Praxis Physical Therapy

04/29/2026

Mark here! Wrapping up an incredible season working with Western Washington University Track & Field as they head to Nationals.

It’s been awesome watching this group show up, put in the work, and push their limits week after week. The consistency, resilience, and competitiveness in this squad is real.

To the seniors — advanced congratulations. You’ve set the standard and left your mark on this program.

Grateful to be a small part of the journey. Now go handle business at Nationals.

Grateful to be able to work with trainers and coaches: Julie, Vincent, Dena and Ben Stensland among others. Thank you for an amazing opportunity! Thank you to my colleagues who volunteer with me: shout out to and Andrew Brown, DPT who I have had the honor to co treat so many of our athletes together.

04/27/2026

Praxis Physical Therapy – Barkley Village Opening June 2026

We’re excited to announce that Praxis Physical Therapy is expanding.

Starting June 2026, we’ll be partnering up Anytime Fitness in Barkley Village.

This isn’t a change in what we do — it’s an extension of it.

At our Barkley location, you can expect the same one-on-one, 60-minute sessions, individualized care, and attention to detail that defines Praxis. No overlap. No rushed visits. Just focused, high-level physical therapy designed to get you back to what you love.

You’ll also have access to a full training environment with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing us to bridge the gap between rehab and performance more effectively than ever.

Whether you’re coming back from injury or pushing performance to the next level, this new space allows us to do even more of what matters.

More details coming soon.

— Praxis Physical Therapy

04/22/2026

We are growing as a team, and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce Alicia Browder, PTA! 🎉

Alicia brings 10+ years of outpatient ortho experience AND a running coach certification to the clinic — which basically means she will both help you get stronger and move better (and she’ll have fun doing it 😄). She is also trained in specific manual therapies like Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) 👍🏽, Joint Mobilization 💪🏽 Techniques and IASTM.

She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from our very own Western Washington University and went ahead and finished her degree for PT Assistant at Whatcom Community College.

Runners, trail junkies, ultramarathoners — she’s your person. Whether you’re post-op, beat up from training, or just trying to get back to the trails, Alicia gets it because she lives it too.

We’re so stoked to have her at Praxis. Come say hi 👋

📍 She will be seeing patients in Bellingham starting May!

🔗 Book at praxisphysio.com (link in bio)

📸 credit

04/20/2026

Single Arm Cable Row + BFR
Post–Mountain Bike Crash Shoulder Rehab

After a crash, the shoulder doesn’t just need strength — it needs control under load.

Why this combo works:
• Single arm cable row → restores scapular control (mid trap, rhomboids, posterior cuff)
• Emphasizes anti-rotation + unilateral stability
• Trains the shoulder to handle real-world asymmetry (like riding, bracing, catching yourself)

• BFR (Blood Flow Restriction) → allows strength gains at low loads
• Reduces joint stress while still driving hypertrophy + neuromuscular recruitment
• Ideal when heavy loading isn’t tolerated post-impact

What we’re targeting:
• Scapular positioning + endurance
• Rotator cuff co-contraction
• Controlled pulling without compensations
• Rebuilding confidence in the injured side

How to perform:
– Slow pull → control the eccentric
– Keep ribs down, no trunk rotation
– BFR at proximal arm (light–moderate pressure)
– 3–4 sets: 12–15 reps

Bottom line:
You don’t jump back to heavy lifting after a crash.
You rebuild precision → control → strength.

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CTA:
If your shoulder still feels “off” after a fall or crash — that’s not normal.
Get it assessed and train it the right way.

📍 Praxis Physical Therapy – Bellingham

04/19/2026

Proud to be there and help our partners in fitness next door!

Having Fun at the Lift Lab!

Thanks to all of you who came out to work on form for some of our most common lifts. Nick and I had a great time coaching you all and answering questions. It was awesome to have Mark from Praxis too. He jumped in with some great insights and tips ❤️
Basecamp FitnessPraxis Physical Therapy

04/17/2026

Coach Chris and I have shared numerous clients who are runners in a span of 7 years (how time flies) in the Bellingham area and I could say Chris is one of those intuitive coaches who can listen well and make sound decisions with his athletes. He is also very knowledgeable with running footwear. I am so proud to be working with you in this town, Chris! Thank you for the gracious review.

04/13/2026

Back out with Western Washington University Track today.

Helping athletes stay healthy, move better, and keep doing what they love.
A little tune-up here, a little strength work there — it all adds up.

Always a good day when we get to be around motivated athletes putting in the work.

04/12/2026

Shoulder rehab isn’t just about working the rotator cuff — it’s about rebuilding the muscles that hold the joint together when the passive structures can’t. They’re called your dynamic stabilizers.

That’s where BFR changes the game. Blood flow restriction lets us load the rotator cuff and periscapular muscles at 20–30% 1RM — driving real hypertrophy and strength gains without stressing healing tissue. And yes, the muscles above the cuff get the stimulus too.

Here’s what the research actually shows:

✅ Post-op shoulder stabilization (Bankart/labral repair): significant strength + function gains after just 6 weeks of BFR — no adverse events (McGinniss et al., 2022)
✅ Greater RC lean mass, strength & endurance with BFR vs. exercise-only at ~50% LOP (Hedt & Lambert et al., 2022)
✅ Infraspinatus & teres minor — primary external rotators for GH stability — showed significantly greater strength gains with BFR (Lee & Lee, 2025)
✅ ~50% limb occlusion pressure is the clinical sweet spot: max recruitment, minimal discomfort (Roehl et al., 2023)

Athletes with instability too often return to sport with unresolved rotational strength deficits. BFR is one of the best tools we have to close that gap — especially when heavy loading isn’t an option yet.

Questions about your shoulder? Drop them below or book through the link in bio.

04/07/2026

Half Kneeling Cable Cross Row

as shown by wrestling coach Nick Gaither Nick Gaither

Great way to target the mid → lower trap while integrating trunk control and shoulder stability.

This setup forces the scapula to:
• Control retraction without overusing upper trap
• Maintain depression during pull
• Resist rotation through the torso

Why this matters (especially in rehab):

The lower trapezius plays a key role in scapular upward rotation, posterior tilt, and stability, which are essential for clean shoulder mechanics

It works as part of a force couple with the serratus anterior to:
• Optimize overhead motion
• Reduce subacromial compression
• Improve rotator cuff efficiency

Why rows like this are effective:

EMG research consistently shows rowing variations are strong activators of the mid + lower trap, making them a staple in shoulder rehab and performance programs

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Coaching cues:
• Slight forward reach → then pull
• Think “shoulder blade down and back”
• Avoid shrugging (keep upper trap quiet)
• Control the return

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Programming:
3–4 sets
8–12 reps
Slow + controlled

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Use this for:
• Shoulder rehab (labral, RTC, impingement)
• Overhead athletes
• Postural correction
• Building a stronger scapular foundation

04/01/2026

Big announcement at Praxis.

We’re going fully AI. All physical therapists will be replaced AI, EXCEPT Katrina who will remain human.

No more coaching. No more conversation. Just data and results.

…

April Fools.

Technology helps guide decisions.
But real progress still comes from coaching, accountability, and doing the work.