2019 marks 20 years of SPEAR, The Nation’s Top Physical Therapy Practice, and we are only continuing to expand: we are excited to announce our first-time venture into Queens, with the opening of a new clinic at Long Island City!

Modern and expansive fitness area

SPEAR has partnered with CityView Racquet Club, a premier luxury facility featuring incredible amenities and outstanding panoramic views of the city. Patients can expect to receive the same caliber of care and high quality experience we always aim to provide.

LIC’s New Clinical Director, John Mackarey, PT, DPT

John Mackarey, PT, DPT steps into the head role as Clinical Director of the clinic. A seasoned SPEAR team member, John was previously practicing out of our West 57^th Street location and has extensive experience with several specialties, including cupping, kinesiotaping, return to play testing, and personal training and transitional care, among many others.

Our newly designed space is equipped with various treatment tables, plyoballs, workout equipment, and everything else you need to get back to your active life. Patients will have access to the locker room space, complete with showers and a sauna. Saunter up to the café or the juice bar area for a quick refreshment. Access to the various racquet and tennis courts and massage services are also available at an additional fee.

SPEAR and the entire team at Long Island City – CityView are elated to be able to branch out and reach more New Yorkers with convenience and ease. We are right off the 7 train and can treat a plethora of concerns—just take a look at our full list of services available! We’ll work together to get you on the best path to achieve your goals.

Schedule an appointment at this brand new, gorgeous facility by calling 646-973-5439 or requesting an appointment here.

One of several tennis and squash courts on site

Sauna room with great views of Manhattan

Cozy bar/lounge area with stunning panoramic views

Gratitude for 20 Years of SPEAR

by: Dan Rootenberg, CEO

To the Entire SPEAR Team:

March 22, 2019, marks twenty years since SPEAR first opened its doors.  Wow, just wow.

Please allow me to take a brief walk down memory lane so I can reflect on where we are today and share SPEAR’s humble beginnings with you.  March 22, 1999 – 20 years ago today:  Dave and I (with a lot more hair – see pic below) attended a talk about ski conditioning at my local Equinox gym where we met Dr. Glashow, a surgeon from Lenox Hill Hospital who was the guest speaker.  SPEAR then was not SPEAR now.  Dave and I each handed the doctor a business card that I had printed up at home that afternoon.  Mine had my home address. Dave’s had his home address.  The doctor thought we had two locations, was very impressed, and sent over SPEAR’s very first patient Vito Tricarico, a friendly, retired NYC architect, who walked into our rental gym space to be treated post-shoulder surgery.

1999: Our first pic as co-founders!

Dave and I first met at a wedding.  We were not invited guests. Dave was a waiter and I was a valet parker.  It was the first week of PT school and we recognized each other in the catering kitchen.  We became friends very quickly and realized that we shared an ethos, a grinder’s mentality, a “do whatever it takes” attitude.  We found that we had a lot in common besides being wedding crashers.  We both lost our fathers at a young age and recognized that nothing in life is handed to you, owed to you or should be expected.  You make your own luck and create your own breaks.   Eight years later, when Ryan Kitzen joined the company, he shared a similar story and attitude.  I realize now that the thread of overcoming circumstances, of bringing a smile without entitlement, has been so woven into our company from the very start.  As I look around at our team today, I clearly see a connection to SPEAR’s origin story.  Call it the “law of attraction” or call it our culture, we are fortunate to have 325 humble, talented, hard-working, caring team members.  For that, I am extremely grateful.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts (in no particular order because it takes all of us working together!) of our team.  The care coordinators who pay attention to setting the welcoming vibe for every patient that walks through our door.  The award-winning therapists, who give of themselves so selflessly, passionate about making their patients lives better.   Our techs, who are out there on the floor every day making sure our patients have a positive healing experience.   And the HQ team who (has to put up with me every day) manages the behind the scenes magic to make the company run like a company.  I owe deep thanks as well to our talented and skilled Directors and Regional Directors who lead with heart and lead by example every day.

