SPEAR Physical Therapy

The staff at SPEAR are amazing and I can’t recommend them highly enough! From the lovely receptionists on arrival to the specialists on the floor, the whole team are incredibly professional and friendly to engage with. The studio offers a relaxed and supportive environment with highly qualified physiotherapists who show genuine care and interest in your injury/​recovery. Somehow, even after the more painful sessions, I always left with a smile on my face after having engaged with such a friendly and welcoming group of professionals. I worked on rehab for a wrist injury with Phaelaeu and Jacob who both offered a phenomenal quality of treatment with high level laughs along the way. Special shout out to Johnny for also consistently nailing a seamless balance of professionalism and LOLs. I look forward to hurting myself again so I can go back and see them all soon.

I had some pain in my lower spine that I’d been dealing with for over a decade, finally decided to do something about it. I wish I’d come here so much sooner! Everyone on the staff was incredibly helpful and nice — and Jason cured my pain. I am pain-​free! Couldn’t be happier with the experience. Highly recommended.

Nagging calf issue, doctor refers me to Spear. It’s about a month out of NYC Marathon. Meet with Dr. Justin Farnsworth and after a thorough assessment and conversation with me, we agree that immediate goal is run NYC Marathon without pain. A handful of sessions later, run without pain and a PR. He knows his stuff. He has a great sense of his patient’s limitations and untapped strengths. So, to go from where I had been limping around for weeks in pain, and in a month, problem solved? Fantastic. And, what is more, am continuing to work with him and learn how to strengthen weaker muscles to avoid Injury. #genius

I LOVE SPEAR!
I am still young to have as many physical issues as I do, but a series of bad choices and lack of strength training brought me to this past June, when I blew my back out for the third time in a year’s period, and was in so much pain I couldn’t move from a full recline on the couch all day. I had been to chiropractors and similar practicians before, but they had never helped, and I had never felt as though I’d been given an intense and comprehensive evaluation and treatment for my back issues (which coincidentally sometimes became hip issues or knee issues, it was bad). To top it off, I was signed up to run the NYC marathon in November, which has been a dream of mine for a long time, and was going to be very hard to train for with the biting back pain I was experiencing.
My doctor referred me to SPEAR and the rest is history. They were amazing!!!
Justin Farnsworth was my physical therapist, and from day one was incredibly accommodating and thorough in his evaluation of what I needed. He’s careful not to aggravate existing issues, and in his initial evaluation proved that he was going to be specific and smart about my plan to get better. As I mentioned, I have a couple other complications, among them a shoulder issue, and Justin not only remembered that, but was able to devise effective exercises for my back that worked around the shoulder pain and often simultaneously helped to treat it. He was determined to make the most of my physical therapy experience, and would not go easy on me as far as exercises during office visits went unless there was pain, which was very rare in an exercise and always immediately addressed. I feel like I got the maximum out of each visit, which was really important to me, and felt safe and attended to always. He also made sure that my at-​home exercises were effective and do-​able, when an assignment proved difficult to complete in the space in my apartment, he was able to come up with a similar and just-​as-​effective exercise; I always felt I was in good hands!
Beyond being a complete and thorough professional, Justin is extremely dependable. Trust him to know what’s going on with you for each visit. He was interested in the specifics of any pain experienced between current visits and the last, and was also friendly and engaging in regards to personal details from planned vacations to the day to day activities and goals I might have mentioned, and whether any of them were affected by my injury. I was really impressed with his professional yet charismatic demeanor and feeling like I was not just a cookie cutter patient in his day but an individual with my own specific set of needs for physical therapy and specific and personalized route towards getting better. I was lucky enough to be able to continue seeing him even after my pain had gotten clinically better, to be sure that I could get through marathon training and the marathon itself with a professional checking in on my injury. I’m elated to say I finished the marathon, without ever walking once, and with NO back pain!!! I even beat my goal pace despite the drastically shortened training time I had, and I credit a lot of that to Justin and his sports knowledge and advice, as well as the strength he helped me build up during my time in physical therapy. Little did I know that it not only helped my back, but helped several other injuries from happening as well.
I also need to say the entire team at SPEAR is a dream. I met another patient in the elevator on one of my last visits, and we both couldn’t stop gushing about what a wonderful environment their office is. I actually looked forward to my visits, and they all seem happy to work there; it’s contagious. Everyone from the front desk team to the other therapists and assisting technicians are incredibly kind and attentive. By the end of my time, I felt like over half of the team knew my situation and was there to see me succeed, and when I came in after the marathon for a check up, there was not one person there who didn’t greet me with a congratulatory smile. They’re amazing, and the camaraderie between them creates an unspoken accountability and a pool of resources that is really wonderful to have for something like physical therapy. There will always be someone there who knows the answer and can help assist you, and it’s also just nice to have see a medical front desk team that knows your name when you walk in without having to ask. That’s the kind of place they are: fun, professional, and inspirational.
I know I now have the tools to keep my back pain away, and am confident that as long as I maintain the strength and continue the exercises that Justin equipped me with, I will be able to do as many marathons and as many dead lifts as I want, pain free! Thank you Justin!
And thank you thank you thank you SPEAR!!! You’re all fantastic!

