Back & neck pain
From muscle strain, disc issues, or posture-related pain, we treat the mechanical cause and rebuild flexibility and control.
Physiotherapy · Scarborough
Physiotherapy in Scarborough with registered physiotherapists
Reviewed by Maryam Ahankoob, Registered Physiotherapist and clinic lead. Updated October 2026.
Back pain, a sports injury, post-surgical recovery, or a WSIB or motor vehicle accident claim: you don’t have to just manage it. Physio Cottage provides registered physiotherapy in Scarborough, focused on the cause of your pain, not just the symptom.
We serve patients from across Scarborough and east Toronto, including Victoria Village, Wexford, Bendale, Agincourt, L’Amoreaux, and Clairlea, with easy parking and flexible evening and Saturday appointments near Victoria Park & Ellesmere.
Assessment-first careEvery plan starts with a real assessment, not a generic exercise sheet.
- Registered Physiotherapists
- Direct billing to most insurers, WSIB & MVA
- Evening and Saturday appointments
- Patient reviews on Google since 2017
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is hands-on, exercise-based treatment for pain, injury, and movement problems affecting your muscles, joints, and nervous system. Rather than masking symptoms, a registered physiotherapist assesses how you actually move, identifies the mechanical cause, and builds a plan combining manual therapy, targeted exercise, and education.
It’s the same clinical approach behind our pelvic floor physiotherapy and chronic pain programs: treat the cause, not just the ache.
Most people don’t need a referral. In Ontario, physiotherapists are primary access practitioners: you can book directly, though some insurers ask for one at claim time.
Fees and pricing
Physiotherapy prices in Scarborough
A physiotherapy visit at Physio Cottage costs $115 for your initial assessment and $105 for each follow-up visit. The first appointment is longer because your physiotherapist takes a full history, tests movement, strength and joint function, and explains what is going on before you agree on a treatment plan. Follow-up visits focus on hands-on treatment, exercise progression and checking your progress against the goals you set together. Physiotherapy is covered by most extended health plans, and we bill many of them directly.
Start here
Initial physiotherapy assessment
$115
First visit: assessment and treatment plan
- Full history and movement assessment
- The problem explained in plain language
- Treatment plan agreed together
- Home exercise program
Ongoing care
Physiotherapy follow-up visit
$105
Per treatment session
- Hands-on treatment
- Exercise progression
- Progress re-checked each visit
- Receipt for your insurer
Direct billingWe bill most extended health insurance plans directly where your plan allows it.
A receipt every visitYou get an official receipt after each appointment for your insurer or your tax return.
WSIB and car accident claimsApproved work injury and auto insurance claims are billed directly where applicable.
Coverage checkCall (416) 445-5353 and we will check your coverage with you before your first visit.
All prices in Canadian dollars. Your fee is confirmed when you book.
Self-check
Signs physiotherapy could help you
You may benefit from a physiotherapy assessment if you experience any of the following.
- Back or neck pain that hasn’t improved on its own
- A sports or gym injury that’s limiting activity
- Shoulder or knee pain that flares with movement
- Recovering from surgery and need to rebuild strength
- A workplace injury with an open WSIB claim
- Pain or stiffness following a car accident
- Chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other treatment
- Balance, posture, or mobility changes with age
If any of this sounds familiar, an assessment is a reasonable next step.
Book an assessmentConditions we treat
Physiotherapy for the conditions Scarborough patients see us for most
Post-surgical recovery
Guided rehab that rebuilds strength and range of motion safely after orthopedic or other surgery.
Chronic pain
A personalized, graded approach for chronic pain that hasn’t resolved with other treatment.
Myofascial pain
Targeted release for tight, restricted fascia contributing to chronic muscular pain. See our myofascial release service.
Disc & nerve-related pain
Spinal decompression and traction to relieve pressure on compressed discs and nerves.
Pelvic health
Bladder leakage, pelvic pain, and postpartum recovery, treated through our pelvic floor physiotherapy program.
