What Is the TheraSuit Method and How Does It Help Children Build Motor Skills?

MetroEHS therapist being interviewed about TheraSuit physical therapy

History of TheraSuit

Richard and Izabela Koscielny are physical therapists, who have a daughter diagnosed with cerebral palsy and tried out suit therapy with her. After significant improvements with the suit, they modified and created their own suit specialized for therapeutic benefits, called TheraSuit™.

How Does TheraSuit Work?

  • TheraSuit worn over a prolonged time will correct proprioception and accelerate progress with functional strengthening
  • Skills practiced become more fluent when TheraSuit is worn
  • TheraSuit facilitates the development of new gross and fine motor skills faster than typical therapy approaches

Benefits Seen with TheraSuit

  • Retraining the central nervous system
  • Restores ontogenetic development
  • Provides external stabilization
  • Normalizes muscle tone
  • Aligns the body to as close to “normal” as possible
  • Provides dynamic correction
  • Normalizes gait patterns
  • Provides tactile stimulation
  • Influences the vestibular system
  • Improves balance
  • Improves coordination
  • Supports weak muscles
  • Decreases uncontrolled movements in ataxia and athetosis
  • Improves body and spatial awareness
  • Provides resistance to muscles to further enhance strengthening
  • Improves speech production and fluency through head control and trunk support
  • Promotes gross and fine motor development
  • Helps decrease contractures
  • Helps improve hip alignment through vertical loading
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Patient Populations

  • Most major neurological diseases/diagnoses:
    • Autism
    • Down Syndrome
    • Cerebral Palsy
    • Cerebral Vascular Acciden
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Posture/alignment asymmetries
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Intensive Physical Therapy Schedule

  • Intensive physical therapy is meant to be done 3 hours/day, for 5 days/week for 3-5 weeks
  • Recommended to complete 3-4 intensive bouts of therapy throughout the year
  • Breaks between the bouts have been shown to be more beneficial for the patient vs continuously pushing for months on end
  • Recommended to complete HEP 1-hour/day to compliment exercises done in intensive, allowing the patient to not only maintain, but improve their functional abilities
  • The schedule of 4  weeks was created specifically in order to change the neuro-pathways, and allow for increased improvements

In General

  • Week 1 works on correct muscle activation and beginning to complete basic concentric exercises
  • Week 2 works on solidifying concentric movements and working into eccentric movements
  • Week 3 solidifies the eccentric movements and introduces isometric holds
  • Week 4 focuses all on isometric holds, working into more complex exercises, as well as creating POC and HEP for time off between bouts of intensive

Work to decrease primitive reflexes and general movements that are present → goal-directed movements → selective effective strategies → refining skills → maintaining through practice

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January 27, 2025

How Does Early Intervention Therapy Help Children?

Greetings, fellow guardians of childhood! Today, we embark on an epic quest to uncover why early intervention in pediatric therapy is the ultimate secret weapon in the battle for our little heroes’ futures. Grab your capes, as we delve into the extraordinary world of neuroplasticity!

What is Neuroplasticity?

Imagine your brain as a high-tech superhero headquarters, constantly adapting and evolving with every new challenge and adventure. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s superpower that allows it to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This means that even if our tiny champions face developmental hurdles, with the right support and early intervention, their brains can reroute and expand like an elastic superhero — ready to tackle any villain that stands in their way!

The Sidekick Advantage: Why Early Intervention is Key

Just like every superhero has a trusty sidekick, children thrive when they receive early intervention in therapy. Research shows that the earlier kids receive therapeutic services, the more they can harness the powers of neuroplasticity to strengthen their skills, build resilience, and achieve their personal goals. Waiting too long can mean allowing obstacles to grow larger than life, much like letting a villain strengthen their force field!

Fighting Supervillains: Common Developmental Challenges

From speech delays, motor skill challenges to difficulties in feeding, utilizing early intervention means therapists swoop in like The Flash, delivering focused support to help children navigate these hurdles. With specialized tactics, our tiny heroes can battle their challenges and emerge triumphant, all whilst building confidence and unlocking their hidden potential!

The Dynamic Duo: Parents and Therapists Unite!

In this superhero tale, parents are the ultimate allies, teaming up with skilled therapists to devise personalized action plans tailored to each child’s unique needs. The synergy created by early intervention turns this duo into an unstoppable force—ready to level up skills in communication, socialization, and physical abilities. Together, they create a supportive environment where our little champions can flourish!

MetroEHS prioritizes early intervention in pediatric therapy because it isn’t just best practice; it’s a superhero saga ready to unfold with amazing successes! Using the incredible force of neuroplasticity, our little ones can script a future filled with hope, happiness, and triumph.

April 14, 2026

How Can Integrated Therapy Help My Child Build Skills Faster?

