Jackie-Lou Breakey, PTA

Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapist Assistant

Jackie-Lou enjoys helping people build confidence and control in their bodies while developing a deeper understanding of how their bodies are designed to move. Patients often appreciate her calm, encouraging approach and her ability to make movement feel approachable, empowering, and connected to real-life goals.

Before entering the field of Physical Therapy, Jackie-Lou spent over 15 years as a professional dancer, choreographer, and movement educator. Her background in dance shaped a strong foundation in biomechanics, posture, movement efficiency, body awareness, and the physical demands placed on active bodies. That experience naturally evolved into a passion for helping people feel strong, capable, and connected to their bodies through movement-based rehabilitation.

Jackie-Lou works with a wide range of orthopedic conditions and sports-related injuries in active older kids, teens, and adults. Her clinical interests include performing arts medicine, adolescent sports rehabilitation, pediatric orthopedic injuries, return-to-sport rehabilitation, and functional movement retraining, with a strong focus on the relationship between the spine, pelvis, SI joints, core, posture, and overall movement patterns.

She especially enjoys helping patients experiencing spine, neck and back pain, SI joint dysfunction, hip and lower extremity injuries, balance deficits, postural dysfunction, and movement coordination challenges. Jackie-Lou is especially drawn to cases involving movement retraining, balance, and functional strength, particularly when it helps people reconnect with how their bodies are meant to move.

Her treatment approach emphasizes individualized care, movement quality, patient education, and helping people better understand the “why” behind their symptoms and exercises. She is passionate about helping patients cultivate resilience, independence, and a renewed sense of movement possibility in everyday life.

Patients often connect with Jackie-Lou’s thoughtful, encouraging style and her ability to create a welcoming environment where people feel supported, understood, and actively involved in their recovery process.

Commonly Seen For

  • Spine, neck, and back pain

  • SI joint dysfunction and core stability

  • Hip, knee, ankle, and lower extremity injuries

  • Balance and coordination training

  • Functional movement retraining

  • Posture and movement dysfunction

  • Pediatric orthopedic and adolescent sports injuries

  • Dance and performing arts-related injuries

  • Return-to-sport rehabilitation

  • Functional strength and movement efficiency training

Advanced Training

  • Pilates Reformer Certification for Rehabilitation

  • Continuing education in Dance and Performing Arts Medicine

  • Functional movement and movement retraining rehabilitation

  • Orthopedic rehabilitation and return-to-sport training

Outside the Clinic

Outside the clinic, Jackie-Lou enjoys dancing, gardening, hiking, biking, exploring the San Juan Islands, spending time on the water with family and friends, and hosting spontaneous kitchen dance parties with her husband and two kiddos.

Education

Physical Therapist Assistant, Whatcom Community College, 2023

BA in Dance Composition, Bard College, 2010

 
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