Ascend Physical Therapy

Ascend Physical Therapy A modern, specialized approach to physical therapy and rehabilitation. Physical therapy isn't just about treating injuries. Your health. Your well-being.

It's about empowering you to take control. Our promise.

12/03/2025

👉Why We Often Start PT Sessions With Manual Therapy👈

A clinical breakdown of why manual work precedes exercise.

Manual therapy at the start of a session isn’t about “fixing” anything — it’s about creating the most efficient neuromuscular environment for productive movement.

🧠 Symptom + Tone Modulation
Manual inputs decrease nociceptive drive and protective muscle tone, reducing guarding and improving comfort. This immediately expands movement options and reduces threat so patients can train with better quality.

⚡️ Neuromuscular Priming
Manual therapy increases proprioceptive input and joint awareness, priming the CNS so recruitment patterns are cleaner and early compensations don’t dominate.

🔄 Increasing Movement Options
Most patients begin sessions with rigid, high-tone movement strategies. Manual work opens mobility, improves variability, and restores access to ranges they can’t reach cold.

🦴 Improving Access to Stabilizers
Overactive global muscles often “block” stabilizers from doing their job. Manual therapy quiets these dominant tissues so deeper stabilizers can finally be recruited and trained effectively.

🏋️ Better Exercise Quality + Load Accuracy
When symptoms reduce and motor control improves, exercise becomes far more effective. Patients tolerate load better, move cleaner, and reinforce the patterns we actually want.

Manual therapy is a strategic primer, not a passive fix.

It reduces threat, increases movement options, improves motor access, and elevates exercise quality.

Manual therapy opens the window. Exercise makes the change.

sportspt pteducation rehabscience physiotherapy movementscience mobilitytraining strengthandconditioning rehabtips injuryprevention movementquality neuromusculartraining painmanagement manualtechniques myofascialrelease dryneedling softtissuetherapy ptlife shoulderrehab neckpainrelief lowbackpainrelief movementmatters boiseidaho meridianidaho idahophysicaltherapy

11/19/2025

🦶Plantar Fasciitis — Why It Keeps Coming Back🦶

“Plantar fasciitis” is one of the most overused diagnoses we see in the clinic.

Yes — the fascia can be irritated. But it’s often not the root cause of the pain.

The plantar fascia is a passive structure that takes the hit when other parts of the foot and lower leg aren’t doing their job. When the intrinsic foot muscles, ankle stabilizers, and lower leg mechanics are weak or restricted, the fascia becomes the victim of poor load distribution.

That’s why orthotics, stretching, rest, and massage can help — but the relief often doesn’t last. They treat the symptoms, not the system.

Here’s what’s really happening biomechanically:
1️⃣ Collapsed arches or over-pronation → overstretches the fascia and overloads the medial foot.
2️⃣ High arches or rigid feet → shorten the fascial and calf complex, reducing shock absorption.
3️⃣ Weak toe flexors, tibialis posterior, and tibialis anterior → decrease active arch support.

To create lasting change, you need to:
✅ Restore mobility → roll + stretch the calf complex (gastroc + soleus).
✅ Activate the stabilizers → train toe flexion and the deep foot muscles.
✅ Integrate strength + control → use movements like squats with toe flexion and tibialis anterior bird dips to retrain full foot control under load.

Long-term relief comes from strength and coordination — not just temporary release.

Your fascia doesn’t need rest — it needs support.




























11/12/2025

🦵Knees Over Toes — Why It’s Essential for Healthy Movement

For decades, people were told:
❌ “Never let your knees go past your toes.”

That cue was meant to protect the knees — but in reality, it limited how they function.

Your knees are designed to move forward.

Every time you walk downstairs, pick something up, or sprint, your knees naturally travel over your toes.

When we avoid that motion, the tissues that control it — your quads, patellar tendons, VMO, and ankle stabilizers — never learn to handle load. Over time, that leads to stiffness, pain, and a higher risk of injury.

✅ Training knees-over-toes intentionally (with movements like slant board squats, split squats, elevated lunges, and tap downs) builds:
- Stronger tendons & better load tolerance during deceleration and landing
- Improved ankle mobility & force transfer
- Greater neuromuscular control through the kinetic chain

Real-world examples:
🏔️ Descending stairs or hiking downhill → controlled forward motion prevents patellar overload
🏋️ Landing from a jump → trained knees absorb shock instead of collapsing inward
🪑 Rising from a deep squat → increased knee capacity = less strain and fatigue

Avoiding “knees over toes” doesn’t protect your knees — it leaves them unprepared for life.