When your child needs therapy, it is common to hear about several different types of support. You may be told your child could benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or behavioral therapy. Each of these services can play an important role in your child’s development.

But for many children, progress can happen more smoothly when those therapies work together instead of separately.

That is the idea behind integrated therapy.

Integrated therapy means your child’s providers work as a team. Rather than having each therapist focus only on their own area, they collaborate, communicate, and build one coordinated plan centered on your child’s everyday growth and success.

Kids Do Not Develop One Skill at a Time

Children do not learn in neat, separate categories. A child who is working on communication may also need help with sensory challenges, motor skills, social interaction, attention, or behavior. These areas often overlap in daily life.

For example, a child may struggle to express their needs clearly, but that same child may also have trouble staying regulated, joining play, or managing transitions. One challenge can affect another.

When therapy is integrated, children can receive support in multiple areas at the same time. This often helps them make progress faster because the people helping them are all working toward the same bigger picture.

One Team, One Plan

One of the biggest benefits of integrated therapy is that your child is not working with separate providers who all have different goals. Instead, the therapists share strategies and work together.

A speech therapist may introduce a new way for your child to communicate. An occupational therapist may help your child practice that skill during play. A behavioral therapist may reinforce it during social routines or structured activities.

Because the same skills are being supported in more than one setting, children often have more chances to learn, remember, and use them.

This team approach can make therapy feel more connected and more purposeful.

Skills Are Practiced in Everyday Ways

Children learn best when they can use their new skills in real-life situations.

If a skill is only practiced during one therapy session each week, it may take longer for that skill to become natural. But when a child practices the same skill in different activities and across different therapies, it can start to stick more quickly.

This kind of repeated practice can help children build confidence, use their skills outside of therapy, and become more independent in daily life.

That might look like using communication skills during play, practicing motor skills during a routine activity, or learning how to handle transitions with support from multiple therapists who are using the same approach.

Parents Get Clearer Support Too

Integrated therapy is not only helpful for children. It can also make a big difference for families.

When providers work together, parents are more likely to receive one clear plan instead of separate instructions that may feel overwhelming or hard to connect. This can make it easier to understand what your child is working on and how to support that progress at home.

Many families find that a coordinated approach helps reduce confusion, makes home practice more manageable, and keeps everyone focused on the same goals.

When therapy feels more connected, it is often easier for parents to feel confident in the process.

Why Coordination Can Lead to Better Progress

Research has shown that children in coordinated, multidisciplinary therapy programs often experience strong benefits across many areas of development. These may include improved communication, better motor skills, more independence in daily routines, and stronger participation at home and at school.

When care is coordinated, children may have an easier time carrying new skills from one activity into another. Instead of learning something in isolation, they begin to use it more naturally in everyday life.

That is often where meaningful progress happens.

The Goal Is Real-Life Success

Therapy is not only about checking off goals in a session. It is about helping children communicate, move, play, participate, and grow with more confidence in their daily lives.

An integrated therapy model supports that by bringing people together around your child’s needs. It helps ensure that therapy is not fragmented, but connected in a way that makes sense for how children actually develop.

The Bottom Line

Children grow in many ways at once, and their therapy can work the same way.

When therapists collaborate as one team, children get more consistent support across different areas of development. That can help them build skills faster, use them more confidently, and make progress that carries into everyday life.

Because every child deserves support that helps them thrive.

November 4, 2019

MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy & Challenge Detroit

Challenge Detroit was founded in 2008, with a mission that reads; “We develop, support and connect emerging and existing community-minded leaders, amplifying the positive impact on our diverse, cultural vibrant city.” Challenge Detroit is making a difference.

MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy is proud to be a host company with Challenge Detroit.

MetroEHS is excited to introduce Dezha Willoughby, one of two Challenge Detroit Fellows MetroEHS proudly hosts! Dezha was born and raised in Detroit and places like Belle Isle were the norm on the weekends (when the weather was nice). She attended and graduate from MLK High School (#GoCrusaders) and she went on to attend college at Michigan State University where she honed in her skills to work with and serve people. Dezha studied Human Development and graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Dezha enjoys being outside and enjoying nature. Dezha is very determined and ambitious about being an agent of positive change.

According to the company, “Challenge Detroit cultivates diverse, innovative, community-minded leaders from the city and across the country, fostering their talents to support local initiatives that move Detroit forward. While they spend four days a week accelerating their professional careers with our Host Companies, each Friday Fellows take a day out of the office to bring social impact challenge projects to life in collaboration with our local nonprofit partners. They work in multi-disciplinary teams, bringing their vision, creative muscles, and entrepreneurial spirits to address some of Detroit’s greatest challenges and opportunities. We believe that to move our city forward, positive change starts with an individual and is ignited by a community of leaders who bring innovative perspectives to their work, and most importantly, the nonprofits already making an impact within our Detroit communities.”