Rehab Specialists of Idaho

03/25/2026

March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. 💚

Cerebral palsy is the most common lifelong motor disability in childhood. It affects movement, muscle tone, and coordination. Every child’s experience with CP is unique.

At Rehab Specialists of Idaho, we have the privilege of working with many awesome kids and families navigating life with cerebral palsy. Through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, we help children build strength, improve mobility, increase independence, and participate more fully in the activities they love.

This month we celebrate the determination, resilience, and joy these kiddos bring to our clinics every day.

💚 We're wearing green today on March 25 for National CP Awareness Day!

03/18/2026

Overheard in Pediatric Speech Therapy: Sometimes the best way to practice speech is with movement.

Speech therapy does not always happen sitting at a table. Sometimes kids are climbing, jumping, pushing, or swinging. There are good reasons for that.

Why you might see a child playing during speech therapy:

• Movement can help kids settle their bodies.
Some children need sensory input before they can focus and participate.

• Speech can be practiced during play.
Climbing, swinging, or crashing into blocks creates natural chances to practice words, sounds, and requests.

• Play keeps kids engaged.
When therapy feels like play, kids are more likely to participate and communicate.

• It helps skills carry over to real life.
Communication does not only happen at a table, so practicing during play can make those skills easier to use outside of therapy too.

If you think your child might benefit from speech therapy, call us to schedule an evaluation with one of our AMAZING pediatric speech therapists. You can also visit our website to read more about the signs that show speech therapy might be needed: https://rehabspecialistsidaho.com/how-to-know-if-pediatric-speech-therapy-is-needed/

03/09/2026

March is National Athletic Training Month & Brain Injury Awareness Month--shout out to RSI's two Athletic Trainers, Jared Olsen and Christine Duffy. They are doing amazing things protecting and helping the athletes at Madison School District #321 and Sugar-Salem School District! These RSI Athletic Trainers are able to devote all their time to athletes through RSI's awesome partnership with Madisonhealth and the Madisonhealth Sports Med program with Therapy Services Madisonhealth.

Did you know....at both Madison High School and Sugar-Salem High School, athletes complete concussion baseline testing before their season even begins.

Through a partnership between Madison Memorial Hospital and Specialists of Idaho , the Madisonhealth Sports Medicine program places Athletic Trainers on-site to help protect student-athletes. As part of their ongoing efforts to keep athletes safe and healthy, they complete preseason concussion baseline screenings so there is objective data available if an injury is suspected.

If a possible concussion occurs, those baseline results give medical providers something to compare against, helping guide safer return-to-play decisions.

It’s another way we are working behind the scenes to keep local athletes safe and in the game.

03/05/2026

Meet Lindsay!
Profession: Physical Therapist Assistant
Location: Rexburg Pediatric Clinic, Rigby Pediatric Clinic
"My 6-year-old will often tell me that I just get to play all day at work. In pediatric physical therapy it does look mostly like playing, but we are playing with a purpose! Every obstacle course or game is chosen to build confidence and the functional skills kids need as they grow. It is so rewarding to celebrate both big and small milestones, knowing it truly makes a difference in their growth and independence." --Lindsay Whipple, PTA

02/23/2026

Overheard in Pediatric Therapy: What’s the Difference Between Pediatric OT and Pediatric PT?

Same swing. Different purpose.

If your child has been referred to therapy, you’ll probably hear OT and PT and wonder… aren’t those basically the same thing? Nope!
While therapy activities may sometimes look similar, the goals behind them are very different.

Pediatric Physical Therapy (PT): PT focuses on how your child moves.
👣Walking, running, jumping
🏃‍♀️‍➡️Balance and coordination
🤸‍♀️Strength and endurance
💪Recovering from injury

💚PT helps kids move better.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT): OT focuses on how your child builds independence in daily life.
✍️Handwriting and fine motor skills
🧸Sensory processing and regulation
🫂Attention and emotional control
🪥Dressing, feeding, self-care

💙OT helps kids become more independent.

So why do they look so similar?

Both use play, games, and fun equipment--the difference is the goal behind the activity.