I tore my rotator cuff in the right shoulder and my labrum in the left hip within weeks of each other last year. I thought i could tough it out and went months without seeking medical help and being properly diagnosed (which would have lead to proper treatment). After many many physicians and physical therapists, I found the orthopedist for me at Hospital for Special Surgery. I pleaded to schedule the labral repair surgery immediately but he absolutely insisted that another round of physical therapy with one of «his» therapists was necessary. With much hesitation and annoyance, i called spear therapy. I was to meet with Jeremy Crow who specializes in hip injuries. Honestly, I thought this was a bit better than my previous clinic but didn’t realize what a treasure I had uncovered until he went away for 2 weeks. Whilst he was at the conference, I had some substitutes that were rather new. They spoke of Jeremy in great admiration and I agreed with them. They were not bad but they were not of the same caliber that Jeremy is in. Jeremy is just so skilled at what he does. He is also just a great person and makes what is sort of an agonizing appointment fun and go by quickly. But don’t be fooled, Jeremy is still watching you! Just because you are chit chatting or feeling his playlist does not mean he won’t keep you on track with counting or form! he is watching you! hahaha.
I believe that the company itself is very good. I was pleased with the care as soon as I walked in. Tatiana probably is driven mad by me but she is dedicated to making the schedule work for you, quite informative and very professional. She will email you back almost immediately, should you have any questions. They are also able to schedule me at their other locations as they have massage therapists as well but more accessible at other locations.
The t-​rex wall will also brighten your day. you will see what i mean when you get there.
Go to the their website and see how many amazing therapists they have and and find the one for you. Do not delay your treatment because the sooner you can get to one of their stellar PTs, the closer you will be to getting your life back.

I have been coming to Spear on and off for a year. I had a long break after a successful rehab for an arm issue in late 2014, but had to come back post-​op for my wrist on the same arm. Even with a long break in between, upon my return in September 2015, I was greeted by the same friendly faces, a clean office/​PT area, and was even remembered by my therapist, Phaeleau. He is one of two hand/​wrist specialists for all of their locations. He is easy, approachable, and does not overdo the work on you till it hurts when you leave. Cannot say enough good things about him. He is helpful, funny, and makes you feel like it is not the end of the world to be dealing with a long road to recovery.
As for the office, there have been times where I have been a bit early, couple minutes behind, or even cancel last minute. No one in the office was ever mad, rude, or took issue with this. Even though I can really only see Phaeleau because of my hand/​wrist issue, plenty of others have stepped up to help set me up with things and show me how to do certain exercises or stretches. I have been treated well and never felt rushed in or out of the place… even invited to stay for a bit longer if I had the time [never really do].
I do think I was lucky to find Spear and to be able to transition back to them so easily. I know insurance can be a pain in finding a place, but luckily mine is taken here. They have good equipment and tools, even if some seem silly and you can buy them yourself. I have found that although I can do a lot at home on my own, there are things that I get out of my weekly visits that I lack the capability for.
The best part is that they are like a big, goofy, fun family. Everyone interacts with each other and they are lively whether it is 7am or 2 in the afternoon. If there is a question, they are helpful to answer. If there is something you want to do, they’ll try to make it happen. Just make sure to tell them not to put slow music on as that doesn’t keeps everyone lively and awake!