Train it safely. Progressively. Intentionally.

Your knees will thank you later. 💪

11/05/2025

🎉What a night! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the Ascend Physical Therapy Meridian Grand Opening — your support means the world.

From the ribbon cutting to the open house, we couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate movement, growth, and community. 💪

📍 1940 S Bonito Way, Suite 170 — Meridian, ID



10/30/2025

⭐️ Putting in the work behind the scenes ⭐️

Here’s Ashley assembling our new Ascend Physical Therapy sign — one of the final touches before today’s big Meridian Grand Opening!

Every detail matters. ✨

10/30/2025

🎉 It’s official — Ascend Physical Therapy is open in Meridian!

Join us today for our Grand Opening Celebration at our brand-new clinic:
📍 1940 S Bonito Way, Ste 170, Meridian, ID
✂️ Ribbon Cutting: 3:30 PM
🏠 Open House: 4:00–7:00 PM

Come tour the space, meet our team, and see what makes Ascend PT different — evidence-based care, community focus, and a passion for helping you move better, live stronger, and feel your best.

Our incredible PT Allison competed at the Ironman World Championships this past weekend in Kona! Look at her go! 🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀...
10/16/2025

Our incredible PT Allison competed at the Ironman World Championships this past weekend in Kona! Look at her go! 🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Congratulations, Allison 🎉 You continue to be an absolute rockstar and inspiration to everyone here at Ascend Physical Therapy!



10/09/2025

🔥Contrast training is an advanced method used in PT and performance training.🔥

Here’s why:

• The heavy load phase activates the nervous system and recruits more motor units than normal.
• Following immediately with a fast, plyometric action teaches those motor units to fire quickly, turning strength into usable power.
• Research shows this “prime then explode” sequence improves rate of force development, key for sprinting, jumping, and reacting.

This is why contrast training is often saved for the later stages of sport-specific rehab: once a foundation of strength and control is built, we can safely add speed, reactivity, and game-like demands.

✅ Bottom line: Contrast training bridges the gap between rehab and performance. It’s a more advanced way to train — one that builds not just strength, but the ability to express it fast when it matters most.

10/03/2025

Your core isn’t just about “abs.”

It’s the foundation that connects your upper and lower body, protects your spine, and powers every movement.
Engage your abdominals throughout.

Look for:
✅ No low back arching
✅ No rib flare overhead
✅ Controlled breathing

Breathe right:
🔄 Exhale on the forceful phase of each rep. This avoids excess pressure on the pelvic floor and keeps the core working as a system. No breath holding.

Train the core in all planes:
👉Rotation + anti-rotation
👉Overhead stability
👉Hip + trunk control

Bands make this simple: constant tension + multi-directional resistance = a core that’s not just strong, but resilient.

The goal isn’t crunches for six-packs. It’s building a system that can transfer force, stabilize under load, and protect your body through every lift, sprint, and jump.

💪 Is strength really more important than mobility? Or is it the other way around?🤨The truth is — they’re both essential ...
08/13/2025

💪 Is strength really more important than mobility? Or is it the other way around?🤨

The truth is — they’re both essential for peak athletic performance. But how you train them (and balance them) can make or break your results.

In our latest blog, we break down:

✅ How strength and mobility work together
✅ What happens when one is lacking
✅ How to start improving both right now
🏃‍♂️ Whether you’re chasing a PR or just want to move pain-free, this article is a must-read.

📲 Hit the link in our bio to read the full post and start building the right foundation for your sport.

The Ascend Physical Therapy crew took on a Triathlon thanks to Allison! Had an awesome weekend in Couer D’Alene! 🚲🏊‍♀️🏃‍...
08/11/2025

The Ascend Physical Therapy crew took on a Triathlon thanks to Allison! Had an awesome weekend in Couer D’Alene! 🚲🏊‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Address

671 E Riverpark Lane, Suite 150
Boise, ID
83706

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 7am - 7pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 1pm

Telephone

+12089126981

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