brick and a modern setting bring a historic ambiance into the present day.
With the onset of such a remarkable expansion, we of course had to celebrate with our traditional ribbon cutting ceremony! The entire 70 Pine team and some of our leaders gathered together to talk about the growth and expansion of the clinic. Clinical Director Joshua Rieders, PT, DPT, CSCS, addressed the team to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication before, throughout, and after the expansion process. CEO and Co-Founder Dan Rootenberg also addressed the group to talk about the exciting new changes. He also asked several team members to talk about their experiences thus far—many members shared anecdotes on the positive experience they’ve had working at 70 Pine, the camaraderie they’ve cultivated, and their shared mission to continue bringing patients back to life.
After several speeches and shared words of encouragement, the group headed outside for our famous ribbon cutting photoshoot! The team shared some laughs, smiles, and hugs as Joshua cut the giant red ribbon, signaling the completion of this awesome triumph. Everyone headed inside afterward for some well-earned cake and sweet treats!
We’re elated by this new growth within one of our amazing clinics. Thank you to the entire team for their continued dedication, making SPEAR the best physical therapy practice around!
All smiles: the team celebrates with a ribbon cutting to commemorate the clinic expansion.
2020 was a memorable year for many reasons—even among the adverse occurrences of the world, there is always something positive to observe. One accomplishment we’re really proud of? The expansion of our Upper East Side – E 84th St clinic! Since we didn’t have a chance to celebrate the awesome upgrades we made to the space last year, we decided to celebrate now!
Last week, we hosted our official ribbon cutting ceremony for E 84th St. The team gathered together to officially celebrate the expansion and additions made to the newly improved space. Clinical Director Joe Losurdo, PT, DPT, addressed the entire team to thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout these trying times. CEO and Co-founder Dan Rootenberg also expressed some words of gratitude for the team’s commitment in helping continue providing care for our patients when they needed it most. The past year has not been easy for anyone—each person’s dedication to the team as a whole proved to be worthwhile and necessary. Now, as New York returns back to a state of normal, the clinic is flourishing and able to continue providing the top-notch care we’re known for.
Clinical Director Joe Losurdo, PT, DPT, talks to team about their past, present, and future growth.
Though the location isn’t brand new, the enhancements certainly are! The extra space, equipment, and added amenities provide better resources for our therapists to treat more patients than ever before. An expanded gym and floor space allows for more room, meaning more availability for patients to receive the treatment they need. One of the coolest additions has been the newly improved Occupational/Hand Therapy station, a dedicated area for all occupational therapy needs. The locker room/changing area also received a nice revamp, allowing for more space for our patients.
Cheers are in order: Hip, hip, hooray!
After some speeches, words of gratitude and discussions for the future, the team headed outside for the ribbon cutting, where the group posed for pictures with the notorious red ribbon and giant pair of scissors! Joe did the honor of making the ceremonial cut, a stamp in time of the amazing accomplishment made possible by the contribution of everyone present. Congratulations to the whole team on this amazing feat!
