Granite Point Physical Therapy & Wellness

11/02/2026

Meet Amelia, a current student physical therapist at our Sandpoint clinic!

She’s a third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at the University of Southern California and has been completing her clinical rotation with our team since September. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys hiking and mountain biking with her dogs and fiancé, singing karaoke, and trying spicy foods.

She’s doing a great job during her clinical, and we’re happy to have her learning alongside our team! Say hello if you see her at GP!

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween from all of us at the clinics! Have fun, enjoy the treats, and stay safe! 🎃☠️

10/26/2026

Tony is a student PTA at NIC who is completing one of his clinical rotations with us from Oct - Dec this year. His hobbies and passions include working out, motorcycle riding, and spending time with his wife and dog. Give him a warm welcome if you see him at our Athol office!

10/22/2026

10/14/2026

👻 Don’t ghost your mammogram.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! This is the time to check in on your breast health. If you’re due for a screening, talk with your P*P or provider!

10/06/2026

Not all “core” exercises load the core the same way 👀

If your goal is to improve abdominal strength, exercise selection matters.

Research comparing re**us abdominis activation found that rollout and hanging exercises produced some of the highest levels of activation, while traditional exercises like crunches and bird dogs showed lower activation.

That doesn’t mean one exercise is “better” for everyone. It means we can match the exercise, intensity, and progression to the person and their rehab goals.

📚 Sources:
Escamilla RF, et al. (2006). Electromyographic analysis of traditional and nontraditional abdominal exercises: implications for rehabilitation and training. Physical Therapy.
Cugliari G, Boccia G. (2017). Core Muscle Activation in Suspension Training Exercises. Journal of Human Kinetics, 56, 61–71.
Calatayud J, et al. (2017). Progression of Core Stability Exercises Based on the Extent of Muscle Activity. PM&R, 9(11), 1110–1117.

📊 Graphic: The Hip Physio ()

10/02/2026

“I have a rotator cuff tear… do I need surgery??”

Not necessarily.

Finding a “tear” on an MRI can sound scary - but remember your MRI is only one piece of the puzzle. A recent study looked at how people with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain decided whether or not to have surgery.

Interestingly, the decision wasn’t just about what showed up on their scan. People considered things like:

- How much pain they were in
- How much the shoulder was affecting their daily life
- Whether they felt they had tried enough non-surgical treatment
- What they believed the tear meant
- How they understood their surgeon’s recommendations
- Information they found online
- Practical things like insurance and cost

So, what does this mean? Tears and the decision for surgery is multi factoral. A rotator cuff tear does not automatically equal surgery. Some people have tears have little or no pain. Others have significant pain and difficulty using their shoulder. Some people improve with exercise, rehabilitation, education, and time without needing surgery. An important thing to remember is that images (like MRIs) are great information, but not a treatment plan. Your care should involve understanding your goals, explaining your options, and making a decision with you.

📚 Source: Physio Network
Malliaras et al. — Patient decision-making related to surgery for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain

09/22/2026

3 Tips for Better Pelvic Floor Health! Featuring our awesome PTA Lindsey J.

1. Practice diaphragmatic breathing 🌬️
Deep breathing helps promote pelvic floor relaxation and coordination.

2. Build core strength 💪🏼
A strong, coordinated core helps support your pelvis and pelvic floor during everyday movement.

3. Improve hip mobility 🦵🏼
Healthy hip mobility can help your pelvis move more freely and reduce unnecessary tension through the pelvic floor.

09/14/2026

🍁 Fall has officially arrived at Granite Point! 🍁 Here’s to a healthy, active fall! 🎃

09/10/2026

Yesterday we dropped off whoopie pies at some of our local referring providers. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work together to provide quality, patient-centered care and help our community move and feel their best. And of course, one of our doggie co-pilots came along for the ride. 🐾