If your child is behind on motor milestones, struggles with balance or posture, or lives with a neurological condition such as cerebral palsy, the right physiotherapy can change what everyday life looks like. Revivo is a Scarborough clinic that has specialized in intensive, neurological therapy for children since 2013. For North York families we are an easy drive along the 401, and every plan starts with a free consultation.
When a child may need a physiotherapist
Children develop at their own pace, but some signs are worth a conversation with a pediatric physiotherapist. Parents most often come to us when they notice:
- Delayed motor milestones — rolling, sitting, crawling, standing or walking later than expected.
- Unusual movement or gait — toe walking, frequent tripping, stiffness in the legs, or using one side of the body much more than the other.
- Poor posture, balance or trunk control — slumping when sitting, difficulty holding the head steady, or falling often.
- Low or high muscle tone — a body that feels floppy, or muscles that feel tight and resist movement, as seen with spasticity.
- A diagnosed neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, ataxia, spina bifida or a brain injury.
In Ontario, physiotherapy is directly accessible, so you do not need a referral to book an assessment. Some insurance plans ask for a physician's note before they reimburse, so it is worth checking your policy first.
Two ways we help North York families
Most children we see benefit from one of two approaches, and many families use both over the course of a year:
| One-to-one physiotherapy | Intensive Suit Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hands-on, goal-focused sessions with a physiotherapist | TheraSuit Method program: 3–4 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 3–4 weeks |
| Best for | Ongoing progress, specific goals, and keeping skills active between intensive blocks | A concentrated push on strength, posture, balance and new motor skills |
| Getting started | Book a session online or call us | Free consultation, then a $100 intake assessment |
| Cost | Often covered by extended health plans | $122 per therapy hour, with detailed receipts for insurance |
Because North York is so close, families can realistically come in for regular physiotherapy and also commit to the daily schedule of an intensive suit therapy block when the time is right.
What Intensive Suit Therapy involves
Intensive Suit Therapy combines a soft, wearable suit with hours of focused, repetitive practice. The suit — a vest, shorts, knee pads, shoe attachments and a cap joined by adjustable elastic cords — gently loads the body in better alignment, while our specially trained physiotherapists guide each exercise. A typical day includes:
- Warm-up: hot packs, deep-pressure massage and moderate exercises to prepare the muscles.
- Strength work in the Universal Exercise Unit, using pulleys and weights to target the muscle groups behind sitting, standing and walking.
- Functional work: suspension exercises, assisted walking, stand-ups, parallel bars and play-based tasks that turn new strength into real skills.
- Cool-down and a quick update for parents with ideas for practising at home.
Because the work is so concentrated, many parents notice changes within the first one to two weeks — often in head and trunk control, posture, tone or confidence. Goals are set with you at the intake assessment and reviewed throughout the block.
Neurological physiotherapy for teens and adults
We also work with North York teens and adults whose movement has been affected by a neurological condition — after a stroke, an acquired or traumatic brain injury, or with conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease. One-to-one physiotherapy focuses on strength, balance, walking and independence, and the intensive suit program is used for adults as well as children.
Getting to our clinic from North York
Revivo is at 525 Markham Road, Unit 4, in Scarborough's Cedarbrae area, with free parking on site. From most of North York, take Highway 401 east to the Markham Road exit and head south. It is roughly 11 km from Don Mills and Lawrence and about 20 km from Yonge and Sheppard — usually 15 to 35 minutes by car outside rush hour. Sessions run Monday to Friday, between 9am and 6pm, so after-school and early-morning times are worth asking about when you book.
What to expect at your first visit
For one-to-one physiotherapy, the first session is an assessment: your physiotherapist asks about your child's history and goals, looks at strength, range of motion, posture, balance and movement, and talks you through a plan. Bring any reports from your child's doctors or previous therapists, and comfortable clothing your child can move in.
For Intensive Suit Therapy, the path is a little longer. After the free consultation, families complete our Health Information Form and gather recent MRIs, x-rays and reports — including a recent hip x-ray for children with possible hip subluxation. The one-hour intake assessment then sets the protocol: how many hours a day and how many weeks.
Cost and insurance
Treatment by a registered physiotherapist is commonly covered by extended health plans, and we provide detailed receipts. For suit therapy, the consultation is free, the intake assessment is $100, and therapy is $122 per therapy hour — so a three-week block at three hours a day is 45 therapy hours. Read our full breakdown in what intensive suit therapy costs in Ontario.
“The suit, which was worn 80% of the time, provided Thomas with added balance, coordination and more independence! … Thomas was more limber and he clearly enjoyed the freedom of not being held and guided during movement.”
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral for pediatric physiotherapy in Ontario?
No. Physiotherapy is directly accessible in Ontario, so you can book without a referral. Some insurance plans do ask for a physician's note before reimbursing, so check your policy.
How far is Revivo from North York?
About 11 to 20 km depending on where you start — usually 15 to 35 minutes by car via Highway 401 to the Markham Road exit. There is free parking at the clinic.
What ages do you work with?
Children, teens and adults. Most families who come for Intensive Suit Therapy have a child with cerebral palsy, but the program is also used for brain injury, stroke recovery, ataxia, developmental delays and other neuromuscular conditions.
Can we do physiotherapy between intensive blocks?
Yes. Many families use one-to-one physiotherapy between suit therapy blocks to keep new skills active and work on specific goals.
Is suit therapy covered by insurance?
Because it is delivered by registered and certified therapists, a significant portion is often claimable under extended health or private insurance plans. We provide detailed receipts.
Sources
- Martins E. et al. — Efficacy of suit therapy on functioning in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2016.
- Blundell S. W. et al. — Functional strength training in cerebral palsy: a pilot study of a group circuit training class for children aged 4–8 years (from our research library).
- Revivo program details: Intensive Suit Therapy and Physiotherapy.
Medical note: this page is general information, not medical advice. Every child and adult is different and progress varies. Please involve your family physician or specialist when planning therapy, especially if there is hip instability, a seizure disorder, a heart or breathing condition, a shunt or recent surgery.