Who we are
Prior to becoming a physical therapist, Lee Scantalides provided expert services as a strength coach/personal trainer and as a martial arts instructor. Lee utilizes his experience as a martial artist and his education as a movement specialist to successfully create and implement rehabilitation programs for his patients. In conjunction with individualized strength training, Lee utilizes manual therapeutic techniques and neuromuscular re-education to restore patient’s wellness so they may return to recreational/professional sporting activities, duties at work, and overall well-being.
Lee earned his BA in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology from the University of Colorado (CU) at Boulder in 2003. While at CU, Lee was the captain of his Taekwondo team competing nationally, state-wide, and at regional tournaments. After graduation/moving to NYC, Lee turned his focus to personal training and continuing his career teaching Taekwondo. As an instructor, Lee taught beginner and advanced classes at Eastside Taekwondo Manhattan to children and adults; preparing them for regional competition and belt exams. Concurrently, Lee began personal training at Equinox Fitness Clubs where he completed all levels of their rigorous and exclusive education program from the Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI), achieving Tier 3 Elite Plus status.
In 2005, Lee started his own training and coaching business where he trains clients privately at various locations around NYC. In addition to training/coaching private clients, Lee taught educational programs on musculoskeletal pathologies and safe stretching protocols to novice and experienced trainers at Equinox Fitness Clubs and New York Sports Club. He received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Touro College in Manhattan in 2010, where he was the recipient of the Research Achievement Award for exemplary performance in research statistics.
Lee is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and as a personal trainer (CPT). He became a certified Kettlebell (KB) instructor in 2014, where he successfully completed his Strongfirst (SFG-I) certification in Manhattan. To further his education as a Kettlebell instructor, Lee completed/passed the Strongfirst KB Level II instructor certification September 2021 in NYC, and passing his recertification in September 2023. SFG level II requires registrants to successfully overhead press half their bodyweight to pass the certification process.
As of 2018, Lee is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy specialties.
From his training in martial arts, Lee understands achieving proficiency/mastery in movement/knowledge does not mean the cessation of training/learning, but instead the constant persistence of practice. As such, he continues to train and compete in martial arts that are novel for him, such as Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).
From 2019 until 2023, Lee was an adjunct professor at Touro College's Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in Manhattan. He instructed 2nd year DPT students in Therapeutic exercise; a key element in any physical therapist's rehabilitation repertoire. Lee created a curriculum that includes a critical examination of evidence-based treatment protocols, strength & conditioning principles, integrated pain neuroscience education, and KB rehabilitation exercises. Through continuing education, peer-reviewed journals, and personal/clinical experience, Lee immerses himself in current scientific evidence and novel methodology in order to use the best available evidence for his patients and clients.
In November 2021, Lee started teaching Kettlebell classes to BJJ/Muay Thai athletes at Workshop Muay Thai and Jiujitsu at 92 Delancey street in Manhattan. Currently, he continues to train BJJ with Workshop to further his martial arts education.
