Broadus Welcomes New Physical Therapist

Brooke Nicholson is the new Physical Therapist at The Body Shop Physical Therapy in Broadus. Nicholson is very familiar with the rural Montana lifestyle, having grown up on an organic wheat farm in Chinook, MT, along Montana's Hi-Line.

Brooke grew up in a family with three older brothers, prompting her to become engaged in an active lifestyle from an early age.

"I've always loved being active," she told us during an interview earlier this week. That love for an active life helped push Brooke into the PT field, and she was aided in that decision by experiencing the benefits of activity after her cousin started an orphanage for disabled children in India. "I've also loved keeping people active within their level of ability. It's something the world needs."

Brooke completed her undergrad in 2020 from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND, with a degree in Athletic Training, and went on to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at U of Mary in 2023. During her studies, Brooke worked as an athletic trainer for several organization, including Bismarck State College.

Her work has included work with every age group of athletes and an active population as a whole.

Brooke emphasized how that training would translate to working in the SE Montana community: "When working with athletes, we may be able to prescribe rest from training. With an active rancher, we have to be more creative."

That knowledge of the rural Montana lifestyle and how it plays out on a day to day basis will no doubt serve Brooke well as she enters practice in the southeast end of the state. Brooke splits her time between working in Forsyth for three days a week, and Broadus for two days a week, while living in Miles City.

When not working (which she admitted takes up a lot of her time), Brooke is in training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. As part of her training, Brooke may be found carrying a loaded backpack – "rucking", in training to climb the 19,341 foot African peak this winter.

Brooke told us that she is excited to get to know everyone in the community, and is expanding her knowledge into dry needling certification, working on improving outcomes with the pelvic floor, and working with back pain, which can be a debilitating diagnosis for patients of all ages and activity levels.

Brooke also told us she is excited to work with the Body Shop's other PTs – Kate Copelan and Kristy Elgin, who both bring great experience and insight to the profession.

For those looking to schedule an appointment with any of the Body Shop's top level PTs, please call 436-2110.