The team at SPEAR on 44^th Street (Midtown West) is fantastic. For nearly seven years I’ve dealt with constant, nagging discomfort from a partially torn labrum in my hip. It was persistently annoying with a dull ache from my hip through my lower abdomen, and often flared up after strenuous exercise or sitting at my desk for prolonged periods. But, although I knew I wanted to avoid surgery if at all possible, I inexplicably never made the effort to pursue physical therapy until a few months ago. If only I’d gone to SPEAR sooner!
Jason Ury was my physical therapist, and he was outstanding – consummate professional, deep technical knowledge, and Jason demonstrated a genuine interest in both my physical and personal well-​being. The stretching, exercises and hands-​on therapy noticeably progressed from week-​to-​week, and nearly everything we worked on is easily transferable to home so I can feel confident after being discharged today that I have the tools to continue to manage the partial tear without needing to resort to surgery.
And the rest of the staff at 44^th Street was equally outstanding, professional and friendly. I hate naming folks because I know I’ll miss someone, but everyone from the front desk to the therapist technicians to all the other licensed therapists were great.
To drive home how great I feel and the quality of treatment Jason provided, I’ll share a personal story – my injury occurred over seven years ago when I trained for and finished my second marathon. Since then, I’ve barely been able to run (or, more accurate, jog) four miles without the discomfort in my hip flaring. After finally starting physical therapy ten weeks ago, twice per week (plus daily exercises at home, same as what I do during my appointments) I noticed significant improvement, particularly after the sixth week or so. At that point, I decided to take on a 16.5-mile hike of the Grand Canyon, going from the rim, down to the Colorado River, and up the other side of the rim in one day – this was, without question, the most strenuous activity I’d attempted since that last marathon. I just completed that hike and, although every other part of my body is aching, my hip experienced minimal discomfort! Of course, this isn’t to say my hip is fully healed or that I no longer have pain because only surgery can make that happen – but without question I am significantly better than I was ten weeks ago and hopefully will only continue to get better as I transfer the exercises from SPEAR to home. And that result, in lieu of surgery, is one I am elated with.
Many thanks, Jason and Team!

I have never posted a Unilocal review but after six weeks of amazing service it needs to be done. Jason Ury was a consummate professional from day one. It was one of those situations that after a few bad doctors and one bad PT experience this was sort of my last straw. The whole experience from the first day and taking about my issues, learning exercises to continuing and strengthening my shoulder was pretty flawless. There were a few times that I showed up early or rescheduled at the last minute or forgot my gym clothes and each time I was accommodated. These little things go a long way in NYC. You actually feel like you’re in the Midwest and not in NYC because everyone is just that nice.
But most importantly I feel 100% better after 6 weeks and I could not recommend Spear, and Jason, highly enough. Also, Kat does a great medical massage, and that was just a great added bonus!

I’ve had a great experience coming to Spear. I was referred by my physician to treat both shoulder and hamstring issues, and this Spear took my insurance (Cigna), which was really nice. Contrary to one of the mediocre reviews here, I’ve always had a phenomenal experience with the front desk. Jaime always remembers my name and has complimented at least three different pieces of my apparel. Big ups to Jaime.
I’ve been working with Justin on rehabbing my hamstring and shoulder. We did some initial testing to see what the issues were, and each subsequent visit feels like it’s building on the last. Justin is a great communicator and I’ve always had fun working with him. He also does a great job of juggling multiple patients. I understand that he often has to work with more people than just me, and he does a great job of bouncing back and forth between patient exercises so I never feel neglected.
I hope I don’t have to do much more PT (because that means I’d be hurting still), but I’m very glad that I’m doing it here.