Sports injuries, WSIB & MVA claims
Sprains, strains, and overuse injuries get a structured return-to-activity plan through our sport injury program. We also direct-bill approved WSIB and motor vehicle accident (MVA) claims, so you can focus on recovery rather than paperwork.
Your first visit
What to expect at your first physiotherapy assessment
A real assessment before a real plan, never a generic exercise sheet.
1
We assess
Medical history, posture, and movement patterns, to find the actual cause of your pain.
2
We plan
A treatment plan built around your goals: injury recovery, pain management, or mobility.
3
We treat
Hands-on manual therapy and guided exercise, plus a home program to keep you progressing between visits.
Your first session includes treatment. We don’t just assess and send you home: hands-on therapy and guided exercise start on day one.
Who you’ll see
Meet your Scarborough physiotherapist
Maryam Ahankoob is the founder and lead physiotherapist at Physio Cottage, registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, with over 15 years of clinical experience treating patients across Scarborough and Toronto.
She specializes in chronic pain, sports injury, prenatal physiotherapy, and spinal conditions, using manual therapy, electrotherapy, and personalized exercise programs to treat the root cause of pain rather than just managing it. She and her team have helped hundreds of Scarborough residents return to the activities they love.
- College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
- 15+ years clinical experience
- Chronic pain & sports injury
- Clinic founded 2017
Why Physio Cottage
Care built around your recovery, not a rushed appointment
Personalized plans
Every plan is built around your goals, not a generic protocol.
Evidence-based care
Manual therapy and exercise methods grounded in current research.
One-on-one appointments
Personalized care with your physiotherapist, without rushed appointments.
Direct billing
Most extended health plans, plus WSIB and MVA billing.
Hours that fit
Evening and Saturday appointments, with easy on-site parking.
Google
Patient reviews
Read what patients across Scarborough and east Toronto say on our Google profile.
Insurance, billing & cost
What this will cost you
We offer direct billing to most extended health insurance providers, so in many cases you won’t need to pay out of pocket and submit a claim yourself.
We also bill directly for WSIB and motor vehicle accident (MVA) claims where applicable. Our team can help you understand your coverage before your first visit. Call (416) 445-5353 and we can check it with you.
We bill directly for
- Most extended health insurance plans
- WSIB work injury claims
- Motor vehicle accident (MVA) claims
Where our patients come from
Neighbourhoods we serve near Scarborough
Physio Cottage is located near Victoria Park & Ellesmere and welcomes patients from across Scarborough and east Toronto.
- Victoria Village
- Wexford
- Bendale
- Agincourt
- L’Amoreaux
- Clairlea
- O’Connor-Parkview
- Scarborough Village
- Golden Mile
- Maryvale
How treatment works
What a physiotherapy treatment plan at Physio Cottage includes
Every plan starts with the assessment, and the treatment that follows is chosen for your body, your goals and the time you can realistically commit between visits. Most plans combine several of the methods below. Your physiotherapist explains what each one is for, so you always know why a technique is part of your session.
Manual therapy
Hands-on joint mobilization, soft tissue release and stretching to restore movement in stiff joints and tight muscles. Manual therapy is often the first step when pain is limiting how far you can move.
Exercise prescription
Targeted strengthening, mobility and control exercises, progressed as you improve. This is the part of physiotherapy that carries results beyond the clinic, which is why every plan includes a home program.
Electrotherapy and ultrasound
Interferential current, TENS and therapeutic ultrasound to help settle pain and muscle guarding, usually alongside manual work and exercise rather than on their own.
Acupuncture and dry needling
Fine needles placed in tight or sensitive tissue to ease muscle tension and pain. Offered when it fits your condition and only with your consent. Read about acupuncture at our clinic.
Spinal decompression and traction
Gentle, controlled traction for disc related back or neck pain and nerve symptoms that travel into the arm or leg. Learn how decompression works.
Taping, bracing and education
Supportive taping, advice on braces and orthotics, and plain language education on posture, lifting and pacing so you can protect the progress you make.
