How Exercise Supports Heart Health
When most people think about heart health, they think “cardio.” Usually that means running, biking, or some version of sweating on a machine. The heart doesn’t respond to just one type of stress. Different forms of exercise challenge the cardiovascular system in different ways, and each creates unique adaptations. Understanding how various training styles affect the heart helps […]
Practice Self-Love in 5 Minutes: A PT-Approved Stretching Routine
February is filled with messages about self-love – candles, bubble baths, and chocolate. But the kind of self-love that truly changes how you feel isn’t found in a spa day. It’s found in how you care for the body that shows up for you every single day. Real self-love lives in the tiny choices that make your body feel better tomorrow than it […]
Common Injuries in The Winter Games and How Physical Therapy Helps Athletes Recover
Winter sports place unique demands on the body. Cold temperatures, uneven terrain, high speeds, and rapid changes in direction all increase physical stress. Many winter activities also involve jumping, landing, and rotation—movements that load the joints and soft tissues in ways we don’t experience as much during warmer months. While elite athletes train year-round for these demands, […]
Beyond the Pain Scale: What Patients Really Want From Care
More than 1,200 people across the U.S. recently took time to share what it’s like to live with musculoskeletal (MSK) pain—the kind that affects muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Their responses, captured through The Pain Perspective: 2025 MSK Industry Survey, offer a powerful reminder: pain is not just something people feel. It’s something they live with. And for many, it’s shaping […]
Meet Alexandra Garza – 2026 Confluent Health Student Ambassador
Meet Alexandra Garza Confluent Health’s 2026 Student Ambassador and Future Leader in Physical Therapy Alexandra Garza doesn’t just talk about making an impact in physical therapy. She lives it. A Doctor of Physical Therapy student at UNT Health, Alexandra’s journey through clinical education has been defined by curiosity, compassion, and a patient-first mindset that has […]
Stephen Clark Explores the Power of Listening in APTA Magazine
In the October 2025 issue of APTA Magazine, Stephen Clark, PT, DPT, ATC, Chief Clinical Officer at Confluent Health, shares a powerful perspective on pain, communication, and what truly drives recovery. In his Viewpoints article, Stephen reflects on his participation in Pain, Misunderstood and the role pain education, empathy, and language play in transforming outcomes for people living with chronic pain. Drawing from […]
From Bedside to Boardroom: Kristi Henderson on Building Healthcare’s Future
Our CEO, Kristi Henderson, was recently featured on the Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw podcast in an episode titled “From Bedside to Boardroom: Kristi Henderson on Building Healthcare’s Future.” In the conversation, Kristi reflects on a career spent leading transformation across academic medical centers, Fortune 5 companies, big tech, and national health systems, and why real change always comes back […]
5 Health Habits Worth Building This Year
Every New Year, people set ambitious health goals like losing weight, getting stronger, to just feel better. However, dramatic changes often don’t survive real life. What does tend to last are small, repeatable habits that quietly compound over time. You don’t need a perfect routine or extreme discipline. You need a few foundational behaviors that support your body, brain, and daily life. Below are five health habits that are simple, evidence-based, […]
Start the Year Strong: Why Starting Physical Therapy Early Can Save You Money
January brings a fresh start with New Year’s resolutions, health goals, and a new focus. It also brings something less exciting: a new insurance deductible and out-of-pocket concerns. For many people, that reset can make you think twice before scheduling healthcare appointments. The good news is that early in the year is actually one of the smartest and most cost-effective times to start physical […]
AI Documentation Cuts Burnout at the Source
When Joel Stenslie began practicing physical therapy 26 years ago, he accepted documentation as an unavoidable part of the job. Even if it meant long nights, late dinners and a constant pull between patient care and paperwork. “I always spent one-on-one time with my patients, and then at night I did all of my documentation,” […]