I hardly write reviews but such was the professionalism, expertise and welcoming nature of the staff that I had to share the experience. I worked with Justin and Cathy mainly, but had several sessions with others too (Kaitlin, Jeremy, Jason, Amelia, and Arielle). They not only gave clear advice and instruction on how to improve my current situation but explained the medical and physiological reasons behind it.
This was my second surgery, my first being in the UK. The UK physiotherapist was very good and I had an awful experience with one in the US (not part of the SPEAR group). The SPEAR team are by the best experience I have had. The locations around Manhattan are so convenient to get to, the opening hours are extremely accommodating to a busy work schedule and the flexibility of the staff to move appointments at a moments notice was very much appreciated. They pushed me and challenged me in just the right way to get me to back to where I needed to be.
I cannot recommend them enough. Thank you so much for getting me back to running in such a short time frame.

Over the last 5 years while working on severe hip and spine issues (and rehabbing from two surgeries), I’ve finally found a physical therapist that has truly been an integral part of my recovery and improvement. Jeremy Crow is the best I’ve ever collaborated with and I’ve seen at least 10 different people in my quest for healing. Jeremy is referred by the best physicians and surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery and I was introduced because he is the person who can help fix «the most problematic and challenging cases» which I definitely qualify as. I can’t say enough about working with Jeremy — go see him! I’ve learned not all PTs are the same and he is truly different!

Spear is phenomenal and in no small part to the amazing staff. After tearing and repairing my ACL this spring, I needed some serious TLC and rehab, and I got more than that at Spear. With Amelia as my physical therapist and Cedra and Gina keeping me laughing the whole way, I couldn’t have pictured a better space for me to progress from crutches to running again. Amelia is always available via email and even sends work out notes/​reminders when you need them. She’s compassionate but doesn’t let you slack on your work outs and you truly want to push yourself when you’re working with her. Your muscles and joints will thank you — go see Amelia (and Gina & Cedra) at Spear!

After my MVA in 2013, I still had dysfunction to multiple injured areas. I suffer with multiple cervical disc herniations, shoulder tear, and TMD (known as TMJ, with a dislocation and recapture).
It has been incredibly difficult to find a PT like Amelia Rivera who specializes in TMD in NYC. Amelia not only understands the dysfunction, but also identifies the correlation between the cervical spine injuries and TMJ. In my treatment course, I have been able to strengthen my TMJ, cervical spine and relieve my chronic pain associated with this disorder including occipital neuralgia.
Amelia is professional, «gregarious» and extremely focused on her patients well being and advancement. The office is well maintained and office staff is very accommodating.
If you are are looking to get back to your active lifestyle and to your best self after injury, I highly recommend Amelia Rivera and Spear Physical therapy!

For over a year, I had severe pain in my lower back and would constantly lose feeling down my legs and in my feet. I couldn’t stand or sit for prolonged periods of time and wasn’t able to do any physical activity. I’ve always had an active lifestyle. I played lacrosse in college and did a lot running, including completing a half marathon, and was pretty much convinced I would never be able to get back to my lifestyle prior to my injury. After having little progress with another physical therapy, I started at SPEAR. I pretty much exclusively worked with Joe Costello. In about 7 months, he legitimately changed my life and I am definitely in better shape than i was before my injury.
Every time i went to spear, Joe was extremely friendly and always made sure to listen to exactly how i was feeling and would adapt my exercises depending on what was going on. I had a set back a few months in and just wasn’t getting any better and started getting extremely frustrated and discouraged but he assured me to keep pushing through and that it would get better. At was at this point that he recommended that i start seeing Kat, their in-​house massage therapist. Kat is also amazing and i plan on returning to her whenever I feel any flare ups in my back. She really listened to me and found spots in my body that were tight and affecting my back that i didn’t even realize. With her help in conjunction with Joe, i was finally able to start running again and get over the wall i had hit.
One of my favorite things about Joe and Kat is that they made going to SPEAR enjoyable. They would always talk to me about what was going on in my life; it was never just about my injury. They really established a relationship with me which I believe really helped my healing process. They both went above and beyond and were always readily available to me. Joe would even respond to me on the weekends and Kat went out of her way to send me articles about things we had been discussing. i really do owe everything to them and everyone at SPEAR. So far I have run 6 miles and plan on building up and eventually would like to run another half marathon in the fall. Joe has equipped me with all the exercises for life post SPEAR. I was so nervous on my last day but he assured me i would be fine and I would be able to do everything on my own!
As far as the bad review about the front office, I would really have to disagree. The women at the front desk are amazing and extremely helpful. There wasn’t one time that I went in there and wasn’t greeted with «Hey Veronica! How are you?!» They were always extremely helpful with my insurance and always kept me in the loop. I was there for over 7 months so needless to say there was a lot of communication between them and my insurance company!
Overall, my experience at SPEAR couldn’t have been any better. There is such a sense of camaraderie there that makes everyone feel at ease. Going through the exercises isn’t a hassle or pain, it is such an encouraging environment that makes you want to work hard while you are there and get better. Even the aides at SPEAR are great!
I would recommend this place to anyone I know.