Planning your recovery
How many physiotherapy sessions you may need
The honest answer is that it depends on the condition, how long you have had it and how consistently you can do your home program. After your first assessment your physiotherapist gives you a realistic estimate and reviews it with you as you progress. These are typical patterns we see in the clinic, not promises:
- Recent sprains, strains and flare ups: many patients notice meaningful change within the first two to four weeks of twice weekly visits, then move to weekly check ins while the home program does more of the work.
- Post surgical rehabilitation: timelines follow your surgeon’s protocol. Knee and shoulder surgeries commonly involve several months of staged rehabilitation, with visits spaced further apart as you regain strength.
- Long standing or chronic pain: progress is usually gradual and built around pacing, graded activity and confidence with movement. Visits are often spaced out over a longer period rather than clustered. See our chronic pain approach.
- Workplace and motor vehicle injuries: frequency is guided by your WSIB or auto insurer treatment plan, which we prepare and submit on your behalf.
If you are not noticing any change after four to six visits, your physiotherapist will say so and adjust the plan or refer you onward. Continuing care that is not helping is not something we do.
Injury claims
Physiotherapy for work injuries, car accidents and sports injuries in Scarborough
A large share of the patients we treat at Victoria Park and Ellesmere come to us after an injury that involves a claim or a return to play decision. Each of these follows its own process, and we handle the paperwork so you can focus on recovery.
Workplace injuries (WSIB)
Report the injury to your employer, see a doctor and then call us. We are set up to treat approved WSIB claims, submit the treatment plan and progress reports directly, and bill WSIB so there is no cost to you for approved care. WSIB injury rehabilitation.
Car accidents (MVA)
After a collision in Ontario your auto insurer covers assessment and treatment under the accident benefits schedule. We complete the treatment plan forms, bill the insurer directly and coordinate with your adjuster. Motor vehicle accident rehabilitation.
Sports injuries
Sprained ankles, pulled hamstrings, runner’s knee, tennis elbow and shoulder overuse injuries all respond well to early, structured rehabilitation. We plan the return to sport in stages so the injury does not come back. Sports injury physiotherapy.
Between visits
Your home program is where most of the change happens
A physiotherapy session is typically 30 to 45 minutes, once or twice a week. The other 160 hours of the week matter more. That is why every patient leaves with a short, specific home program: usually three to five exercises that take 10 to 15 minutes, written down or sent to your phone with clear instructions on sets, repetitions and what a normal amount of discomfort feels like.
We keep programs small on purpose. A long list of exercises rarely gets done. As you improve, exercises are swapped or progressed rather than piled on. If something in the program hurts in a way that worries you, stop and tell us at your next visit or call the clinic; adjusting early is normal.
Patients who follow their home program consistently are the ones who finish treatment sooner and stay well afterwards. If you are struggling to fit it in, say so. Your physiotherapist would rather shorten the program than have you skip it.
What to bring to your first visit
- Your health card or photo ID and your extended health insurance card for direct billing.
- Any imaging reports, surgical notes or a doctor’s referral if you have one (a referral is not required to book).
- Your WSIB claim number or auto insurance claim number, if your visit relates to an injury claim.
- Comfortable clothing that lets us see and move the area being treated, such as shorts for a knee or hip and a tank top for a shoulder.
- A list of medications and a note of what makes your symptoms better or worse.
Honest advice
When physiotherapy should not be your first call
Physiotherapy is the right starting point for most muscle, joint, nerve and movement problems, and in Ontario you can book directly without a referral. There are situations where you should see a doctor or go to an emergency department first, and we will tell you so if you call us with one of them:
- A fall or accident with a possible fracture, a visibly deformed joint or an inability to put weight on a leg.
- New numbness around the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or weakness in both legs: these need emergency assessment.
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or pain with fever, night sweats or unexplained weight loss.
- A severe headache that came on suddenly, or dizziness with slurred speech or facial weakness.
