About Our Practice

Orange Pediatric Therapy (OPT)offers a multitude of therapeutic programs that uniquely meet you and your family’s needs.

OPT was designed specifically for children and adolescents of all ages and abilities. We feature three main therapy areas to include physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech therapy (ST). Our physical therapy gym has a full array of exercise equipment biomechanically designed to fit children as well as a 32 foot long rock climbing wall. In addition, our physical therapy space has a baby-friendly room and a private treatment room. Our occupational therapy space features two sensory gyms and two fine motor rooms. The speech department boasts a number of individual treatment rooms.

Each therapeutic program is individually designed to meet the needs of our clients. Our professional staff has many years of experience working with children.

We serve the communities of Cheshire, Meriden, Hamden, Wallingford, Prospect, Waterbury, Southington, New Haven, Woodbridge, Durham, and surrounding counties. We have facility locations in Cheshire, Meriden, and Orange Connecticut.

Please contact us if you have further questions regarding our services.

About the Owner

Craig graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a Master’s degree in physical therapy in 1996. He opened Cheshire Fitness Zone in 2001. Craig has dedicated close to 20 years offering therapy services to children of all abilities. In addition to owning Cheshire Fitness Zone, Craig is a Part Time Faculty Member in the Department of Physical Therapy at Quinnipiac University. Craig specializes in working with children of all abilities including developmental delay, neurological impairments, torticollis, sports injuries, and seating and positioning.

Learn more about our extraordinary team!

Frequently Asked Questions

Our therapists and staff are here to serve your child’s needs and support the family. Below is a list of commonly asked questions on our office procedures and policies. Select the +/- signs to expand and contract the question of interest. If you don’t see an answer to what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What insurances do you accept for therapy?

Most major insurances are accepted. However, insurance participation does vary from one therapy to the next. Please see our Insurance Plans section for a complete listing of accepted insurances by therapy category.

What should I expect during my first visit?

The evaluating therapist will meet with you and your child in the beginning of the evaluation session to obtain patient information relevant to treatment. Parent concerns will also be discussed at this time. Once all relevant information is received, the therapist will begin the evaluation process. Evaluation testing may be standardized, function based or a combination of the two depending upon your child’s needs. At the end of the evaluation period, the therapist will discuss initial findings with you. Once the documentation is completed, the therapist will send a copy of the findings to your referring physician. A copy of the evaluation can also be made available to you upon request.

What do I need to bring to my child's appointment?

Generally, your doctor will write a prescription for therapy. At the time of your initial appointment, you should bring your child’s prescription as well as his/her insurance card. You will be asked to fill out some paperwork prior to your child being seen. Check out our New Client Forms section for more detailed information.

Are there medical forms I can obtain to fill out ahead of time?

For your convenience you can access our New Client Forms for easy download, printing and completion prior to your visit to save you time.

What if therapy is not covered by my insurance?

We do offer services at an out of pocket cost. Please checkout the Insurance Plans we do accept, or contact us for current out of pocket rates.

What are your hours of operation?

Our therapists generally treat clients from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm, Monday-Friday, and 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, although this does vary by location. Morning hours do vary depending on individual therapist schedules as well as during school vacations. Read more about our hours of operation by location.

What are my location options?

Our primary facility is located in Cheshire but have a satellite location in Meriden and Orange, as well. We also offer several therapy options throughout schools in the surrounding communities for your convenience. Obtain address and/or directions to our different locations.

What Clients Are Saying

Cheshire Fitness Zone has been wonderful. We have worked with many of the therapists for OT and PT and have had excellent experiences with all of them. They were very accommodating to our schedule. And even on a day where my son was not into working they are always able to get him to work. Their front office is very pleasant and are always smiling when we arrive. I have to bring my other son when we come and the therapists are always willing to include both of them on days where it is difficult waiting in the lobby.

Don Hamilton

A five star rating would not be enough for Cheshire Fitness Zone! From the first time I called to schedule my son’s consult to now one year later, we are consistently greeted by the most caring and loving staff. My son goes to Cheshire Fitness Zone for oral motor/speech therapy and sees Miss Kim. When I say she is the best, she truly is! From day one she has put her heart and soul into my child’s therapy. The strides my son has made in one year is amazing. Not only is Kim the nicest person ever, she is extremely knowledgeable in her field and is constantly thinking of new ways to improve my son’s speech.

Nicole Rybaruk

We have been coming to Cheshire Fitness Zone for fifteen years. Our son has a motor dyspraxia which causes challenges with posture, upper body strength, and affects his fine motor skills too. After coming consistently every week for 1-2 visits he has surpassed many of his physical challenges. Now as a young man he takes physical challenges like 5k’s and bike challenges with a smile. We are grateful to the many physical therapists he has had over the years. Each of them has encouraged him and pushed him to improve in a gentle, but firm way, and always with a sense of humor. Our son looks forward to coming every week.

The Anthony’s

My family has been blessed with this amazing crew at Cheshire Fitness Zone for almost five years. My daughter started PT at six months of age when we discovered unexpected delays. The staff from day one has gone above and beyond to help my daughter to be where she is today. They are not only extremely knowledgeable in their individual fields, but make everyone who walks through their door feel welcome and cared for. After the past five years, I consider these individuals like family. They have taught me so many ways to help my daughter and also to strive for the best and prepare for her future. I would highly recommend Cheshire Fitness Zone to anyone who needs services for their children. We appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.

Lisa Werdann

My twelve year old daughter has been seeing Craig since she was four years old and she loves coming to the ‘gym.’ I love that she refers to it as the ‘gym’ instead of therapy. She sees her therapy as a place where she works her body to become stronger and has fun. She is disappointed if therapy is canceled. The staff is wonderful and works to find the right fit with each child and therapist. They work across modalities and communicate with the school and her doctors. I am thankful to have Cheshire Fitness Zone in my daughter’s life! Thank you!

Heather M.

As a physical therapist at Cheshire Fitness Zone, I have seen firsthand the positive impact therapy services have had on so many children and their families. We are very family-oriented at Cheshire Fitness Zone and are constantly working with our families to help reach their goals for their children. It is an extremely rewarding feeling to see a child learn mobility skills that they were unable to perform prior to starting therapy services. The staff at Cheshire Fitness Zone is dedicated to providing the best care possible for all the children that they work with.

Anonymous

About Our Practice