Choice Therapy - Iron Range - Hibbing & Virginia

02/23/2026

Michelle's Postural Awareness Tip! 🎯

If you are experiencing shoulder pain or impingement, let’s consider your posture. Forward rounding shoulders and forward neck can cause pain in shoulders. Remembering to check in with yourself throughout the day and remember, Ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips!

If you are experiencing shoulder pain or impingement, schedule an appointment or a free screen to see if OT can help!
☎218-248-2102

~ Michelle Engbretson, Occupational Therapist

02/20/2026

Neck Pain?💥

The majority of my caseload focuses on the treatment of back and neck pain. I have a particular interest in working with patients experiencing neck pain and headaches, as this is both a challenging and highly rewarding area of care.

My approach incorporates myofascial release, joint mobilization, craniosacral therapy, muscle energy technique, and neural mobilization. When combined with targeted therapeutic exercise, these manual therapy techniques are especially effective in helping patients reduce pain, restore function, and return to their daily activities.

~ Allison Bottoms, Physical Therapist

02/18/2026

Happy Birthday to Michelle, one of our amazing OTs! 🎉

Your dedication to helping patients regain independence and improve their quality of life does not go unnoticed. Choice Therapy is better because of you!

Wishing you the best year yet! 🎂✨

📍You can find Michelle in our Virginia/Rock Ridge clinic!

02/16/2026

Did you know that lymphedema can be managed with the right treatment and support?

As a certified lymphedema therapist, I am able to help persons manage symptoms of lymphedema through education, exercise, massage and bandaging.

If you or a loved one are experiencing persistent swelling, heaviness, or tightness; let’s talk. Early treatment makes a difference!

Reach out to schedule an evaluation and take the first step toward feeling better.
☎ 218-248-2102

~ Michelle Engbretson, Occupational Therapist

02/13/2026

Hi again!

In the winter months, you will probably find me in a gymnasium. If I’m not watching my kids play basketball, then I am probably coaching basketball. I love team sports, but I especially love basketball!🏀

From the PT side of things, I have seen my fair share of ankle sprains while being involved in basketball. And while ankle sprains are relatively common in a sport like basketball, it is extremely important to treat them quickly and effectively.

Untreated ankle sprains make it more likely that you will sprain your ankle again, and it also can lead to other disorders of the knee, hip, and low back. Even old ankle sprains that happened “years ago” can cause problems today, due to how your body compensates over time.

New or old sprain? Call today to get into see me!
📞218-440-1548

~ Allison Bottoms, Physical Therapist

02/11/2026

Check out this video our pediatric occupational therapist, Kelsey made!

She loves getting supplies from Casey Drug Chisholm for kids to use in their therapy sessions! She also gives some good tips in this video!✨

Call us or request online for a free 15-minute screen if you have any concerns about your child's development!

☎218.440.1548
🌐www.choicetherapy1.com

02/09/2026

Hello again!

When I'm not treating in the clinic, you can find me doing anything outdoors! I love cross country skiing, hiking, camping, and kayaking. I also enjoy traveling to new places and going to concerts!

If I need to relax, you can find me rockhounding, knitting, reading a good book, or creating some art!

~ Michelle

02/06/2026

Hey everyone! My name is Allison Bottoms, and I am a Physical Therapist with Choice Therapy in Hibbing.

I grew up in Ewen, MI, a small town in the Upper Peninsula. I received my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology from Michigan Tech University in 2001, and then went on to earn my Master’s of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Grand Valley State University in 2004. In the fall of 2004, I moved to Hibbing with my husband, where we have raised our 3 children.

I specialize in treating a variety of disorders through the use of manual therapy (“hands-on” techniques) combined with exercise.

02/04/2026

Thinking about physical or occupational therapy, but not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered!

At Choice Therapy, we offer FREE therapy screens for adults and children to help you understand what’s going on and whether PT or OT may help - before committing to treatment.

✔️ One-on-one with a licensed therapist
✔️ Personalized recommendations
✔️ No cost, no obligation

Reach out today to schedule!

☎️Hibbing 218.440.1548
☎️Virginia 218.248.2102
🌐www.choicetherapy1.com

02/02/2026

Hi there!

My name is Michelle Engbretson, and I am an Occupational Therapist at the Choice Therapy Virginia/Rock Ridge Clinic.

I grew up in Zim, MN and attended the College of St. Scholastica for Occupational Therapy.

I enjoy being outside whether that be hiking, biking, and kayaking in the summer; or cross-country skiing in the winter. I also enjoy painting, reading, and cooking. One fun fact about me is that I participated in competitive roller derby for four years!

01/30/2026

I hope everyone has enjoyed getting to know me over the past month, and here is my final post; which will include my FAVORITE area to work on with kids as a pediatric occupational therapist......Emotional Regulation 💛

If your child has big feelings, frequent meltdowns, or trouble calming down; you’re not alone. One of the tools I often use is The Zones of Regulation, which helps kids learn to identify how they’re feeling (blue, green, yellow, or red) and what their body needs in that moment.

Through play, movement, sensory activities, and lots of encouragement, we practice recognizing emotions and using simple strategies like deep breathing, heavy work, taking breaks, or asking for help from an adult. Every child is different, so sessions are always tailored to what your child needs most.

The goal? Helping kids understand their feelings, build coping skills, and feel more confident navigating their day, while supporting families every step of the way! 💪💛

~ Carissa Krebsbach, Occupational Therapist

01/28/2026

Jamie is a PTA that works at Bois Forte, but occasionally you can see him at Rock Ridge or Hibbing. He is also our resident runner and will be starting his training for Grandma's Marathon soon. His most recent blog entry on Grandma's Marathon website talks about getting out of your comfort zone. Something that could be applied to our challenging endeavors. Check it out!

Runners love their routines. Heck, who doesn’t enjoy a good routine? Having morning coffee and catching up on current events before the day begins. That’s probably one of my favorites. […]