Intensive Physical Therapy Program
Suit Therapy

Our Physical Therapists have been trained in the Therasuit Method directly by Polish Physical Therapist Izabela Koscielny, director of Therasuit LLC and Editor-in-Chief of Cerebral Palsy magazine.

What is Intensive Physical Therapy?

• Intense physical therapy sessions of 5.5 hours a day for 5 days a week for 3 weeks.
• Children receive 82.5 hours of physical therapy which is more than one year of weekly therapy.
• Intensive physical therapy sessions use specialized equipment, including the Therasuit and Universal Unit.

What is the Therasuit / Suit Therapy?

The Therasuit is a soft dynamic trunk and leg orthosis which allows children more efficient use of their muscles throughout movement and mobility.

What is the Universal Unit?

The Universal Unit is large metal frame that allows for body weight supported exercises and pulley exercises.

What does a 5-1/2 hour Intensive Session consist of?

Each intensive will be specifically structured to address each child’s specific needs and may include the following:

• Warm up including hot packs, soft tissue massage, and myofascial release
• Active / passive range of motion, stretching and positioning for prolonged stretching
• Strengthening exercises
• Static & dynamic balance activities
• Motor control & coordination activities
• Transitional movements
• Transfers
• Mobility
• Body weight supported gait training
• Electrical stimulation-device used to help muscles contract
• Biofeedback- device used to help children learn how to turn on and off their muscles
• Therasuit, Theratogs, Benik

Who can benefit from Intensive Physical Therapy?

Children with..

• Neurological disorders including Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, and Spina Bifida
• Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
• Hypertonia (high muscle tone)
• Movement disorders including Ataxia, Athetosis, and Chorea
• Developmental and Gross motor delay
• Other syndromes, including Down Syndrome
• Chromosomal Disorders
• Post-BOTOX
• Cochlear Implants
• Pre- and post-surgery, such as Dorsal Rhizotomy, muscle lengthening, osteotomies

Intensive Physical Therapy results

• Rapid improvement in range of motion, strength, balance, coordination, and mobility.
• In three weeks, you can achieve what weekly 60 minute therapy sessions take more than one year to achieve.

The following are all real outcomes of children who have participated in the full 3-week intensives:

• Initially standing independently for one minute to standing independently for 5 minutes.
• Initially able to walk 5-6 steps independently to walking 14-16 steps independently, including walking on a surface with a ½ inch height difference.
• Initially able to stand for 2 minutes at an anterior support to standing for 10 minutes at an anterior support.
• Initially lacking 50 degrees in hamstring length and progressing to only lacking 20 degrees of hamstring length.
• Initially lacking 30 degrees of elbow extension range of motion and progressing to only lacking 10 degrees of elbow extension range of motion.

What age can a child do an Intensive / Suit Therapy?

• The youngest age is 18 months, in order for the child to tolerate the physical stress and to be able to follow directions.
• The suit comes in sizes x-small to large to fit toddlers to adults.

How often should a child participate in an intensive session?

• The recommendation is that children are scheduled at a minimum of every 6 months.
• Those children who choose to participate only in intensive physical therapy sessions and do not have weekly therapy are scheduled every 3-4 months.
• Many children have goals that will take a long time to achieve. With frequent intensive therapy, they can achieve those goals much sooner.

What sort of follow-up is there in between intensive sessions?

• Each child is provided with a detailed home exercise program to be carried out daily, in order to continue the progress made during the intensive session.

How is the cost covered?

• If an insurance company will allow more than 4 units per day of therapy, then it is likely that an intensive session will be covered. One unit is equal to 15 minutes.
• For any family that pays privately for an intensive session, a discount will be given when paid at the beginning of the session.

Where is the clinic located?

• 10130 NE Skidmore, Portland, OR 97223 (503)657-8903

When are the intensives scheduled?

• The intensives are scheduled in several time slots, generally starting in the morning and the early afternoon. Children are expected to miss school while involved in the intensive session. To achieve the best results, children need to be well rested.

What if my schedule does not allow for a 3-week intensive?

• There are opportunities for intensives of shorter durations, but we have found that the schedule of 5.5 hours per day for three weeks provides optimal results. Call the office to inquire about alternate schedules.

Things to remember before coming to an intensive..

• Wear work-out clothes (sweat pants or shorts)
• Bring a snack - high in protein - and water or juice
• During the intensive it is imperative that protein and liquid in take is increased to meet the physical demands placed on the body.
• Clear your schedule-this is an intense time for you and your child.