About a year ago I broke my wrist badly and tore a tendon, it was not pretty! Luckily a colleague referred me to Phaeleau Cunneen who specializes in hand PT at Spear. My entire experience with Spear from the first time I called to get set up and throughout several months of weekly visits, was terrific. Besides being extremely efficient at running their business, everyone I met there was consistently caring and upbeat and cheered me on as I progressed in my recovery.
Phaeleau is a highly skilled hand therapist and a wonderful person to have in your corner. He’s encouraging and fun, and at the same time, makes sure you’re getting the most out of each PT session. Phaeleau watches all his patients like a hawk, correcting and coaching whenever it’s necessary. The aides I worked with were the same way, always attentive and competent.
I highly recommend Spear if you find yourself in need of PT.

If ever there was a time for everything to go right, it’s when something has gone wrong with your body. After consulting 3 different doctors about the tendonitis in my hand, I was referred to Spear, and found my answers with Phaeleau.
From the beginning, he was giving me the advice and answers multiple doctors weren’t. As a computer programmer, I make my living off my hands, and he worked with me to understand not only the direct impact of what was happening, but the more subtle areas (like the neck, shoulders, etc) that could also be contributing to the problem. Since I couldn’t stop using my hand, it was important to understand what small corrections could be made to minimize any strain. Phaeleau helped me with that, while listening when I had new thoughts about what might be compounding the problem.
I’ve been going here for 4 months now, 1 – 2 times a week, and I don’t have a bad thing to say about SPEAR. The staff are all excellent, and bend over backwards to help their patients. Multiple times, I have seen the staff fitting someone in when they show up on the wrong day. I never see this anywhere else, especially in New York.
There is an overlap, and some busier times, when they are juggling more than one patient at a time, but you always get your personal time with the PT. The others who support the main PT are all awesome, and warm, as well as professional.
The staff really engage people. Even for those of us on our quiet days, it’s relaxing just listening to the conversations. Ask Phaeleau about great/​classic movies, dogs, hiking, or his latest pun.
Let’s not forget the girls at the front desk. From my first visit onward, they have always be extremely helpful, and so easy to talk to. I talk to Amy the most, and she’s on top of her game, as well as a joy to talk to, even on those days when I’m angry at the world for dragging me out of bed. While the front desk at most offices is forgettable, SPEAR’s front office adds to every visit, on top of handling whatever insurance or scheduling questions I have.
I feel everyone at SPEAR is putting their best foot forward, and working to get me back into working health. I always dread going so early in the morning, but soon after arrival, begin to feel good. By the time I leave, I’m definitely in higher spirits than any other day of the week.
Their location is perfect, and has a nice view of the Grace Building. They’re within a block of 3 different top NY Coffee Shops (Kaffe 1668, Bluestone Lane and Gregory), and a short walk from the Bryant Park 6^th Ave Subway.
In case you weren’t convinced by their 4.5 star rating, if you need PT, go here. I’ve talked to my Doctor about Phaeleau (he’s a highly respected hand specialist), and they love this guy. He’s not only more down to earth than any New Yorker should be, he listens, he doesn’t just focus on «the place where it hurts,» and I genuinely believe he wants you to do well. The staff at SPEAR is equally amazing, and leave me feeling in good hands.
Go here. Meet great people. Get better.

