Florence Therapy and Wellness

02/17/2026

💪 YOUR JOURNEY TO PAIN-FREE MOVEMENT STARTS HERE

Did you know? Around 700,000 total knee replacements are performed in the United States each year, and the numbers continue to grow as more people discover the life-changing benefits of this procedure.

✨ THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES:
More than 90% of people who have knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction in knee pain, and over 90% of replacement knees are still functioning well after 15 years.

🔑 THE KEY TO SUCCESS? PHYSICAL THERAPY!

Physical therapy typically starts within the first day after surgery, and it's the cornerstone of your recovery. Your PT will:
✅ Help you regain range of motion
✅ Restore muscle strength around your knee
✅ Get you walking safely with proper form
✅ Design a personalized exercise program
✅ Support you through each milestone

Consistent physical therapy doesn't just speed your recovery—it ensures your new knee functions optimally for years to come.

💙 Ready to take the first step toward a more active, pain-free life? Contact us to learn how physical therapy can support your knee replacement journey.

02/11/2026

Struggling with jaw pain? You're not alone! 💥

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders affect up to 33% of people at some point in their lives, causing pain, clicking, limited movement, and even headaches.

The good news? Physical therapy can help! Here's how PTs treat TMJ disorders:

**Manual Therapy** Hands-on techniques to release tight muscles in your jaw, face, and neck
**Joint Mobilization** Gentle movements to restore proper jaw mechanics and reduce stiffness
**Therapeutic Exercises** Customized stretches and strengthening to improve jaw mobility and stability
**Postural Training** Correcting head, neck, and jaw alignment to reduce strain
**Stress Management** Relaxation techniques to ease jaw clenching and tension
**Education** Learning proper ergonomics, sleeping positions, and habits to prevent flare-ups

Physical therapy offers a conservative, non-invasive approach that targets the root cause of TMJ dysfunction not just the symptoms.

If you're experiencing jaw pain, clicking, or difficulty chewing, our team can help you find relief and get back to enjoying life pain-free! 🔥

Contact us today to schedule your TMJ evaluation.

02/08/2026

🏈 Super Bowl Game Day Injuries: Not Just for Players! 🍿

Sure, the Seahawks and Patriots are rolling out their official injury reports ahead of Super Bowl LX, with players dealing with chest issues, shoulder tweaks, hamstrings and more.

But let’s be real — the real MVPs this Sunday will be the fans couch-side:

🔥 Common Fan Injuries You Won’t See on the NFL Report:

“Remote Strain” — from desperately reaching across the couch to mute that questionable ad.

“Snack Wrist” — from intense chip-to-mouth repetitions during every close call.

“High-Five Hyperextension” — from celebrating that unbelievable play like it’s your job.

“Sofa Cramp” — a full-on cramp because you forgot to stretch before halftime dips.

💡 Let’s face it — we respect the grind on the field… but watching the game can be just as brutal on our bodies. Have you ever pulled something cheering for a touchdown? Or needed knee support just to stand up for the anthem? 😅

That’s where physical therapy comes in:
🩹 You show up with a couch-induced injury…
💪 PT shows you how to heal — and maybe do a proper stretch next time instead of just reaching for the dip.

So this Super Bowl Sunday, remember:

🛋️ Injuries aren’t just on the field — they’re on the couch too.
And yes, your PT is proud of your commitment… but also quietly judging your remote reach form. 😆

02/04/2026

Jaw Pain? Headaches? Clicking When You Chew?
You might be dealing with TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders affect the joint that connects your jaw to your skull—and symptoms can show up in more places than you’d expect.

✨ Common TMJ Symptoms:
• Jaw pain or tightness
• Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds
• Headaches or migraines
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Facial or ear pain
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
• Pain with chewing or yawning

🧠 What Can Cause TMJ Issues?
• Teeth grinding or clenching (often stress-related)
• Poor posture (hello, forward head posture 📱💻)
• Muscle tension in the jaw, neck, or shoulders
• Trauma to the jaw or face
• Arthritis or joint irritation
• Repetitive habits (gum chewing, nail biting)

The good news? TMJ disorders are treatable, and physical therapy can help address the underlying muscle and joint dysfunction—not just the symptoms.