- Sudden calf swelling, warmth and redness, particularly after travel or surgery.
Once a doctor has ruled out anything serious, physiotherapy is usually the next step, and we can start rehabilitation as soon as you are cleared.
Choosing the right care
Physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage: which should you book?
Physio Cottage offers all three under one roof, and patients often ask which to start with. A simple guide:
Start with physiotherapy if
You have an injury, pain that limits movement, a surgery to recover from, a claim to manage, or a problem that has lasted more than a few weeks. Physiotherapy gives you an assessment, a plan and an exercise program.
Consider chiropractic if
Your main complaint is spinal stiffness, back or neck pain with restricted joint movement, or headaches that seem to come from the neck. Chiropractic care.
Book massage therapy if
Muscle tension, stress related tightness or recovery from training is the main issue and you want hands-on soft tissue work. Registered massage therapy is also a useful addition partway through a physiotherapy plan. Massage therapy.
Not sure? Book a physiotherapy assessment. If another service in the clinic suits you better, your physiotherapist will say so and arrange it.
Finding the right physiotherapist in Scarborough
A good physiotherapist in Scarborough should assess you properly, explain what is going on in plain words and give you a plan you can follow at home. At Physio Cottage every patient sees a registered physiotherapist, one on one, for the whole visit.
Arthritis and joint pain
Knee, hip, hand and spine arthritis respond well to the right mix of strength work, joint mobility and pacing. Your physiotherapist sets a program that fits your day so walking, stairs and everyday tasks stay comfortable.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and repetitive strain
Numbness and tingling in the hand, wrist pain from computer work and elbow pain such as tennis elbow are treated with nerve and tendon loading exercises, workstation changes and, where helpful, a splint.
Direct billing available
We bill most extended health insurers directly, along with approved WSIB and car accident claims, so you only pay any amount your plan does not cover. See current fees on our pricing page.
What to look for when you compare clinics
- Registered physiotherapists who see you one on one
- A clear assessment and a written plan at the first visit
- Hours outside the workday: we are open until 8 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays
- Easy access: on-site parking at Victoria Park and Ellesmere
Getting here
Visiting the clinic in Scarborough at Victoria Park and Ellesmere
Physio Cottage is at 2231 Victoria Park Ave, Unit #5, Scarborough, ON M1R 1V8, on the east side of Victoria Park just north of Lawrence Ave E and south of Ellesmere Rd. There is on-site parking at the door, which matters when you are arriving with a sore back or on crutches. By transit, the Victoria Park bus and the Lawrence East bus both stop within a short walk; the Don Valley Parkway and Highway 401 are minutes away by car for patients coming from North York, East York, Markham or the rest of Scarborough.
We are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 5pm, with evening and Saturday appointments for patients who work during the day. Same day or next day appointments are usually available for new injuries; call (416) 445-5353 and we will find the earliest slot.
More questions about physiotherapy in Scarborough
How long is a physiotherapy appointment?
Your first assessment is longer, usually 45 to 60 minutes, so we can take a full history and examine you properly. Follow up treatments are typically 30 to 45 minutes depending on your plan.
Do I see the same physiotherapist every visit?
Yes. Continuity matters, so you are booked with the same physiotherapist throughout your plan unless you ask to change or your therapist is away.
Can I have physiotherapy and massage therapy on the same day?
Yes, and many patients do. Let us know when you book and we will schedule the two appointments back to back where possible. Each is billed separately to your plan.
What if my pain gets worse after a session?
Mild soreness for a day after treatment or new exercises is common. Pain that is sharp, worsening or different from your usual symptoms is not, so call us and we will adjust your plan or see you sooner.
Do you treat children and seniors?
Yes. We treat teens with sports injuries and growth related pain, and many of our patients are seniors working on balance, strength, arthritis and recovery after joint replacement.
Can physiotherapy help if I have already had treatment elsewhere without success?
Often, yes. A fresh assessment sometimes finds a contributing factor that was missed, or a plan that was not progressed. Bring your previous notes and we will build on what has already been tried.
