Melissa enjoys helping patients uncover the root cause of pain and movement dysfunction rather than simply treating symptoms. Patients often appreciate her thoughtful, collaborative approach and her ability to connect the dots between different regions of the body, helping them better understand why pain developed and what it will take to create lasting improvement.

As a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT), Melissa has completed extensive post-doctoral training in orthopedic rehabilitation, spine care, advanced manual therapy, movement assessment, and evidence-based treatment. She enjoys working with a wide variety of orthopedic conditions and believes the best outcomes often come from combining hands-on treatment with progressive exercise and movement retraining.

Melissa has over 10 years of experience as a Physical Therapist, including several years working as a traveling PT throughout the country. Living and working in diverse communities has broadened her perspective as a clinician and reinforced the importance of tailoring care to each person's unique goals, lifestyle, and challenges.

She particularly enjoys helping patients experiencing neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, and ankle injuries. Melissa often achieves excellent outcomes with spine-related conditions, which can be some of the most frustrating and persistent problems patients face. She enjoys the challenge of solving complex movement issues and helping people move beyond recurring pain patterns and dysfunction.

As a lifelong equestrian, Melissa has a special interest in working with horseback riders and understands firsthand the physical demands that riding places on the spine, hips, core, and overall body. Having spent decades around horses, she appreciates the unique partnership between rider and horse and enjoys helping equestrians stay healthy, strong, and comfortable both in and out of the saddle.

Melissa's treatment approach blends advanced manual therapy, dry needling, spinal manipulation, movement retraining, mobility work, and progressive exercise to help patients move more efficiently, recover from injury, and build long-term resilience. Patients often connect with her investigative, detail-oriented approach and her commitment to finding solutions that support lasting improvement rather than temporary relief.

Commonly Seen For

Neck pain and cervical spine conditions

Back pain and spinal mobility dysfunction

Shoulder pain and shoulder rehabilitation

Hip pain and movement dysfunction

Knee pain and lower extremity injuries

Ankle injuries and instability

Recurring orthopedic pain

Movement dysfunction

Equestrian athletes and horseback riding-related injuries

Sports-related injuries

Return-to-sport rehabilitation

Cycling-related injuries

Advanced Training

Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT)

Certified in Dry Needling

Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy Training

Outside the Clinic

Outside the clinic, Melissa loves travel and adventure. She spent several years working as a traveling physical therapist, enjoying the opportunity to live like a local and immerse herself in new communities across the country. She also enjoys road cycling, gravel biking, hiking, backpacking, camping, and horseback riding. Whether exploring a new country, tackling a mountain trail, riding gravel roads, or spending time around horses, Melissa is happiest when she's outdoors and moving.

Education

Dry Needling Certification, Institute of Clinical Excellence (2023–2024)

Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT), Ola Grimsby Institute, 2016

Doctor of Physical Therapy, West Virginia University, 2012

Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (Pre-Veterinary Medicine), Washington State University, 2004