Twenty years is hard to believe.  The emotion of GRATITUDE comes to the forefront of my mind.  I truly appreciate all that we have accomplished together.  The awards are special, but I read somewhere never to inhale.  Receiving the pinnacle industry award – the APTA’s private practice section, Practice of the Year – was a highlight for us. One that we celebrated.  We don’t stop there, however.  I see much greater heights in the distance.   I see our company growing the SPEAR way, the right way, and the thoughtful way.   I see us graduating our 100th team member through our SPEAR future leader program.   I see creating opportunities for growth for those that want it and have the discipline to develop the skill set.   I see SPEAR transcending excellence in PT and adding state of the art wellness services that elevate our brand and increases patients’ expectation every time they walk through our doors.  I see many more people benefitting from our special brand of physical therapy and wellness, with a much broader footprint.

2019: SPEAR ensuring no middle school child in NYC avoids trying out for a baseball or softball team because they can’t afford a glove or bat

Spring started this week.  Spring has always been a special time for me.  The weather is getting nicer, the flowers are starting to bloom, but really and most importantly, it’s time for the baseball season.  I have coached over 200 kids in the past decade and sit on the board for two little leagues, one in Manhattan (PSLL) and one in Brooklyn (Bonnies Youth Club) for inner-city kids, where I also played.  I give up most of my afternoons during the spring to bring the concepts that have made SPEAR a special place, to these kids.  We talk about what it means to be a good teammate, what a winner looks like, the importance of grit, hard work, and goal setting.  Just this week I was honored to speak to all the middle school coaches of Manhattan about keeping kids safe and the importance of correct throwing biomechanics.  As some of you may recall, at our last annual Picnic in the Park, we pledged $10,000 to the middle schools of NYC.  I am proud to say that we made good on that pledge and delivered equipment to all the city boys’ baseball and girls’ softball programs.  Every team got five beautiful leather baseball gloves and a bat, and every girls’ softball team additionally got a pair of catchers’ gear.  No child this year will be too embarrassed to try out for their school team because they couldn’t afford a glove.

SPEAR’s annual picnic in the park which evolved from a small kick-ball game to a day of celebrating “SPEAR-it”, with an egg toss, tug of war, talent show laden celebration.

Thanks for taking the time to read my note. Apologies for the length, but since 20 years can pass in the blink of an eye, I truly appreciate you taking a few minutes to allow me to reflect on SPEAR’s past, present and future.  We are making a difference in peoples’ lives every day.  This year, we will positively impact the lives of thirty THOUSAND New Yorkers.  I hear the stories and get letters from grateful patients whose lives you have made better. Today, as I reflect over 20 years, how it all started by showing up to talk at Equinox and then renting a single room in a midtown gym, I am filled with pride and gratitude.  We have 18 locations and over 150 talented therapists.  Vito Tricarico, if he were alive, would no doubt have a huge smile on his face, and give us a big laugh and huge hug (and pose for a SPEAR social media pic!).  I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow together and continue to heal the world – one person at a time.

Thank you for your commitment to the team, whether you have been here 20 years or 20 days.

With Gratitude,

Dan

On today’s season finale show we are joined by Adam Greenberg. Adam is a former professional Baseball player and CEO of Lurong Living. Some highlights from our conversation included:

• Adam detailing the need to always “Get Up” from adversity.
• Look and connect the good support system around you.
• Learn to love and own all your passions and accomplishments.
• Finally, share your story, share imperfections with the world, empower others.

Unity of Purpose Bonds NYC Healthcare Leaders

SPEAR Physical Therapy and LA PALESTRA at West 67th Street

Aligning their vision of integrative and collaborative care, SPEAR Physical Therapy and LA PALESTRA, a hybrid between the medical and fitness industry, recently teamed up with the goal of providing a full-service healthcare experience unlike any other in NYC.

Now New Yorkers can reap the benefits of this dynamic relationship. As of July, SPEAR is on-site at three LA PALESTRA locations, making it easier than ever before for New Yorkers to receive the seamless, high-caliber healthcare treatment they both desire and deserve.

SPEAR Physical Therapy and LA PALESTRA at The Plaza Hotel

The heart of the SPEAR- LA PALESTRA synergy lies in the collaborative, relationship-focused approach taken by both organizations. SPEAR, co-founded by CEO Dan Rootenberg and David Endres, was named the nation’s top physical therapy practice by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Private Practice Section in part due to its unparalleled approach to patient care. Seventy percent of SPEAR’s experienced PTs are former collegiate or professional athletes (three times the industry norm), and bring to each patient encounter a history of high-performance athletics and an intimate knowledge of injury prevention and rehab. This distinct perspective has led to one of the highest customer satisfaction rates (96.7%) in the industry. This uncompromising commitment to patient care is also responsible, in part, for the company’s growth, and its recent naming to Inc. 5000’s list of fastest growing private businesses for the 4th time.