Conditions we treat
Conditions physiotherapy treats at our Scarborough clinic
Below are the problems patients in Scarborough and east Toronto most often bring to us. If yours is not listed, call and ask; the assessment will tell us whether physiotherapy is the right fit.
Back, neck and spine
Low back pain, sciatica, disc bulges, neck pain and stiffness, whiplash after a collision, postural strain from desk work, and headaches that start in the neck. Treatment combines manual therapy, decompression where appropriate and a progressive core and mobility program.
Shoulder, elbow and wrist
Rotator cuff strains, frozen shoulder, shoulder pain at night, tennis and golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel symptoms and wrist sprains. Shoulder rehabilitation is staged so you regain range before strength, which is what keeps the problem from returning.
Hip, knee and ankle
Knee pain when walking or climbing stairs, runner’s knee, meniscus and ligament injuries, hip bursitis and buttock pain when sitting, ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis. Lower limb plans focus on load management and strength through the whole chain. Long-standing tendon and heel pain may also be treated with shockwave therapy.
After surgery
Knee and hip replacements, ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, fracture fixation and spinal surgery. We follow your surgeon’s protocol and keep you moving safely through each phase. When to start physiotherapy after surgery.
Arthritis and age related changes
Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, hands and spine, balance concerns and falls prevention, loss of strength after illness or inactivity, and mobility after a stroke or with Parkinson’s disease. Gentle, consistent programs make a measurable difference at any age.
Dizziness, jaw and nerve pain
Vestibular problems such as BPPV and persistent dizziness, jaw (TMJ) pain and clicking, and nerve related pain such as sciatica or pins and needles in the hands. Each has a specific assessment and a specific treatment path.
Pelvic health concerns such as bladder leakage, pelvic pain and postpartum recovery are treated by our pelvic floor physiotherapy service, which has its own assessment process and private treatment room.
Questions patients ask
Physiotherapy FAQ
Do I need a doctor’s referral for physiotherapy in Ontario?
In most cases, no. Physiotherapists in Ontario are primary access practitioners, so you can book directly. Some insurance plans may still request a referral for reimbursement, so check with your provider, or call us and we’ll help confirm.
Is physiotherapy covered by insurance?
Most extended health insurance plans cover physiotherapy, and we offer direct billing to most major providers.
Do you direct bill WSIB and motor vehicle accident (MVA) claims?
Yes. We bill directly for approved WSIB workplace injury claims and MVA claims, so you don’t need to pay upfront and file a claim yourself.
How many physiotherapy sessions will I need?
It depends on your condition, its severity, and your goals. Some patients notice improvement within a few sessions; more complex or long-standing issues take longer. Your physiotherapist outlines an estimated plan after your first assessment.
Will physiotherapy hurt?
Physiotherapy shouldn’t be painful, though some techniques can cause temporary discomfort or soreness, similar to a hard workout. Your physiotherapist works within your comfort level throughout.
How is physiotherapy different from chiropractic care or massage therapy?
Physiotherapy focuses on assessing movement and rebuilding strength, mobility, and function through manual therapy and exercise. Chiropractic care centres on spinal and joint adjustment, and massage therapy focuses on soft-tissue relaxation. Many patients combine services, and our team can recommend the right mix after your assessment.
Can I get a same-day or next-day appointment?
We offer evening and Saturday appointments, and same-day or next-day openings are sometimes available. Call the clinic directly to check current availability.
Do you treat pelvic health conditions too?
Yes. We offer dedicated pelvic floor physiotherapy for bladder leakage, pelvic pain, and pregnancy or postpartum recovery, alongside general physiotherapy.
Book your physiotherapy assessment
Registered physiotherapy, direct billing, and appointments that fit your schedule, right at Victoria Park & Ellesmere.
Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm · Saturday 9am to 5pm · Sunday closed
2231 Victoria Park Ave, Unit #5, Scarborough, ON M1R 1V8