📞 Call our office to learn how physical therapy can help your jaw move and feel better.

02/03/2026

Jaw Pain? Clicking? Headaches?

It might be TMJ 👀

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint — the joint that connects your jaw to your skull.
When it’s not moving well or is irritated, it can lead to:

• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Clicking, popping, or locking
• Headaches or facial pain
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Pain with chewing or talking

✨ How can physical therapy help?
Physical therapy focuses on improving how the jaw, neck, and surrounding muscles work together. Treatment may include:

✔️ Gentle jaw exercises
✔️ Postural and neck mobility work
✔️ Muscle relaxation and manual therapy
✔️ Education to reduce daily strain

The goal? Less pain, better movement, and a jaw that works with you — not against you.

📍 If jaw pain is affecting your daily life, PT may be a simple, non-invasive place to start.

02/03/2026

If you’ve been here… you KNOW 😂💪

02/03/2026

🌿 What Is the Pelvic Floor — And How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the bottom of your pelvis that support your bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. These muscles play a big role in:

✔️ Bladder and bowel control
✔️ Core stability and posture
✔️ Sexual function
✔️ Supporting pregnancy and postpartum recovery

When these muscles become weak, tight, or uncoordinated, you may experience symptoms like leaking, pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort during activity.

✨ Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can help both men and women by:
• Improving bladder and bowel control
• Reducing pelvic, hip, or low back pain
• Improving core strength and stability
• Supporting pregnancy and postpartum recovery
• Enhancing overall pelvic health and confidence

You don’t have to live with discomfort — help is available. 💚
📞 Call our office today to learn how pelvic floor physical therapy can support your health and wellness.

02/03/2026

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Is for Everyone 💙

Pelvic floor physical therapy can help both women and men with issues such as:
✔️ Bladder or bowel control
✔️ Pelvic pain
✔️ Core weakness
✔️ Post-surgical recovery
✔️ Pain with daily activities or exercise

Our specially trained physical therapists provide private, individualized pelvic floor physical therapy right here at our facility, helping you move with confidence and comfort again.

You don’t have to live with discomfort—help is available. 💪

02/03/2026

Mobility Matters as We Age! And as the seasons change, the colder weather can make us less active

Maintaining mobility is key to living independently, staying active, and continuing to do the things you love. According to the National Institute on Aging, declines in strength, balance, and movement can increase the risk of falls, disability, and loss of independence — but these changes are not inevitable.

✨ The good news?
Mobility can be improved and maintained with the right care, movement, and support.

💪 How Physical Therapy Helps:
Physical therapy focuses on:
• Improving strength and balance
• Reducing fall risk
• Increasing confidence with walking and daily activities
• Keeping you active, safe, and independent

🏥 At Florence Therapy & Wellness, we create personalized treatment plans to help you move better, feel stronger, and reach your goals at every stage of life — whether that’s staying independent, returning to favorite activities, or simply moving with less pain.

📍 It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your mobility.

📖 Source: National Institute on Aging

02/03/2026

🧠✨ Occupational Therapy for Better Thinking, Learning & Daily Living — At Any Age

Cognition affects everything we do — from focusing in school to remembering daily tasks, staying organized, making decisions, and maintaining independence. Occupational Therapy (OT) supports cognitive skills across the entire lifespan, helping both children and older adults thrive.

👧🧑‍🦱 For Children & Teens

OT helps kids strengthen cognitive skills needed for success at home, school, and play:

OT can help with:
• Attention and focus
• Memory and following multi-step directions
• Problem-solving and flexible thinking
• Executive function (organization, planning, impulse control)
• Self-regulation and behavior

Why it matters: Cognitive OT strategies can improve a child’s ability to participate in the classroom, complete homework with less frustration, develop routines, and build confidence in learning.