The Easy Way to Remember
💚PT = movement
💙OT = independence

Learn more about the goals and differences between occupational therapy and physical therapy on our blog here: https://rehabspecialistsidaho.com/our-blog/

02/17/2026

Meet Chelsie!
Profession: Speech-Language Pathologist
Location: Rexburg Pediatric Clinic
Professional Bio: https://rehabspecialistsidaho.com/providers/
"Unlocking a child’s ability to communicate is a powerful gift that grows through daily, natural engagement. While our sessions provide the roadmap, the most transformative progress happens by integrating practice into daily routines and modeling language naturally during play. By doing this, you help turn every interaction into a meaningful step toward helping your child have the tools they need to express themselves with confidence." --Chelsie Fortune MS, CCC-SLP

02/11/2026

Happy President's Day! All Rehab Specialists of Idaho outpatient offices will be OPEN AS USUAL on Monday, February 16th. See you then!

(Pictured: RSI Rigby Pediatric Clinic Front Gym)

02/02/2026

Your child is safe here.

Parents often ask whether they should stay during therapy sessions. Our answer is always the same: the choice is yours. Some parents choose to stay, some choose to step out, and sometimes therapists and parents decide together that goals may be better met with or without a parent in the room.

What never changes is this: we will never turn a concerned parent away, and we will never blink twice at a parent who trusts us with their child while they run errands, focus on other kids, or simply take a breath. Loving your child also means knowing when they’re supported, cared for, and safe. Huge amounts of trust goes into pediatric therapy, and that’s something we take seriously every. single. session.

01/28/2026

“I didn’t know that I could come to you guys for sport injuries, non-surgical and post-surgical rehab, comprehensive wound care, balance and vestibular problems, AND back and neck pain and problems!”

As part of our RSI Clinic Spotlight series, we’re highlighting our outpatient Rehab Specialists of Idaho - Ashton Therapy Clinic.

✨Ashton Therapy Clinic✨
• Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy
• Wound Care
• Serving adults and kids of all ages

Inside the clinic, you’ll find:
• A private therapy clinic located inside the Ashton Living Center
• A separate front entrance for easy access
• A large workout gym with a huge variety of equipment
• Quiet treatment rooms with desks and treatment tables for focused, one-on-one therapy
• Space designed to support both pediatric and adult therapy needs

Our therapists focus on personalized treatment plans that support movement, daily skills, communication, and overall function, helping patients move forward safely and confidently.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment at our Ashton Therapy Clinic, talk to your doctor or give us a call!

Click here to learn more about the RSI Clinic Locations in Island Park, West Yellowstone, Rexburg, and Rigby: https://rehabspecialistsidaho.com/locations-2/

Stay tuned for more RSI Clinic Spotlights! 💙

01/20/2026

Overheard in Pediatric Speech Therapy: “I love how your tongue stayed right behind your teeth for that one.”

When kids are learning a new speech sound, it’s easy to think the answer is just more drilling – say it again, try it again, repeat it 10 more times. But RSI Pediatric Speech Therapists (SLPs) know that progress doesn’t come from repetition by itself. What really helps kids find success is the type of feedback they get combined with consistent practice.

When an SLP says, “That /f/ sounded really clear, you bit your lip just the right amount,” it’s not just a creative compliment. The specific feedback helps the child to notice the difference between when a sound feels right and when it doesn’t, and what to pay attention to on the next try.

Kids in articulation therapy won’t just hear “right” or “wrong” from their therapist, they’ll hear small, specific comments that connect to whatever skill they’re working on that day. Cont....

Visit our blog to read more! https://rehabspecialistsidaho.com/our-blog/

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If you’re unsure about if your child needs speech therapy or not you’re always welcome to schedule a free screening with one of our amazing SLPs. Text or call us today!
Rexburg: (208)359-9570 Rigby: (208)228-0625 Ashton:(208)652-7963

01/12/2026

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! All Rehab Specialists of Idaho outpatient offices will be OPEN AS USUAL on Monday, January 19th. See you then!

(Pictured: RSI West Yellowstone Therapy Clinic Exterior)

01/08/2026

Meet Seth!
Profession: Physical Therapist
Location: Rigby Pediatric Clinic
Professional Bio: https://rehabspecialistsidaho.com/providers/
"Adult physical therapy is often about helping recover skills after an injury, surgery, or due to pain. Although pediatric physical therapy can address those same things, it mostly focuses on helping kids build skills as they grow: balance, coordination, and strength--usually through play. It’s a whole different approach with unique goals and tools (bikes, swings and rock walls). There’s never a dull moment when you’re a pediatric PT!" -Seth Buck, PT, DPT