Warren Scott NEW LOCATION — Summit Physical Therapy has expanded its services to include a location at the Sloane Station Plaza on Franklin Street in Toronto. On hand for a ribbon cutting were, from left, co-owner Mark Mascio, Korey Clegg, office manager; Mike Ludewig, branch manager; Tory Thompson, physical therapy assistant; Mayor John Parker, Lou Enn Fogle, front office coordinator; and Nick Martin, co-owner.

TORONTO — After opening their first physical therapy practice in Weirton more than 30 years ago, Mark Mascio and Nick Martin, co-founders of Summit Physical Therapy, have expanded their services to six locations.

The most recent is in Toronto’s Sloane Station Plaza at 1828 Franklin Street.

“We’re excited to be here,” said Mascio, who said the new practice will offer the latest equipment and the same attentive, friendly assistance Summit Physical Therapy’s patients have come to expect.

Martin said in addition to private rooms for examination and treatment, the location includes a small gym with a full array of equipment designed to help individuals of all ages to recover from injuries or overcome pain and other conditions that have hindered their mobility.

Unique to the Toronto site is an anti-gravity treadmill based on technology developed by NASA to prepare astronauts for a zero-gravity environment.

Patients step into a special pair of pants through which the machine is able to reduce the weight on their lower extremities by up to 80 percent, in increments of 1 percent.

As the treadmill is slowly activated, many have commented they feel as though they are walking on clouds, noted Martin.

The device has been used to aid patients dealing with lower back, hip, knee and ankle pain following injury or surgery.

Martin said many people have come to Summit Physical Therapy following surgery, but a great number also have come to avoid it.

Its staff has aided people of all ages in dealing with a variety of conditions affecting mobility, from strokes to amputations. 5Both Mascio and Martin have been licensed physical therapists for more than 30 years.

A 1984 graduate of Weir High School, Mascio met Martin, a Clarksburg native, while the two were pursuing their undergraduate studies at West Virginia University.

While Mascio would further his education at University of Pittsburgh and Martin at Virginia Commonwealth Medical College, they would reunite in 1993 to form Summit Physical Therapy.

Mascio said they had always wanted to operate their own physical therapy practice.

Heading the Toronto location is Mike Ludewig, a native of the Gem City and 2007 graduate of Toronto High School.

A 2015 graduate of Wheeling University and licensed physical therapist, Ludewig has been in the field for nine years.

Ludewig said it was following a sports-related injury that he became interested in helping others overcome their own pain.

“It was always a goal of mine to be able to bring this back to Toronto. It’s kind of a dream come true,” he said.

Summit Physical Therapy is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Ohio patients aren’t required to obtain a medical referral, though it may be needed for their insurance, but Summit Physical Therapy’s staff maintains communication with their patients’ doctors, said Martin.

He added new patients often are able to obtain an appointment within 24 hours by calling (740) 337-1366.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)