👵🧓 For Older Adults

Aging can bring challenges like memory changes, slower processing, difficulty managing daily tasks, or early signs of cognitive decline. OT provides targeted strategies to keep the mind sharp and daily life manageable.

OT can support:
• Memory and recall
• Safety awareness
• Problem-solving for daily tasks
• Home safety + fall-prevention strategies
• Maintaining independence with routines (medications, finances, self-care)

Why it matters: Research consistently shows that cognitive-based OT interventions improve daily functioning and help older adults stay independent longer.

🌟 How Our Clinic Helps

Our occupational therapists create personalized programs for all ages, from pediatric development to aging adults, focusing on:

✔ Cognitive strengthening
✔ Executive-function training
✔ Daily living skill development
✔ Adaptive strategies for home, school, or work
✔ Family education and support

If you or a loved one are experiencing memory changes, attention difficulties, decreased organization, or challenges with everyday tasks — our OT team is here to help.

✨ Stronger minds. Stronger confidence. Stronger daily living.

Ages

02/03/2026

Does Physical Therapy Help?

Physical therapy helps you move better, feel less pain, and stay active — without relying on medication or unnecessary procedures. The data shows real results:

✅ General effectiveness of physical therapy

Roughly 68–72% of patients across a variety of conditions report meaningful improvement in pain, mobility or function after completing physical therapy.

Around 79% of patients experience a significant reduction in pain.

Many — up to 90% — say their quality of life improved after PT.

🔍 Condition-specific outcomes

For Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP): in one study, ~60% of patients saw meaningful pain improvement during activity after PT, and ~59% saw improvement in resting pain.

For Knee Osteoarthritis (OA): patients undergoing physical therapy reported significant improvements in pain, physical function, and quality of life compared with those who did not get PT.

In a comparison of PT vs injections for knee osteoarthritis / meniscal-tear patients: after one year, those who did PT had lower pain and better functional scores than those who got injections.

🌟 Other meaningful benefits

PT often reduces reliance on pain medication — studies report up to 35% reduction in opioid use among chronic pain patients receiving physical therapy.

For certain conditions, PT can reduce the likelihood of surgery — in some cases by about 33%.

Give us a call at Florence Therapy and Wellness if you believe that Physical Therapy could help you get back to a life of movement!

06/19/2025

We could use your help! We can override the veto of HB 585 if everyone contacts their legislators!

ACTION NEEDED: Help Establish Fair Access to Therapy in Montana
House Bill 585 was recently vetoed. It wasn’t about expanding Medicaid—it was a practical, data-driven solution to fix outdated reimbursement rates for physical, occupational, and speech therapy services.
Here are the voting results for HB 585 during the most recent legislative session:
HB 585: Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Adjustment for Rehab Providers
✅ Passed the House 82–15
✅ Passed the Senate 34–14
❌ Vetoed by Governor Gianforte
Right now, clinics across Montana are losing money every time they treat a Medicaid patient. On average:
• Physical Therapy: –$44/hour
• Occupational Therapy: –$51/hour
• Speech Therapy: –$68/hour
Nearly half of Montana’s therapists work in small businesses like ours. HB 585 would have brought Medicaid reimbursement in line with standards already used across Montana, based on 90% of the physician rate—a level that’s fair, familiar, and already part of state policy for other mid-level providers.
Without this fix, access to therapy—especially in rural communities—is disappearing.
However, we have a chance to override the Governor's veto. Montana Senators and House of Representative members will be receiving mail in ballots this week to vote once again on HB 585. They supported the bill once before, and we're asking for their support again. With a 70% "yes" vote, this bill will be signed into law.
We’re asking you to speak up. Please contact your state senator and representative and ask them to override the veto of HB 585. Find them here:
https://www.legmt.gov/districts
Let’s ensure that Montanans on Medicaid can receive therapy close to home—and that small businesses can afford to keep providing it.