Founded in 1993 by Pat Manocchia, LA PALESTRA is a true hybrid, integrating comprehensive medical analysis and treatments with individually tailored exercise programs. Each LA PALESTRA gym is designed to be both inspiring and healing for patients, with a particular emphasis on personal space and privacy.

Specialists for Every Need

With similar values and parallel interests, SPEAR and LA PALESTRA have come together in three beautifully designed wellness centers, sharing space and offering access to the most skilled healthcare providers in the City. LA PALESTRA’s collection of standard and alternative services is provided by hand-picked professionals (internal medicine, orthopedics, nutrition, psychology, chiropractic care, cardiology, acupuncture and more), each at the top of his game.

One of SPEAR Physical Therapy and LA PALESTRA’s gorgeous, spacious facilities

The SPEAR team spans a broad spectrum of specialties that includes Physical & Occupational Therapy, Hand Therapy, Women’s Health, Vestibular Rehab, Golf Swing Analysis, Return-to-Play Testing and more—there is even an on-call service for those who desire the added convenience of private treatment at their home, office, or hotel.

LA PALESTRA’s special blend of medical care and fitness with an emphasis on prevention, and SPEAR’s model of customer-focused care while working between disciplines, aligns the two companies and sets the stage for success—a one-stop-shop of expert preventative care and rehabilitation.

“As a leader and pioneer in integrative health, we are extremely happy to be joining forces with the top physical therapy provider in the country,” says LA PALESTRA’s Manocchia. “This relationship will not only offer tremendous benefits to our members, but will provide SPEAR’s patients access to a fully integrated care platform.”

SPEAR Physical Therapy and La Palestra at 70 Pine Street

“With our individual histories of athletic achievement and rehabilitation, our team of physical therapists is uniquely positioned to impact the health of New Yorkers and further the forward-thinking paradigm that aligns SPEAR and LA PALESTRA,” says SPEAR’s CEO Dan Rootenberg. “By seeing each patient as a whole—not a diagnosis—we have the opportunity to affect change in multiple areas of their health, and by extension, their lives.”

SPEAR Physical Therapy clinics can be found at the following LA PALESTRA locations: 67th Street, 70 Pine Street, and The Plaza Hotel. SPEAR has 15 convenient locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

SPEAR is officially moving to Brooklyn! SPEAR will be the exclusive providers of physical therapy in the newly renovated retail space of the St. George Tower located at 41 Clark Street in Brooklyn Heights. Now so many of our Brooklynite patients can be treated within even a shorter distance of their homes, a convenience they’ve been asking for (and deserve!).

The brand-new 4,500 square foot state-of-the-art facility will feature private exam rooms, a large gym space, a lower-level staff room, and space dedicated for physicians and ancillary services (massage, women’s health, vestibular therapy, etc.). The space is located conveniently next to the 2,3 lines, a short walk from the 4,5,A,C,E, Q and R lines, and just one block from the beautiful Brooklyn Heights promenade with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and downtown Manhattan.

An Experienced Leader

The SPEAR Brooklyn Heights team will be headed by our current 84th Street Director, Jimmy Olayos. This new location presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to help the Brooklyn community of patients and physicians get back to life!

“SPEAR Physical Therapy will bring a fresh and modern feel to the healthcare experience in the historic Brooklyn Heights neighborhood,” explains Olayos. “We look forward to serving the Brooklyn community by providing exceptional healthcare services from NYC’s top-rated Physical Therapists along with the five-star customer service experience SPEAR prides itself on!”

The Brooklyn Heights clinic will be open from 7am – 8pm Monday through Friday with Saturday hours coming soon. Walk-ins are always welcome, and no referral is required for commercial insurances. As with all the SPEAR locations, our Physical Therapists will treat any orthopedic condition, general aches and pains, as well as gait and balance dysfunction. We can also work to achieve fitness and weight loss goals.

See you in Brooklyn!