Having gone to multiple physical therapists, this is by far the best experience I have had. Everyone from the front desk to the physical therapists to the aides have been top notch. I have been working with Brendan for the past couple of months. He really cares about each of his patients and knows his stuff!
I would definitely recommend this location to anyone that needs physical therapy..

I would not go back based on the front office experience.
1) I scheduled an appointment and confirmed my insurance with them. When I arrived they said that Aetna is out of network but I would only need to pay the «in network» price. It may have been a lower price but I still had to pay that out of pocket or go somewhere else.
2) They did not email me the information to fill out paperwork online like they said they would over the phone. My injured hand is my writing hand so I went through a good amount of pain filling out their forms instead. There was no offer for assistance from the three desk staff.
3) I got a call this morning saying they have my insurance card. My fault for not asking for it back and not checking before I left?
Three strikes.
The therapists all seemed very nice.
4÷3÷15
…
Updated to reflect correspondence on remedying the situation. I was still fleeced so verify you insurance before you go. Aetna is/​was out of network. When I went they told me over the phone that they «accepted» Aetna. Technically not a lie.
5÷12÷15

Amelia Rivera has been my designated physical therapist since I first arrived in September 2014. Frankly, I couldn’t be any happier at my sessions with Amelia; there’s a few things I wanted to highlight from what I have seen from Amelia that I believe makes her a phenomenal physical therapist, as she deeply deserves recognition for going well beyond her core job responsibilities.
First, I am a strong believer that results are indicative of how skilled a professional is in any arena. When I first came in, my shoulder was weak and lacked much strength, but after a handful of visits, I started to see strength return to my stabilizing muscles, and today, I can now perform pull-​ups and push-​ups as normal again. It is clear that my rapid results indicate that Amelia is a well talented and skilled physical therapist.
Second, Amelia is not just my physical therapist, but also my adviser. I quickly learned that Amelia retained a strong knowledge base in terms of physical fitness. Whenever I had specific inquires, I never hesitated to ask Amelia because I knew I could rely on her honest expert opinion. In the process of rehabilitating my shoulder, I learned a tremendous amount from Amelia.
Lastly, and what may be the most important point, is that any single individual can be an outstanding physical therapist, but Amelia, not only is she a high performing physical therapist, but is also someone that always brings an over abundance of energy to the workout floor for each and every client. Amelia’s charisma and personable nature engages people and for me at least, makes me want to work out harder. This is a very important skill set requirement for me because I need a physical therapist that I can confide in. I feel like I can trust Amelia, and despite my, sometimes, reckless behavior, I know I can tell her in full confidence, which in essence, benefits me because Amelia can then assess my current situation to then tailor my workouts to fit my needs.
I will definitely continue to come back, not for SPEAR, but for Amelia.

What a difference physical therapy center can make…
I first had my ACL reconstructed ~ 7 years ago and happened to re-​tear it recently.
One would think that a repeat ACL injury would be devastating, but in actuality as morose as it may sound I am actually very grateful for it and that is simply due to SPEAR Physical Therapy.
From Day 1 of PT, my therapist Amelia was phenomenal (is there a word that exceeds phenomenal?); demonstrating knowledge, exuding rapport and professionalism and made each ensuing session a highlight of my weekly schedule. She was very caring with my regimen but also knew me well enough to really push me and knock down any The wonderful environment here at 44^th St is just a testament to the foundation laid down by every single employee (just to name a few Cedra, Gina, Cathy, Joe, Brendan) and instills a sense of community to the patients. (I’d prefer to refer to us as recovering athletes) Every single horrible memory of my first round of PT I can say now has been replaced of fond workouts.
Long story short, it’s quite remarkable I came back from my 2^nd ACL reconstruction much stronger than my 1^st even though I was so much younger. it was several years apart and I owe a lot of that to SPEAR. So if you’re looking to rehab an injury — there’s no need to go anywhere else.